Early Christmas treat

Members of UAP Visayas pose with the street kids in a Christmas party they sponsored at the Subangdaku Garden.

Architects host party for Mandaue street kids

Around 30 street children in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City, including 9-year-old Daniel Cabrera, had fun in the Christmas party organized by members of the United Architects in the Philippines (UAP) last Dec. 6.

Architect Jensen Racho, district director of UAP Visayas, said it has been their tradition to share to the community every time UAP celebrates National Architects Week during second week of December.

The activity started with a short program in front of the Mandaue City Hall that was also graced by Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede.

Racho said they chose the city as the venue because of its environment-friendly projects like the setting up of a bike lane and the passage of the Green Building ordinance.

Racho said they appreciated the efforts of the Mandaue city government for creating the Green Building ordinance.

Racho expressed confidence in the imminent creation of the office of the City Architect by virtue of an ordinance.

Racho emphasized the relevance of their profession in building and planning the city.

Vice Mayor Bercede said once the proposed ordinance to create the city architect office is filed, he will work for its eventual passage.

After the program, the group then proceeded to Subangdaku garden where the street children were waiting for them.

They ordered food and hired a Jollibee mascot to entertain the kids in their Christmas party.

The children also presented songs and dances to the delight of the architects.

Daniel Cabrera is the boy whose photo showing him studying by the light cast outside a fast-food outlet went viral in the social media and moved many netizens to help him, was among the beneficiaries of the Christmas party.