RC Cola and Rotary Club of Pag-Asa play Santa Claus for Kanawan children

MANILA, Philippines - The adage “Christmas never fails to bring good tidings” is indeed true as year after year the Santa Claus(es) for the children of Kanawan arrived as promised. “Watch out” they did, because they believed that Santa Claus was coming to town very soon. In fact, the big day was Dec. 11, for which the Rotary Club of Pag-asa QC scored another accomplishment as it brought a world of fun and blessings to the indigenous community of Kanawan, Morong, Bataan.

Aptly titled “Paskuhan sa Kanawan, Tulay ng Kaligayahan,” the members of the club passed through the hanging bridge once more to reach the mountain where the IP community anticipated the delivery of traditional fun and laughter, prizes and gifts, food and RC Cola, medicines and caring medical checkups by no less than club president Jess Lim. The schoolchildren and their families were not disappointed as they received more than what they came for. The Christmas spirit was in the air as the club members and their families worked in unison preparing sumptuous food for lunch and loot bags containing toys, RC Cola T-shirts and goodies for all the children. Even food supplies for the continuation of the daily feeding program after the Christmas break were also turned over to the head teacher of the school.

More significantly, the donations brought by the club this time included eight first-aid kits in medicine cabinets from Rotary Club of Eastwood through the kindness of SP Maricar, as witnessed by Ric Salvador of RC Holy Spirit and other non-Rotarian friends who braved the trek despite the heavy downpours during the past few days. Fortunately, however, the group enjoyed sunny weather.

The party would not have been possible without the support of RC Cola-Asiawide Refreshments Corporation (ARC), licensed manufacturer and distributor of RC Cola in the Philippines, headed by EVP-COO Gerry T. Garcia. A valued partner of the Rotary Club of Pag-asa, ARC is one with the goals of the organization in supporting community initiatives such as feeding programs and medical missions. RC Cola also offers a refreshing break for the beneficiaries, guests and members of RC Pag-asa QC during gatherings and events. 

School children onstage for their Christmas presentation sponsored by Asiawide Refreshments Corp.

A month that abounds with celebrations, the first semester of this “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” Rotary Year saw the consistent project implementation for the club’s major beneficiaries, namely the indigenous schoolchildren and community in Kanawan; abandoned/ orphaned elderly residents of Tahanan ni Maria in Carmona, Cavite; and the orphans at the Holy Trinity for Children in Fairview, Quezon City.