Noy plays Santa to wounded soldiers, sick children

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) Updated December 22, 2010 

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino distributed gift packs to around 300 wounded and sick soldiers at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) and children with hydrocephalus in Quezon City yesterday.

The President was joined by officials and employees of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for the gift-giving at the military hospital and the Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines.

The two institutions became the last two of 24 beneficiaries of the state gaming agency’s “Pamaskong Handog 2010 – 12 Days of Christmas” gift-giving project. Pagcor chairman Cristino Naguiat said the project, which actually ran for 13 days, was successful.

“We are happy to have somehow made a difference in the lives of the less fortunate,” he said.

The hospital received P1 million worth of hospital equipment such as 20 nebulizers, automatic hospital bed, operating table, ultraviolet sterilizer, laryngoscope and heavy duty section machine, among others. Pagcor also pledged P1 million to the hospital.

On the other hand, Hydrocephalus Foundation executive director Bernardo Mitra Sr. received from Aquino and Pagcor officials a check amounting to P864,000 for the treatment of 24 hydrocephalic children who belong to poor families.

Pagcor said the amount will cover pre-and post-operation procedures like laboratory tests, CT scans, operating room charges, antibiotics and follow-up checkups.

Cerebral shunts – a device used to treat hydrocephalus – will be donated to the Hydrocephalus Foundation by American companies. The neurosurgeon’s services, meanwhile, will be rendered by volunteer neurosurgeons of Hydrocephalus Foundation.

Majority of the patients currently confined at the AFPMC are victims of encounters with rebel groups in areas like Samar, Basilan and other parts of Mindanao. The hospital also caters to AFP personnel and their dependents with cancer and renal diseases.