AS part of its annual tradition to bring Yuletide cheer to the residents of its centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to hold a series of celebrations, which include gift-giving and a simple ‘salo-salo’ party.
‘May mga iba’t-ibang activities sa mga care facilities natin. Sa katunayan, taon-taon, sa December 24th, 25th, sa 31st, at saka sa January 1st, may mga special na mga parties sa loob ng mga care facilities natin. [There are various activities in our care facilities. Every December 24, 25 and 31, as well as January 1, we have special parties in our care facilities],’ DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told reporters during his visit at the Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases (GRACES) in Bago Bantay, Quezon City, on Friday.
Gatchalian said that he chose to visit first one of the often-neglected sectors, the elderly residents in shelters, to ensure they feel loved and cared for this Christmas season, despite being away from their families.
‘Alam natin na itong time of the year, masaya para sa karamihan pero para sa mga nasa shelter natin, siyempre naulila na sila sa pamilya nila. ‘Yung mabisita sila, malaking bagay na yun. So nagdala kami ng konting regalo. Pero bahagi ito ng mga Christmas celebration natin sa mga shelter natin. Ang utos kasi ng Pangulo natin na Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., siguraduhin na yung mga nasa shelter natin nadarama rin nila yung diwa ng Pasko. [Most people are happy this time of the year, but residents of our shelters feel lonely. It is a big thing for them to be visited. So, we brought some gifts as part of our Christmas celebrations in our shelters. President Marcos instructed us to ensure that residents in our shelters also feel the spirit of Christmas],’ he said.
About 200 elderly residents of GRACES, including homeless senior citizens and those who are bedridden, received gift packages from Gatchalian.
‘Out of culture kasi, di ba, sa pamil-yang Pilipino, tayo yung matatanda natin, tumatanda ng kasama natin sa bahay. So malungkot, in a sense, kasi meron tayong 200 na matatanda na napabayaan, pero masaya, in another sense, kasi natututukan sila ng pamahalaan. [In our culture, our elderly stay with our families. It’s sad that we have 200 senior citizens here who were neglected, but happy in another sense because the government is taking care of them],’ Gatchalian said.
The DSWD operates around 77 centers and residential care facilities nationwide, providing shelter and support for vulnerable sectors like children, PWDs, women, and senior citizens, with specific numbers hovering around 76,077 in recent reports from late 2025. These facilities offer temporary homes, rehabilitation, training, and health services to help disadvantaged individuals reintegrate into society.
For donors who want to share their blessings to the clients and residents under the care of the DSWD’s CRCFs, they may visit the Kaagapay donations portal web site at https://kaagapay.dswd.gov.ph/home.