1st Cavalry Squadron holds gift giving for poor residents of Tukuran town

By Gideon C. Corgue

TUKURAN, Zamboanga del Sur – Poor residents of Barangay Manlayag have received food packs, used clothing and slippers from the 1^st Cavalry Squadron, Mechanized Division, Philippine Army (PA) in a gift giving recently.

Dubbed “Love Drive Program,” the gift giving was held in coordination with the 1^st Field Artillery Battalion aimed at bringing the government closer to the people.

The 1^st Cavalry Squadron executive officer Major Francis Balan said the team with its sponsor, Nancy Sanchez of Zamboanga City, distributed 100 food packs containing 3 kilos of rice, 2 cans of sardines, 2 packs of noodles, sachets of coffee and used clothing to selected poor families.

Two hundred new pairs of slippers, candies and supplemental feeding were also given to children.

“Ang ating mga kasundaluhan at civic organization ay nagtulong-tulong na ma-share ang basic services sa mga maralitang tao upang makapagbigay sa kanila ng kaligayahan,” Balan said.

(The troopers and civic organization have extended help to the poor to make them happy.)

“Ang mga natanggap ninyo ngayon ay initial pa pa lamang yan dahil ang aking kaibigan na US philatropist ay personal po na magpunta rito sa inyo sa buwan ng Marso at magbibigay na naman ng karagdagang gifts na tiyak na ikakaligaya naman ninyo,” Sanchez told the recipients.

(What you have received now is just an initial one because my friend, a US philanthropist, will personally visit here in March and will give additional goods for you.)

Sanchez said: “Manlayag is just one of the recipient-barangays that received gifts from her friend in Mindanao and Visayas next to Iligan City and Palo, Leyte, respectively.”

Punong Barangay Cerelo Halang expressed his gratitude to the 1^st Cavalry Squadron for spearheading the gift giving activity saying, “It is the first time we have received such a program.”

Cyndi Baguio, 38, said she was thankful for receiving the food packs.

“Nagpasalamat ko ug dako nga nakadawat ko aning food packs gikan sa mga nagpasiugda. Medyo lisod gyud mi sa pagpangita sa among pagkaon tungod kay ang akong bana wala nay trabaho ug nagsalig lamang kami sa pagtanom ug kamunting kahoy,” Baguio said while holding an infant baby in her arms.

(I am very grateful to have received the food packs from the organizers. It is really hard for us to find food since my husband has no job. We just depend on planting cassava.)

“Malipayon ako nga usa sa mga nakadawat ning maong mga pagkaon gikan sa 1^st Cavalry. Nakatabang ni namo tungod kay kami na lang duha sa akong ang mga tawo nag-uban sa balay. Ang akong napulo ka mga anak pulos minyo na ug mibulag na sa amoa.  wala nay motabang mo pagpangita sa among pagkaon,” Eleuterio Luardo, 78, said after receiving the food packs.

(I am happy to receive this food pack from the 1^st Cavalry. It really helped us because only the two of us are left in our home. All our 10 children already got married and they are living separately. Nobody would help us in our food.)

The 1^st Cavalry troopers also held a comedy show during the said activity to the delight of the children.