Continuing the annual gift-giving tradition, some 67,061 Valenzuelano senior citizens receive their Christmas package gift pack through the city’s yearly Pamaskong Handog para kay Lolo’t Lola, on December 7. 

Starting today, Mayor WES Gatchalian together with the City Officials will make rounds to the 33 barangays in Valenzuela to formally distribute the Pamaskong Handog, and personally extend their Christmas wishes to the city's beloved lolo’t lola. 

In his message, Mayor WES related the commemoration of the 400th founding anniversary of Valenzuela to the seniors being part of the history of what Valenzuela has become now, “Itong taon at buwan na’to ay hindi lamang pasko ang ating cinecelebrate, kundi ang ika-apat na raang taong anibersaryo ng ating mahal na lungsod….Lahat kayo ay parte ng kasaysayan. Lahat kayo ay saksi kung ano ang Valenzuela noon, kung ano ang Valenzuela ngayon, at ano ang Valenzuela sa mga darating na panahon.” [This year and month is not just about Christmas, but the four hundred years anniversary of our beloved city…You are all part of the celebration. You are all witnesses to what Valenzuela was, of what Valenzuela, and what Valenzuela in the future.]

On its first day, a total of 12,075 seniors from Barangay Wawang Pulo, Balangkas, Poblacion, Pulo, Pariancillo Villa, Palasan, Isla, Bisig, Mabolo, Tagalog, Arkong Bato, Coloong, Pasolo, Rincon, and Malinta have already redeemed their gift packs. 

To claim their gift, the beneficiary would just have to bring the voucher and their OSCA ID to the designated venue and schedule written on the back of their voucher which was given house-to-house weeks prior to the distribution. 

These eligible beneficiaries are registered senior citizens in the city. Each recipient received a custom-made hand-carry bag with 2 kilograms of rice, and a box filled with canned goods, and a spaghetti package, right in time for the approaching Christmas celebration. 

Making it more special, the custom-made bags were personally stitched by the sewers of Disiplina Village (DV) Lingunan, a livelihood association composed of women of DV. The city government provided this livelihood project alongside a Livelihood Center giving them sustainable and dignified employment. 

The gift-giving will run for five (5) days to cover all the 33 barangays in the City. 

The Pamaskong Handog para kay Lolo’t Lola is an annual gift-giving tradition of the City Government to the registered seniors to give back and bring yuletide cheer to the elderly. 

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