Damayan brings cheer to sick kids

It is always heart-rending to see sad children on Christmas.

And as the season calls for spreading cheer, hope and love, Operation Damayan — the socio-humanitarian arm of The Philippine STAR and Pilipino Star Ngayon — chose to share its blessings this year with children suffering from or recovering from illness.

And what cheer and warmth it has brought to both the Damayan volunteers and the children beneficiaries.

Take the case of 11-year-old Bryan Espisoa, who was among the 160 ailing children at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center who received their early Christmas gifts through Damayan’s "Masayang Pasko, Alay sa mga Bata" project.

Bryan has been confined at JRRMC’s burn unit for two months now after the lower part of his body was burned while he was cooking rice in his hometown in Barangay Languyin, Polilio island last Oct. 15.

His Christmas wish: "Sana po makauwi kami sa amin sa Pasko. Ang tagal ko nang di nakikita ang mga kapatid ko (I hope we can go home this Christmas. It has been a long time since I last saw my siblings)," a teary-eyed Bryan said.

"Salamat po sa mga laruan, iuuwi ko ito sa amin (Thank you for the toys. I will bring them home)," Bryan proudly announced.

Damayan volunteers, accompanied by top donor Elvie Estavillo, gave out bags of groceries, fruits, bread, toys, McDonald’s hamburgers and balloons to the children and their watchers.

Operation Damayan was conceptualized by the late STAR founding chairman Betty Go-Belmonte to provide relief to the sick and the needy and is now being continued by STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte.