Pasko sa Uptown in Cebu City to push through but with no party

CCPUM to deliver bundles of joy to kids in participating barangays

Cebu City Vice Mayor Mike Rama speaks during a press conference for the Pasko sa Uptown on Thursday, December 10, 2020. CDN Digital photo | Delta Letigio

CEBU CITY, Philippines—The Cebu City Progressive Uptown Movement (CCPUM) will be pushing through with the 10th Pasko sa Uptown, a Christmas celebration for children in the city. 

But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be certain changes with the way the celebration will be held.

For one, there will be no party this year.

Since children aged 14 years and below are not allowed to go out under the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) the the city is classified in, organizers decided that the bundles of joy will be distributed to the 46 participating barangays and delivered to the homes of the 30 children beneficiaries per barangay, or a total of 1,400 children. 

Creslito Nieves, the president of the CCPUM, said the bundles will include rice and other food items for Christmas eve, so even the families of the children will also enjoy the package. 

Another difference for this year Pasko sa Uptown is that toys will not be included in the packages. This is done to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 through these toys. 

To ensure the safety of the children during the distribution, each barangay will have to  assist in the distribution, especially the Gender and Development (GAD) focal persons. 

The barangays and the police will help in the distribution to ensure that residents will not crowd the trucks bringing the bundles of joy. 

There are 30 mountain barangays and 16 coastal barangays which will benefit from  the Pasko sa Uptown. 

Other barangays opted out of the activity as the activity carries the risk of spreading the virus, despite regulations. 

Nieves said the barangays are given the prerogative to opt out of the program this year. 

Finally, the CCPUM assured that the beneficiaries are from the underprivileged sector of the society, since they are the most in need. 

Last year, the celebration was held at Camp Lapu-Lapu, the headquarters of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP Centcom) located in Barangay Lahug.

Read: ‘Pasko sa Uptown’ shows why children’s smiles define Christmas spirit

At least 2,000 children from the uptown barangays of Cebu City joined the celebration.

CCPUM was established by Vice Mayor Michael Rama in 2007 during his time as mayor of Cebu City.

/bmjo