QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) brought smiles to 16 children receiving treatment at the Philippine Orthopedic Center through an outreach activity over the weekend.
The event featured games, entertainment from a magician/clown performer, and distribution of gifts including jackets, pants, stuffed toys, food and drinks based on the children’s wish lists.
PIA Deputy Director-General for Finance, Legal Affairs and Special Concerns lawyer Allan Vincent Lorenzo said the initiative builds on previous charity work during the administrations of then Director-General Jose Torres Jr. and currently, Director-General Katherine Chloe De Castro.
“This isn’t our first charity activity. We conducted one in December 2023 at the National Children’s Hospital, for children there diagnosed with cancer,” Lorenzo said.
He added that charity work has been a personal advocacy, which he has pursued even before his appointment to the agency.
“We wanted to bring happiness to the children and provide inspiration not only to the youth there but also to their families who are caring for them,” said Carol Pacot, a PIA staff member involved in organizing the activity.
The event was a collaborative effort involving the PIA executive directorate, division chiefs, and the PIA Employees Association.
Lorenzo said Filipino community members from Texas in the United States also contributed by collecting and sending stuffed toys and other gifts for the children.
Another PIA staff member Ma. Bernadette Malabanan noted the emotional impact of the outreach.
“You could see the spark in their eyes,” Malabanan said. “They were happy about the event and joined in singing along.”
One heartwarming story shared by Lorenzo was about a young patient scheduled for orthopedic surgery that day. He was given the chance to choose a gift from a selection of toys and presents for the children. The joy on his face as he made his choice brought him encouragement and comfort before his major operation.
The Philippine Orthopedic Center is a 700-bed tertiary special hospital specializing in musculoskeletal disorders and serves as the country’s center for trauma and orthopedics under the Department of Health.
On the other hand, as the grassroots communications arm of the Philippine government, the PIA maintains information networks across the country’s 16 regions with 78 provincial information centers, aiming to provide accurate and relevant information to help Filipinos improve their quality of life.
Lorenzo expressed hope to conduct another outreach program soon, potentially focusing on elderly beneficiaries. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photos courtesy: Marie Elaine Contreras)
