US Navy treats Catbalogan street kids to a fun-filled day

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

Monday 2nd of July 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 2 (PIA) -- Pacific Partnership 2012 United States Navy servicemen and some Japanese partners treated 32 Catbalogan street children to a day of fun activities.

The US service men met the street children through the City Social Welfare and Development Office in partnership with Waray-Waray Youth Advocates (WARAYA) on June 30 at the Guinsorongan Beach, Catbalogan City.

The city government of Catbalogan organized the activity dubbed, “Street Children Interaction Day.”

Thirty-two street children gleefully participated in the arts and outdoor sports activities including a paper-folding session, several traditional Japanese toy-making sessions with the Japanese Navy and soccer, volleyball and badminton games with the US Navy.

US and Japanese partners tried and tasted traditional Filipino and Catbalogan dishes. Street children and the youth volunteers from WARAYA also got to experience authentic Japanese food and desserts.

The US and Japanese Navy also donated hygiene kits and toys to the street children.

City councilor Stephany Uy-Tan, representing the city government of Catbalogan, gave out a framed Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution in full support of the PP12. Uy-Tan gave a framed tarpaulin which shows the PP12 activities held in Catbalogan City. The councilor also distributed limited edition “Catbalogan Higugma-a ta!” t-shirts to US and Japanese Navy partners.

The Pacific Partnership 2012 is a huge humanitarian mission to requesting partners. In this particular mission, the USNS Mercy extended medical-dental mission, subject matter exchanges especially on disaster response and preparedness.

The mission radiated not only in Calbayog City, Samar and San Isidro in Northern Samar but also in Catbalogan City. (EOT/NIBQ-PIA8 Samar with Ador Hurtado LGU-Catbalogan)