PVAO scholars give back to surviving war heroes
A GROUP of youth beneficiaries of the Educational Benefit (EB) scholars of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Pangasinan is giving back to surviving war veterans and their families in San Carlos City with its own version of a community pantry .
Sheryl Simeon, provincial director of the Pangasinan Field Office of PVAO, said “Project Bayanihan was initiated by the five EB scholars to help veterans’ families cope with the pandemic.
“This is the scholars’ version of the popularly known community pantry, but with a twist. Food packs were brought to recipients’ residences through the help of the motorcycle riders’ club named Riders of Eugenio,” Simeon told the Philippine Information Agency
The team is composed of scholars Wilma Alejo (Asia Career College Foundation), Carl Vincent Beltran (Philippine Merchant Marine Academy), Yummy Francisco (PHINMA-UPang), Angella Kyla Cristobal (Colegio De Dagupan) and Justine Mendoza (PHINMA-UPang).
Alejo said the targeted recipients are veterans, surviving spouses and parents of those killed in action (KIA) whose ages range from 94 years old and above.
The oldest recipients are 103-year old WWII veteran Gregorio Martinez of Brgy. Coliling; 101-year-old surviving spouse of WWII veteran Domingo R. Magalong – Melenciana C. Magalong of Brgy. Paitan-Panoypoy; and 100-year old WWII veteran Jose V. Austria of Quezon Blvd, all of San Carlos City.
“The PVAO EB scholars in Pangasinan decided on the project as their way of showing gratitude to our country’s living heroes, their “laki” and “bae”, for the sacrifices they gave during their younger years for us to enjoy our freedom and experience life in this millennium,” Simeon added. (PIA Pangasinan/VHS)
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