Last December 15, 2022, the Open Heart Foundation celebrated Christmas thru a service project instead of a Christmas party which the foundation used to have. This was done through a gift-giving entitled “Pamaskong Handog” at Brgy. Binabalian Bolinao, Pangasinan, a joint project with Ms. Nelia Tabios-Bautista for 200 identified families at Brgy. Binabalian, Bolinao, Pangasinan.
Before the program started, the OHF team went to the Municipality of Bolinao to pay a courtesy call to Mayor Alfonso Celeste M.D., and through his help, the team availed the free barge transport to Brgy. Binabalian.
The barangay identified 200 indigent families as recipients of the grocery donation. As the program started, the Executive Director shared her motivational talk with everyone and greeted them with a Jolly Merry Christmas. Right after the intermission number of OHF RSW Frank Diaz, the distribution of the grocery package for selected 200 residents in Brgy. Binabalian Bolinao Pangasinan was distributed with the help of the OHF team and also the barangay personnel.
You could see through their faces how happy and grateful they were as they received their early Christmas gift. Some expressed their thankful heart by saying “Yes may pang handa na kami sa pasko”.
Truly, giving from the heart fills your life with joy and nourishes your soul. And the experience witnessed today is far more valuable than the gift. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.”
Prepared By: Maejorie U. Ortega, RSW, Program Area Coordinator 1
