Family is Forever: Eximius BPO, PSOD bring joy to patient families for Christmas

PASIG CITY – Last December 7, 2019, Eximius BPO and the Philippine Society for Orphan Disorders gathered patients and their families for an annual Christmas gathering at St. Paul College, Pasig City. On its fourth year, Eximilus BPO has been part of the annual gathering which brings joy to patients and their families Together, the organizers held the program in hope of bringing the Christmas spirit closer to the families, as well as giving the gifts of love, care, joy and hope. Twenty-one patient families attended the event.

To open the event, PSOD President Cynthia Magdaraog recognized Eximius BPO as a constant partner of the PSOD for its annual gathering. She relayed the organization’s gratitude to the company. Ms. Janet Francisco, PSOD Patient Navigator, added that patient families are only gathered a few times in a year. She encouraged everyone to enjoy the event.

Eximius BPO employees and volunteers facilitated games for the children and their parents. According to Eximius BPO HR Supervisor Lian Cruz, 45 company employees composed the team. Cruz added the company believes with PSOD’s advocacy. “Every year napapasaya nila (PSOD children) kami, dahil doon nabibigyan kami ng dahilan para maging masaya… Every year kailangan naman natin mag-share ng blessings”. She also mentioned that the advocacy is close to the heart of the company’s president, Mr. Javey de Venecia. Mr. de Venecia’s daughter Kate was diagnosed with a rare condition, GM1 Gangliosidosis, which affect the neurons and spinal cord.

During the Christmas party, various prizes were also sponsored and raffled by the company. Another highlight of the event was the dog show led by Pilipinas Got Talent Season 4 Finalist Randy Macalma Jr.

The advanced Christmas celebration also featured the talent of the PSOD children and the volunteer-facilitators. Selected PSOD children performed an interpretation of “Fight Song” which they also performed at the Asia-Pacific Congress on Human Genetics. Meanwhile, the Eximius volunteer-facilitators danced to the tune of “Dahil Sa’yo”.

The Christmas gathering culminated with the annual gift giving to all of the patient families. The group was also led by Osteogenesis imperfecta patient-advocate Rose Ann Libay to a group singing of a popular Christmas Station ID, “Family is Forever”.

For one of the first time Eximius BPO volunteers, Ms. Adele Harana, an analyzer, she said that she felt very happy and gained a lot of realizations after the event. As a new employee to the company, it was her first time to witness the great generosity of the company, and the cooperation of the rare disease community. She pledged to return and participate next year, if possible.

Happiness was also felt by the families of PSOD children. For Ms. Ivee Manzano, the mother of Maecy, an Epidermolysis bullosa patient, she is grateful to all the organizers and volunteers of the event which was really enjoyed by their family. She added that it is their second year to join the event. #