Indigent family in Tondo receives life-changing gift from Villar

Ambico and Irene Loveras were overtaken with emotions when they were chosen by Nacionalista Party president Sen. Manny Villar as the recipient of a house and lot. The life-changing event for the couple took place during the celebration of the feast of Sto. Nino in Tondo as televised in GMA 7's Sunday variety show SOP.

"Malapit talaga sa puso ko ang Tondo at masaya ako kapag nakakapunta ako dito dahil dito ako lumaki at nag-umpisang mangarap. Iskwater lang kami dito dati. Diyan (pointing to an area near the stage) kami naglalaro at nagsi-swimming noon pag umuulan," said Villar, also referred to as "the poor boy from Tondo".

According to Villar, Amico, 45 and Irene, 31 were chosen among so many Tondo residents because of their dire circumstances and urgent needs. The Loveras couple has been moving from one house to another and struggling to pay the monthly rents. They have two sons, nine-year-old Ian and six-year-old Mico. Ian is afflicted with blood disease (beta thalassemia), which made life more burdensome for the family. If left untreated, the disease could lead to leukemia.

"Napag-alaman naming may sakit ang kanilang panganay na anak at kailangan ng isang malinis na kapaligiran upang mapabilis ang paggaling ng kanyang karamdaman. Mayroon din akong kapatid na namatay, dahil nga sa kahirapan namin ay wala kaming pambili ng gamot," Villar said.

The head of the family, Ambico is engaged in the so-called "palit-damit" trade where he goes around various neighborhoods to ask people to exchange old clothes for various items such as houseware and small kitchen appliances. He gets only meager earnings of P300 from his occupation, most of which are spent to buy medicines for his son.

"Maraming salamat kay Senator Villar sa kanyang tulong at ngayon po ay may matatawag na kaming sariling bahay," said a tearful Irene.

Villar replied: "Masaya ako at sa ating kapistahan ng Sto. Nino ay nakapagbigay saya ako sa isang kababayan. Sana ay gumanda ang buhay ng kanilang pamiya at ang dalawang anak nila ay lumaki ng maayos."

In October last year, Villar also gave away houses and lots to six overseas Filipinos workers (OFWs) in daily noontime show Wowowee. The recipients were Sarah Felecio of Negros Occidental, Marnelli Recabar of Iloilo, Rosemarie Jaca of Romblon, Judith Vicente representing Hazel Vicente also from Romblon, Jennifer Sonbise representing Joanne Sonbise of Parañaque, and Jolinald Chan representing Jenny Chan of Manila. The OFWs each received a fully-furnished two-storey, two-bedroom townhouse with a market value of P1.2 million.

As a parting shot, Villar told the big crowd, "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paroonan. Kaya naman, ang mga pinalad sa buhay dapat ibahagi ang kanilang magandang kapalaran na inabot. Sana pagdating na panahon ay mas marami pa tayong matulungan. Pagtulong-tulungan po natin yan."