According to ABS-CBN News Report , Philippine Queen of All Media
Kris Aquino again defended her brother from critics, saying that President Benigno Aquino III and the rest of the family are exerting efforts to address the needs of the people, including those affected by tropical storm "
Sendong."
“Gusto ko lang sabihin sa inyo na marami talaga tayong pinagdaanan lalo na itong December na ‘to. Siguro naramdaman namin sa pamilya namin na kailangan talagang tulungan natin ang kapwa nating Pilipino,” Kris told reporters during the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Pasko ng Batang Pinoy Grand Christmas Party held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
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| Image Credit: antipinoy.com |
"Sana po ‘yung mga bumabatikos kay PNoy, nakita n’yo naman po na hindi lang siya kundi ‘yung mga kapatid nya, all out ang effort talaga. Kasi hindi naman niya kaya talaga na mag-isa lang siyang gagawa ng lahat so nandito kami para suportahan siya," she added.
Kris and her sons, Joshua and Bimby, joined President Aquino in giving gift packs to street children and indigents from Metro Manila. Josh gamely joined the children in one of the dance numbers while Kris hosted a part of the day’s program.
DSWD Ambassador For Children’s Rights and Welfare and Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj was also present.
Kris said that she has pledged to provide a year's supply of milk to some 150 orphans. She would also be giving out shoes supplied by Boardwalk, one of the companies she endorses.
“Nag-pledge kami ng isang taon ng milk feeding. Kasi nakikita natin diba, tingnan nyo ‘yung dalawang anak ko, malulusog at siksik talaga. So gusto ko naman, ‘yung ibang batang lalaki, three years old all the way to 16 years old na walang mga magulang, kung anong nutrition na natatanggap ng dalawang anak ko, in our own way, at least may 150 boys kaming matutulungan na kung ano ang sustansya ng dalawang ‘to, pledge natin ‘yun for the entire 2012, yung milk supply nila, ‘yung ine-endorse n’ya (points to Bimby),” Kris said.
DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said the street children and their families would also receive noche buena packs in exchange for not begging and caroling in the streets. She said the Christmas party is just one part of the agency’s comprehensive program to keep poor children away from the streets while providing them educational assistance and nutrition services, and their families with livelihood.
In his speech, President Aquino conveyed his
Christmas wish for the street children and at the same time urged them to do their part in helping the country.
“Kaya naman ang wish ko po ngayon, maging mas ligtas, masaya, at masigla hindi lamang ang inyong darating na kapaskuhan kundi pati na ang inyong pamumuhay sa mga susunod na taon. Narito po kaming mga nakakatanda para isakatuparan ang wish na ito. Gumagawa kami ng mga paraan para bigyan kayo ng pagkakataon na maranasan din ang pinagdaanan ng karamihan ng mga bata: pag-aaral sa eskwela, pakikipaglaro sa mga kaibigan at pag-aaruga ng mga maituturing ninyong pamilya,” he said.
“Baka maitanong ninyo: paano kayo makakatulong? Pakisunod po ang ating mga batas, mag-aral nang talagang mabuti, ilayo ang sarili sa bisyo at sa droga. Sapat na iyon para makaambag kayo sa pagtahak natin sa tuwid na daan. Itigil na ang pagiging pasaway, huwag pairalin ang katigasan ng ulo. Marami tayong magagawa kung gagawin lang natin ang tama,” he added.
On
Christmas Eve, President Aquino will be joined by his sisters in an outreach activity for orphans in Don Bosco.
