Sunday 9 December 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Sunday, December 9, 2012



President Aquino to lead Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corporation's Christmas gift-giving in Pasay City Monday

President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s yearly gift-giving activity this Yuletide season that will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City on Monday.

The event, dubbed “Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012,” is the agency’s grand gift-giving mission that aims to bring cheer and goodwill to more than 8,600 less privileged Filipinos under the care of 41 institutions nationwide as beneficiaries.

Among the beneficiaries are indigent patients confined in several state hospitals; orphans; abandoned and abused children; the elderly; the disabled and physically handicapped; street children; cultural minorities; special children diagnosed with mental retardation, autism and multiple disabilities; children in conflict with the law; women with serious mental disorders, poor families and communities; cancer-stricken children, and street sweepers.

The President, who will be joined by PAGCOR chairman and CEO Cristino Naguiat, Jr, Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, ParaƱaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr, and Pasay City Representative Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, will lead the distribution of gift packs to some 2,000 street sweepers.

PAGCOR’s Pamaskong Handog event began in December 2010 under the initiative of the agency’s new management as part of its core commitment to reach out to the less privileged sectors of society. The successful staging of the "Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR: 12 Days of Christmas” in 2010 inspired the new PAGCOR management to make the event a yearly tradition.

When PAGCOR marked its silver year in 2011, the state-owned gaming firm decided to forego a lavish anniversary celebration. Instead, the agency opted to hold a bigger and longer Christmas gift-giving event that lasted for 25 days. Dubbed “Pamaskong Handog 2011: 25 Days of Christmas, 25 Years of PAGCOR”, the project symbolically represented PAGCOR’s 25 years of commitment to responsible gaming and community development by sharing its blessings with more than 7,000 beneficiaries in 36 institutions nationwide. PAGCOR allocated a hefty P25 million for this endeavor.

Bayanihan: Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR 2012 will run from November 29 to December 20, 2012. PND (rck)


Pacquiao retains the admiration and support of the Filipino people, says Lacierda

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Sunday that the loss of Manny Pacquiao to his opponent, Juan Miguel Marquez, in their latest bout does not diminish, in any way, the honor and dignity the Filipino boxer has brought the Philippines and his fellow Filipinos.

In a statement, Lacierda said that despite the loss, Pacquiao retains the admiration and support of the Filipino people.

He said that the boxing icon and Sarangani representative accepted the loss, as with any win in his boxing career, with humility and dignity.

Lacierda's statement follows in full:

"Matapos po ang laban na ginanap sa Las Vegas, Nevada, nabigo po ang ating Pambansang Kamao na si Manny Pacquiao sa kanyang ika-apat na laban kay Juan Manuel Marquez.

Sa kabila ng kanyang pagkatalo, hindi po nito maisasantabi ang napakaraming karangalang naibigay na ni Manny sa sambayanang Pilipino. Muli, ipinakita niya nang buong loob ang kanyang dedikasyong makipaglaban sa ngalan ng ating mga kababayan at ng bandila.

Tinanggap po ni Manny ang kanyang pagkabigo nang buong pagpapakumbaba at dignidad, gaya ng ipinapamalas niyang katangian sa bawat pagkapanalo niya sa laban.

Wala pong magbabago: Nananatili ang paghanga at pagsuporta ng sambayanang Pilipino kay Manny. Nawa’y sama-sama po nating ipanalangin ang panunumbalik ng kanyang sigla’t lakas." PND (rck)