“Jesus is the reason for the season”.

The road may be long, dusty and mostly still covered by the remnants of Typhoon Pepeng, but this did not stop NEDA Region 1 (NRO 1) staff who went off to celebrate a simple Christmas party with the pupils of Sitio Parparya Community School and Day Care Center at Nagyubuyuban, San Fernando City on December 17, 2009.

Mrs Leonora Estolas, the Teacher-in-Charge, warmly opened the day with sincere gratitude to NRO1, as their so-called “Santa Claus”, for graciously heeding the many needs and requests for the improvement of their school, and the day’s Christmas party was an additional bonus treat for the children.

Pupils, parents and teachers shared a hearty rouse of laughter for every parlor game won, a sigh of achievement for every intermission number completed and a great big smile for every gift received.

One of the program’s highlights was the pre-school pupils’ tableau of the Nativity Story, which drew a huge round of applause from the audience and a tranquil reflection that “Jesus is the reason for the season”.

Sitio Parparya Community School and Day Care Center is NRO 1’s recipient of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program, aiding in the school’s education and health essentials, physical facilities, and training programs.  The agency’s CSR program, which started in 2008, is not just an obligation to give back, but a genuine act of lending both hands for those who silently need are in the most. (mpi)