• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran led the annual Wish Upon A Star and Christmas Lighting event of the Rotary Club of Bacolod in partnership with Robinsons Place Bacolod at the mall’s event center on Saturday.
Familiaran, past president of the Rotary Club of Bacolod, was joined by Rotary Club president Michelle Medrano and Robinsons Place mall manger Mary Jo San Marte during the switch-on ceremony of the mall’s giant Christmas tree.
About 112 children from coastal barangays, Home for the Blind, and those belonging to the indigenous tribes (IP), have been chosen as beneficiaries of the Wish Upon a Star gift-giving project of the Rotary Club of Bacolod for this year.
Familiaran recalled that when the project was launched 25 years ago, the only beneficiaries were IPs and street children. But they have expanded the project to accommodate more beneficiaries.
The Wish Upon a Star is a yearly gift-giving activity for the identified children of the community of Rotary Club of Bacolod and Robinsons Place Bacolod.
In her message, Marte reminded the beneficiaries that “the greatest gift you can receive or give this Christmas isn’t wrapped in ribbon or beautiful paper, but it is the gift of yourselves, the gift of family, the gift of presence, the gift of love that knows no bounds.”
“As we celebrate the birth of the King, the season also celebrates the birth of kindness, the rekindling of hope, and the unshakeable bond that ties us together,” she said.
Robinsons, together with Rotary, does not only look back and feel grateful for the 25 years of fulfilling wishes of these children through Wish Upon a Star, we also devote ourselves to continue to open our hearts and to reach out, to share warm smiles, and to be the venue where generous spirits come together to spread love and cheer to everyone year after year,” Marte added.*
