Schools of iPeople ignite hope with virtual Xmas gift drive

WITH a resolve to stir hope this coming holiday season, seven schools of iPeople will celebrate Christmas through a series of meaningful activities for its academic and outreach communities.

Mapúa University, Malayan Colleges Mindanao, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Malayan High School of Science, the APEC Schools, National Teachers College, and University of Nueva Caceres will come together in the spirit of giving to bring hope despite the difficulties and challenges encountered by Filipinos this year through a grand virtual Christmas event called “Igniting a Spark of Hope” on Dec. 2.

The virtual Christmas celebration will highlight the launch of “We Love You 3000,” a fund-generating initiative that features the schools’ virtual Christmas trees in a race to 3,000 “likes” or “heart” reactions on Facebook.

For every Like or Heart reaction that the Christmas trees get, the participating schools will be donating P10. The total amount that will be shelled out by the different schools in this activity will be donated to their non-academic support personnel who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the program of “Igniting a Spark of Home”, these seven schools initiated their respective community outreach programs.

Mapúa University calls for donations in the form of packed foods that will go to its adopted communities in Intramuros and Pandacan Manila.

Malayan Colleges Mindanao (MCM) will be holding a benefit concert on December 4 to raise funds to provide Christmas gift packs to jeepney drivers in Davao City. Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (MCL) SAVE (Stand and Volunteer for Empowerment) will provide immediate relief and ensure that post-typhoon rebuilding efforts are sustained in 17 partner communities in Cagayan, Laguna, and Rizal.

Malayan High School of Science (MHSS) will be giving donations to help the residents of Barangay Tumana in Marikina City who were affected by Typhoon Ulysses.

For National Teachers College, this year’s gift-giving will be done through the Bayanihan ng Pamilyang NTC, the institutional outreach program that aims to provide assistance to students, employees, and partner communities who were adversely affected by the recent calamities in our country.

APEC Schools will share its blessings to its employees who are in need of help during these challenging times.

Finally, UNC, through the Institutionalized Community Extension Services (ICES), is conducting relief operations dubbed as “We SHARE because we CARE” to the victims of the country’s strongest typhoon that struck the Bicol region.

As a treat for students, the event will open for entries for the Build Your Minecraft Christmas Village Competition to challenge their creativity and skills. Student participants will have the chance to win the grand prize of P15,000.

A symbolic tree lighting, the launching of the celebration’s theme song, and a variety show and concert featuring Sponge Cola and This Band will cap the event.

“This event will be highlighted by the message of growth, interconnectedness, and giving. Life might have become uncertain and challenging this year, but like the sparkling string of lights on our Christmas trees, if we are all united together, we can illuminate the lives of others,” says Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, president and chief executive officer of iPeople.

“Igniting a Spark of Hope” will be streamed live via Facebook at www.facebook.com/SparkOfHope.Christmas on December 2 at 5:30 p.m.