First Cavalry Squadron donates school supplies to Zambo, Yolanda children-victims

 
By JONG CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, ZamboSur (Pagadian Frontline News Tuesday/Dec. 17, 2013) – The First Cavalry Squadron of the Army’s Mechanized Division has donated 200 gifts packs of school supplies to children of families displaced by the Zamboanga standoff and super typhoon "Yolanda" in the Visayas.

This was announced here Tuesday by First Cavalry Squadron commander Lt. Col. Antonio John Divinagracia citing they cancelled the command’s Christmas Party and used the money to buy school supplies.

The school supplies consisted of backpacks containing eight notebooks, ballpen, pencil, and eraser. 

Divinagracia said the gift packs were shipped Monday to Zamboanga City and the Visayas for distribution to the beneficiaries.

“We decided to share our Christmas. Instead of having a party, we converted it into schools supplies intended for the pupils of typhoon 'Yolanda' victims in the Visayas and Zamboanga City siege evacuees,” Divinagracia said.

He said the donation of the school supplies is not only the initiative of the First Cavalry Squadron but of the whole First Mechanized Division that shared portion of their Christmas bonus for the typhoon victims.

The squadron is one of the operating units under the First Mechanized Division based in Pulacan, Labangan, this province.

“We have also chosen to share our gift packs to the pupils of Zamboanga siege evacuees because we are part of the government forces that fought the MNLF-Misuari faction,” Divinagracia said.

The siege lasted for 20 days after hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels led by Habier Malik, one of Misuari’s trusted lieutenants, infiltrated this city last September 9.

Divinagracia has also expressed his gratitude to the dependents of the First Cavalry Squadron, the barangay officials, teachers and student Navalan, Tukuran town who helped them repack the donated schools supplies.