Japan-Based US Troops Play Santa To RP Kids

MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 13 Dec) – U.S. troops based in Japan are to distribute thousands of toys to Filipino children as part of their annual “Operation Goodwill,” a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

Aside from toys, the soldiers, all from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Okinawa, and their families and service members, are also to distribute clothes and sporting goods, including health care and food items throughout the Philippines this week. They will also distribute more gifts next month.

“The U.S. Marines, service members, and their families in Okinawa created this program in 2003 to show appreciation to the children and families of the Philippines for welcoming them during annual bilateral exercises.”

“The U.S. Marines work each year with their families to gather donations and then deliver toys and supplies to Filipino children over the holiday season,” a U.S. Marine public affairs officer, 1st Lt. Eric Tausch, said.

The distribution will begin Thursday in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan island in southwestern Philippines where most of the beneficiaries are military and community families living near the Antonio Bautista Air Base.

The soldiers will also donate a check for P 156,677.50 to Sister Eva Maamo of Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission, Inc., to assist in her charitable works. A portion of the money will be use for a special holiday meal Dec. 19 for the malnourished children the foundation assists.

Besides from the Our Lady of Peace Foundation, the group will also donate an unspecified amount to the Duyan Ni Maria (Mary’s Cradle Orphanage) in Angeles City in Pampanga, outside Manila, on Friday.

This will be followed the day of a visit to the Aeta Resettlement and Rehabilitation Center in Subic, the former U.S. naval base, in Ologapo City in Zambales province in central Luzon.

And the U.S. soldiers are also scheduled to present a check Dec. 19 to the Philippine National Red Cross in Manila for use in relief efforts and will help serve a holiday meal and distribute goodwill items at the Foundation of Our Lady of Peace Mission also in the Philippine capital.

U.S. soldiers deployed in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines also played Santa Claus and distributed goodies to mostly poor children and local charities.

An unidentified U.S. Navy officer from the U.S. Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines played Santa Claus. U.S. military forces are in the south on the request of the Philippine government to provide training to local troops, but many American soldiers are also involved in humanitarian activities. (Mindanao Examiner)