A Christmas wish come true
THE Valdez family of seven from Villasis town has never really celebrated Christmas because they could not afford even the simplest of feasts.
The father, Joven Sr., works as contractual farm hand while the mother, Precy, does laundry services.
But despite their poverty, education is something that they value and so the four children of school age do go to school, even sometimes on an empty stomach.
Their dedication to their studies shines in particular with Joan, a grade two student at Bacag East Elementary School, who manages to be in the top three of her class.
The school principal of Bacag East, Maria Agnes Oller, narrates that there have been times when the teachers would volunteer to shoulder the Valdez’ siblings’ school expenses knowing that they are considered the poorest in school.
Chatting with Joan about her Christmas wish, Oller found out that the young girl’s wish was to see what’s inside the SM City Rosales mall.
REALIZATION
“You see it was a very simple Christmas wish and at that time, I was so touched because there were times I would go to the mall daily with my kids and yet little did I realize there are kids out there like Joan and her siblings who longed to visit SM City Rosales,” Oller said.
And so Oller gave it a shot, sending a letter about the Valdez family’s wish addressed to “SM City Rosales Management” not knowing who in particular to write to.
The letter made it to the desk of Engr. Jersey Mendoza, SM City Rosales Mall Manager, who found it “the first time that they have received such generous letter”.
The wish was made true on Christmas Day through SM’s “Share-A-Joy Project”.
SM not only organized a trip to SM for the family but also prepared treats and gifts in cooperation with SM affiliate shops, other tenants in the mall, and even the mall employees put together a pot of cash as their contribution.
Eleven-year old Joven Jr., the eldest in the brood, had tears of joy for what was an overwhelmingly exciting experience for him. With him were his siblings Joan, 8; and Precia Mae, 6.
“Even my staff were also crying… after they saw the children and that served also a realization to them,” Mendoza said.
Mother Precy, speaking also in tears for the family, said, “We’re very happy to receive many gifts and it’s our first time to receive such gifts.”
The mother, thanking their benefactors, said everything they have received will be used for the children’s school expenses.
“We made sure that they will enjoy their stay here in SM and so we make it worth remembering” Mendoza said.—with report from Eva Visperas
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