IROG Sponsors the Most Joyful Game in Town: Gift-Giving

For 4 consecutive years, every 16th of September, IROG is consistently donating baby needs to the newly born at San Marcelino Hospital in Zambales in memory of the chairperson’s late husband, Joel Castillo.

What does the cool gentle breeze of the Brrr-months bring to mind? Well, aside from the need to bring out one’s thick blankets and sporty jackets, what else but thoughts of endless partying among relatives and friends (yes, we are referring to that Filipino penchant for year-long and, more so, year-end festivities) until and beyond the onset of the New Year. More specifically, we refer to the happiest blessing of receiving and giving gifts.

Be it as small as a keychain, or a Bluetooth speaker, or as generous as a karaoke machine (a car will do, too), the joy that gifts bring is both a product of an act of faith and love as well as a childhood-bred instinct that is almost as essential as breathing itself. And so, we need to give and to receive as often as we inhale and exhale in order to remain truly healthy.

No other group understands this principle as intimately as IROG does. IROG (Isabelita Rosueta Organization) once more looks forward to its Annual Gift-giving Activity this year, its members get busy setting the ground for another opportunity to bring joy and cheer to the families who need caring and attention.

In the past, IROG extended help to the mothers and their newborn babies in San Marcelino Hospital. Every 16th of September, infants received a bag of essential baby needs, such as diapers, feeding bottles and some baby dresses, along with baby mattress pads and pillows. The happiness felt by the nursing mothers was shared equally by IROG gift-givers as they saw the smiles and felt the warm gratitude of the recipients. When we selflessly and cheerfully give to a baby who is the best gift from Heaven to the world, for we were all once babies and new life-bearers, we actually give to ourselves. For only then can the Giver of Life find us worthy to have received precious life. For when giving ends, life ends as well.

Aside from giving gifts to mothers and their babies, IROG has also sponsored school gift-giving events at Sto. Tomas Elementary School, Subic, Zambales from the very start of its operations as a socially-oriented foundation. Giving is, in a way, the game and the winners are both the giver and the recipient. Hence, nobody loses in this game!

Spearheading this awaited annual event is the kindhearted and dynamic IROG chairperson, who along with her late husband, Joel, believes in the maxim that “no matter what life brings you, keep on moving forward and stay positive”. IROG throbs and thrives because its corporate soul has both seen and experienced life at its best and worst phases and, in the process, nurtured a living common spirit that seeks to face life with resolve and dedication to make every moment count as a blessing to be shared and cherished by all. And that means one’s family, friends, neighbors and others in the community. A family can only find meaning and security if it is truly connected to the community it finds itself in.

IROG continues to believe in many more good things to come for many people. Its small part in making people feel the good things in life will also usher in peace and multiply contentment in the blessings we all constantly receive from day-to-day.