PHILIPPINES – The UP Men’s Basketball Team (UPMBT) spread the holiday spirit to the kids at the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Pedia Ward on Friday, December 15.
Together with nowheretogobutUP Foundation, the Fighting Maroons, led by team captain CJ Cansino and veteran Gerry Abadiano, surprised the kids with toys and gifts from Toys R Us.
“Nakakataba ng puso na maging part ng ganito and makapagpasaya ng mga bata,” Cansino said. “Everyone’s fighting their own battles and it’s our time to show them that we’re in this together.”
“Mabigat para sa akin na makita yong condition nila. Pero iba sa feeling makita yong mga ngiti nila kahit sa simple gifts at laruan,” Abadiano shared. “Masaya na napasaya namin sila today, pero mas marami kaming nakuha[ng inspirasyon] sa kanila.”
Back in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UPMBT hopped on a Zoomustahan session with UP-PGH staff and frontliners. This time, the Fighting Maroons were able to personally meet and thank the hospital’s medical staff and frontliners and wish them Merry Christmas.
UP-PGH Director Dr. Gerard Legaspi welcomed the Fighting Maroons and thanked the team for taking time to visit the UP-PGH Pediatric Ward.
“We are so happy to have our Fighting Maroons here with us today, spending time with the children under our care, spreading love and joy this holiday season. Hopefully, this is the first of many times we’ll do this. #UPFight!” Dr. Legaspi said.
NowheretogobutUP Foundation founding chairman Renan B. Dalisay also shared how important this immersion and gift-giving activity is to the Fighting Maroons.
“We want the Fighting Maroons to have this meaningful experience of getting to know and giving back to the people we play for. Ngayon, tapos na ang mga UAAP games, serbisyo muna uli,” Dalisay said.
“Manalo o matalo, UP will keep serving. We will keep on fighting. Yan ang Tatak UP, yan ang mga Iskolar-Atleta para sa bayan” he added.
This gift-giving program of the UPMBT is only the beginning of many more endeavors as nowheretogobutUP and the UPMBT pledged their support to boost and help the UP-PGH Pediatric Department and the children under their care.