THE EASTERN Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) donated ₱100,000 in cash assistance and educational materials and toys to the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer Inc. during a gift-giving activity at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Bajada, Davao City, on Aug. 24.
The turnover ceremony, dubbed “Sharing is Caring: Spread HOPE Through Gift Giving,” served as a flagship community event celebrating EastMinCom’s upcoming 20th anniversary The funds came from the military command’s recent “Drive for Hope 5.0” Charity Golf Tournament.
EastMinCom commander LTGEN Adonis Ariel G. Orio personally handed over the ₱100,000 check to House of Hope representatives led by fundraising manager Arleen Aportadera, foundation board members, and attending SPMC physicians, witnessed by pediatric patients and their families.
“As the Eastern Mindanao Command celebrates its 20th founding anniversary, many expect us to begin by looking back at our accomplishments. Instead, we chose to begin by looking toward the future,” Orio said during his address. “The future lives in every child who continues to dream, every parent who refuses to give up, and every family that chooses hope. To our young warriors: your illness does not define you—your courage does.”
Orio urged the children to keep holding onto their dreams despite health challenges, assuring them that military personnel and the entire community stand behind their recovery.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the beneficiary children, Aportadera emphasized that EastMinCom’s sustained support provides moral and psychological strength to young patients fighting cancer.
“This support goes beyond financial assistance—it reminds our young warriors and their families that they are not alone in their journey,” Aportadera said. “Initiatives such as Drive for Hope give our children greater strength to continue fighting and, most importantly, to keep hoping.”
Following the ceremonial program, SPMC medical officers led EastMinCom officers on a tour of the SPMC Children’s Cancer Institute to gain a deeper understanding of the specialized pediatric care provided at the hospital.
