The heartwarming glee was felt in all the communities where Sorok Uni held Christmas Cheers last December 2022.
In the National Capital Region,on December 18, 2022, the rescued 300 homeless individuals and families by Manila City’s social welfare department, found glimmers of hope as they received presents and food from Everstar, Inc., Metrobank CBCP, Ms. Grace Valila, Ms. Geraldine Fernandez, Ms. Penelope Medrano, Ms. Evelyn Catan, JL Bulk, Northstar Customs Brockerage, HMM Philippines, Tecthtal, Inc., and Mr. Eric Capiral - donors of Sorok Uni and words of encouragement from the NCR Pastor-In-Charge, Pastor Billones
They are also to receive other social services under PROJECT NEW LIFE in coming months, intended for their social preparation to be reintegrated back to society as self-sufficient citizens of the Philippines. In the Mimaropa Region from December 12 to 15, 2022, about 602 children and parents received gift donations from Metrobank HRMG - BBS People Management Division "Shoebox Project", Ms. Karen Mallari Lim, Ms. Aaeriel Onrust, Ms. Siegred Baligod, Royal Cargo, Ms. Camille Villanueva, ICTSI, KEPCO PH Metrobank Branches - Arranque Center branch and Pritil Tondo Branch sponsor companies.
The beautifully wrapped gift boxes seemed to have touched the hearts of the children as their eyes and salamat po’s portrayed so much gratitude for the people who made great efforts in making them feel special this Christmas season.
They even prepared modern dances which they have learned through the help of technology as they are progressing in the Digital Literacy Project provided to them by KOICA, Human Asia and Sorok Uni.
One hundred forty eight (148) former homeless families and cured leprosy patients under the Project New Life - Sorok Uni Village, Region IV-A gladly showed their talents last December 17, 2022 during the annual Sorok Christmas Cheer Event. In return, sponsors - Container Bridge Philippines, Inc., Rotary Club Congressional, Asia Cargo Container Line, Inc., Asian Institute of Technology and Education, Mr. Erik Dizon, Greatlab for A Cause, Bixby Knolls, Tiaong Rider's Club, CBAT, and Mr. Ariel Jawid, showered them with donation gifts of groceries, sacks of rice, and toys, as a way of motivating them to keep on doing their best in working towards independent living.
While in Region 9, specifically Pasabolong, Zamboanga City, the Annual Christmas Cheer Event last December 20, 2022 seemed like a festival of cultures, traditions and religions for both 431 Christian and Muslim beneficiaries of the foundation who have displayed great camaraderie and teamwork. Love can be felt between them despite their differences.
Moreover, the leadership and organizing skills that they have developed as empowerment beneficiaries of Sorok Uni, was very evident in the success of the event. Sponsors have provided inspiration and motivation through gift giving of Uni-Ship Inc., Alexandria Marine & General Shipping Agency, Inc., Unitramp, Inc., PSMC Philippines, Inc., Novus Freight Inc., Sedar Tug Services Corp., Ikigai Cycles, Ms. Jeanica Clemente, Ms. Pia Pascual, Ms. Sarie Flores, and Ms. Lilibeth Hernandez.
Last but not the least, on Christmas Eve, 38 Persons Affected with Leprosy in the former Tala Leprosarium, now Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, have been given both monetary and in kind Christmas gifts by members of the Manila New Life Church and Ikigai Cycles as a form of assistance to them as most of them are already at their old age and have been greatly affected by the disease.
Aside from them, other 60 cured Persons Affected with Leprosy in Tala, Caloocan were also invited to attend a Christian service to celebrate love and sacrifices made for one another just as Christ did for all humanity.
To sum up 2022 Sorok Uni Annual Christmas Cheer, one of the Teachers in Inawa Panaynep, Teacher Hector, said, “everyone is looking forward to celebrate Christmas”, on which the Executive Director of Sorok Uni added, “to receive gifts, not as material things, but as symbols of love, care and encouragement that our neighbors would be cheerfully and wholeheartedly sharing with us, recognizing one’s importance and worth as a fellow human being.”