By Martin Sadongdong  Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayade led the giving of gifts to about 200 children and their parents living in the slums of Manila on December 24. (photo by Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN) This year, Albayalde and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Guillermo Eleazar graced the gift-giving activity at Paraiso ng Batang Maynila on Quirino corner Leveriza Street, Malate, Manila where about 200 children and their parents received food and grocery packs from the PNP. "Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa patuloy niyong pagsuporta sa PNP. Sa ating kapulisan, sana ay paigtingin pa at pagbutihin ang pagsisilbi sa ating mga kababayan para mabigyan sila ng sapat na serbisyo lalo na sa kanilang seguridad (We thank you for your sustained support to the PNP. To our policemen, I hope that you continue do your best to serve the public especially in ensuring their security)," he said. He shared that the 'tradition' of gift-giving to poor children and their families started years back when he was still a junior officer, even before he became the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in 2016. "Ito po ay matagal ko nang ginagawa even before maging RD ng NCRPO. Noong ako po ay junior officer pa, pinangako naming mag-asawa na hindi po kami magce-celebrate ng anibersaryo, birthday ng anak kundi yung one-year-old and seven-years-old lang. Ang ginawa po namin, instead na gastusin namin sa pagcelebrate ng wedding anniversary at birthdays ng anak, ginagawa na lang namin ay magbahagi ng konting pagkain sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa medyo hirap sa buhay at tuwing sasapit ang kapaskuhan," he said. (I've been doing this for a long time even before I became the of the NCRPO. When I was still a junior officer, my wife and I promised not to celebrate our anniversary, even the birthdays of our children, only their first and seventh birthdays. Instead of spending money to celebrate our wedding anniversary and our children's birthdays, we share some food to other people especially to those who are poor if it's Christmas.) Albayalde said the children, some of them out-of-school youth, are currently the beneficiaries of the Manila Police District (MPD)'s Mobile Library. "Mayroon tayong mobile library para sa mga bata, lalo na 'yung street children na hindi makapasok sa eskwelahan. It started sa MPD. Kaya sa mga kababayan natin, kung mayroon kayong sobrang libro o aklat, pwede niyong i-donate sa MPD kasi mobile ito so iikot sa Manila (We have this mobile library for children, especially those who cannot afford to go to school. It was started by the MPD. So to our countrymen, if you have excess books, you can donate them to the MPD because this mobile library will go around Manila)," he noted. "Para ito maengganyo silang matutong magsulat, magbasa at anyayahan sila na pumasok sa eskwelahan. Maraming street children na they feel neglected. Let us share our blessings lalo na sa mga bata na hirap sa buhay (This is to encourage them to learn how to write, read and to go to school. A lot of street children feel that they are being neglected. Let us share our blessings especially to poor children)," he added. The PNP Chief also said the mobile library aims to drive the children away from the dangers of illegal drugs.