Project R3GALO

outreach Comunnities in Tarlac

Arveeh Mae Tortoza & Owen Ocampo

saya dahil noong pandemic ang lungkot namin walang activities na naganap. Ito yung unang naging activity namin pagkatapos ng pandemic.” as Gawad Kalinga (GK) Gerona President Jessie Dela Cruz jubilantly expressed regarding the Project R3GALO.

On December 18, 2022, The Outstanding Students of the Philippines Region 3 Alumni Community of Heroes (TOSP-R3ACH) launched its second run of Project R3GALO, a gift-giving activity that simultaneously takes place in the seven provinces of Central Luzon.

For Tarlac donation drive, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga- Tarlac State University Organization and volunteers the whole donation drive collected an amount of 89,063.50 pesos in which 192 families had received their Noche Buena packages, the amount is higher than the last year’s collection of 61,810 pesos with 170 families.

Among this year’s 192 families, four (4) communities across different municipalities of Tarlac were distributed as follows with the number of families who received their packages: Barangay Luna, Gerona (78 families); GK Remedios Village, Victoria (42 families); GK McCool

Baquero Sur, Moncada (22 families); and Sitio Batson, Bamban (50 families).

The event was composed of opening remarks, games, a raffle draw, a special performance by the children and parents, and the distribution of the holiday package. Aside from the given package, prizes were also granted to each community such as children treats, cash prizes and half cavan of rice.

“Malaking yung tulong na ibinigay niyo sa amin at nagpapasalamat kami sa blessings. Lalong-lalo na kay Ma’am Maybielyn David dahil siya yung kumontak sa amin,” GK Gerona Secretary Luzviminda Panganan.

“First of all, napakasarap kasi na meron kaming opportunity to share yung mga blessings namin at nakikita namin na masaya talaga yung mga tao, all throughout the year ginagawa namin to pero bumalik ako dito kasi mas masarap yung feeling dito” Mr. Deo Ruiz Tapallas, one of the top donors of Project R3GALO Tarlac Donation Drive as he expressed his message to the community of Barangay Luna, Gerona, Tarlac.

“Maraming salamat at nagpunta kayo dito, talagang hirap kami ngayon kasi nga pandemic at karamihan samin walang trabaho kaya laking tulong yung binigay niyo” GK Moncada Secretary Mary Ann Catap.

She also added, “Sobrang saya namin kasi nga minsan minsan lang mangyari ito (event) sa amin. Kalimitan sa amin yung mga bata naglalaro lang diba? Ngayon, nakatanggap sila ng regalo, excited sila ilang araw bago kayo dumating excited na mga yan. Uma- is an Aeta community. Truly, it is the season when we can return to the value of charity and the love of one’s neighbor.

In addition, Ms. Maybielyn David, Head Organizer/Provincial Leader of Tarlac Project R3GALO included that the purpose of the donation drive and gift giving remains the same - to share the love by giving Noche Buena package to selected communities.

The unsung kindness and generosity of the massive ga palang nakaligo na sila, kita naman na sobrang saya nila” as she merrily expressed in an interview during the event in Moncada.

Around 3:00 PM, the TOSP Region 3 and Gawad Kalinga Tarlac Volunteers headed to Sitio Batson, Bamban which it donors, partners, sponsors, organizers, volunteers, and communities who made the event possible were also recognized and appreciated in this event.

“Lagi’t lagi para sa bayan. See you again next year, our dear donors and volunteers,” Ms. David added.