
For the 2024 Christmas season, UPLIFT Cares shared the gift of joy with the beneficiaries. In fulfilling this, we conducted lively activities that blessed them with a more meaningful Christmas together through our annual holiday initiative, “A Dozen Blessings for Christmas” (ADBC). That year, ADBC bore the theme, “Paskong Magkakasama.”
Last December 21, 2024, UPLIFT Cares rejoiced in the true meaning of Christmas with its beneficiaries through two more Christmas events at the CCF Center. These were Uplift Plus Paskong Magkakasama, which catered to our select underprivileged scholars, and a distribution activity for CCF Center Agency Workers. With these activities, we were able to spread the joys of sharing God’s blessings with their families, and create bright memories that they will treasure even beyond the Christmas season!

In the morning, Uplift Plus scholars who achieved outstanding scholarship performance experienced a meaningful time of fun and fellowship at the Uplift Plus Paskong Magkakasama event at Room 3A of the CCF Center. They embraced a devotion reflecting on making room for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and participated in special games that unleashed their abilities, talents, and teamwork as future servant-leaders. Hosting this event were UPLIFT Cares Assistant Scholarship Coordinator Lysie Omadle and UPLIFT Cares Scholarship Coordinator Gemmalyn Cubay.
As the event started, Uplift Plus scholars sang Chris Tomlin’s “Joy To The World” (Unspeakable Joy), along with worship single “Make Room” by Community Music. A handful of scholars danced in front of the audience during this short segment.
UPLIFT Cares Scholarship Head Christine Chuca delivered her opening remarks, expressing her appreciation for the scholars in attendance for a job well done in their scholarship performance.
“Our prayers to you, as you continue to develop as committed, competent, and Christlike servant-leaders, [you are] to be part of the transformation of your family at home, because they are your companions,” she addressed the scholars partly in Filipino.

Chuca said that the event would enable the scholars to enjoy the presence of one another. She also called the UPLIFT Cares staff in attendance to introduce themselves in front of the scholars.
Morning Devotion
Sitting on a bean bag and displaying a relaxed feel, UPLIFT Cares Discipleship Lead Jun Lavetoria held his devotion for scholars entitled, “Make Room for Jesus.” He based his devotion from his reflection on the song, “Make Room,” which was sung just earlier.

“Worship is more than singing, it’s glorifying God. It’s responding to who God is… what He has done in our lives, and what He will continue to do. That’s worship. So it’s not limited to songs. It’s everything that we do. So, make room for Jesus. Today, we’re contemplating on the song. It’s one way of evaluating worship songs,” Lavetoria said partly in Filipino.
Throughout his devotion, he connected the stanzas of the song with Bible verses.
Relating to the “burden” and “crown” as found in the first stanza of the song, Lavetoria cited Matthew 11:28, which talks about Jesus giving rest.
“We have burdens, but we have victorious moments with the Lord Jesus. Apart from Him, we can do nothing,” he said. In Philippians 4:6-7, we are reminded not to be anxious about anything.
Regarding the academic load that the scholars are handling, Lavetoria encouraged them to write on pieces of paper distributed to them all the burdens that they have experienced or are experiencing. They were also asked to write their victorious moments, such as passing an examination or gaining new friends.
He then said that the song’s chorus, “And I will make room for You; To do whatever You want to…” refers to spending an intimate moment talking to God.
“It’s a very personal song… We want to be used by the Lord, right? And you know that being a scholar, being committed, and doing your best are used by the Lord to glorify Him. And we and everyone [else] who remember what you’re doing for the Lord are blessed,” he said. James 4:7 carries a message of being intentional in making room for Jesus.
Lavetoria encouraged the scholars to make room so that God will move in their lives. He also expressed his insights on the stanza saying, “Here is where I lay it down; Every lie and every doubt…”
“So we surrender every lie… You write, what are the lies that the enemy tells you? That you’re not capable, that you’re just alone, that nobody loves you,” he told the scholars. He encouraged them to surrender every lie and doubt unto God.
About the song’s bridge verse, “Shake up the ground of all my tradition; Break down the walls of all my religion; Your way is better; Your way is better,” he said that each one can disciple and minister to others. He added that aside from attending Sunday worship services, we need to share the Gospel to others.
Lavetoria said that in spite of our worries and doubts, God remains faithful. Romans 12:2 talks about not conforming to the patterns of this world, but being transformed by the renewing of our mind.
“Doing your best in school, ministering to your family and your friends, that’s God’s will. And that’s God’s purpose for each one of us. And we are blessed to be celebrating God’s goodness,” he said.
As he ended his devotion, Lavetoria asked the scholars to read aloud a prayer, relating to the same song.
Lively Games
For the four games played, the scholars were divided into three groups, with an apprentice assigned for each.

The first game, “Bible Quiz,” tested the scholars in their knowledge of the Bible. The categories consisted of naming the three Books in the Bible that start with the letter “M,” the place where Jesus walked on water, what Jesus’ first miracle was, the sea that Moses parted, the weapon that David used to defeat Goliath, and the tie-breaker question: who was told by God to build an ark.
The second game was called “Grab the Hanky.” For a group to earn a point, a team member who meets a certain description (e.g., born in the month of December, wearing black shoes, the only child in their family) must be able to catch the handkerchief after it is thrown away by the person at the center.
The third game, entitled “Ping Pong Ball Relay,” featured each group forming and holding a makeshift mini-canal made of bond paper. The ping pong ball must be able to pass through the representatives of the group without falling. The first group that was able to achieve this won.
The last game, “The Letters Game,” required each group to form the words, “ADBC,” “Paskong Magkakasama,” and “Uplift Cares.” A piece of bond paper had a letter printed on it. The members assembled the letters printed on paper and completed one word in a given time.
Christmas Message For Scholars
UPLIFT Cares ALS Program Director Denny Dinsay delivered his Christmas message to the scholars. He expressed his appreciation towards them, as most of them participated in the games played. He stressed that everything that they do are for God.

In his message, Pastor Denny said that they are practicing giving because God first gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus, to offer the gift of eternal life. He then asked the scholars to recite aloud the popular Bible verse, John 3:16, and shared about the message of this verse.
“The moment you believe in Him, [you] are assured that all your sins are forgiven, and you have a home in heaven,” Pastor Denny said.
He stressed that UPLIFT Cares’ ADBC initiative was held in response to God’s love and generosity.
“Any act of giving, any form of giving is an act of worship… And second is that we want to bless you. We want to bless you, guys, because it is God’s will for each and every one of us to be a blessing to one another. When we bless, we are doing God’s will and God is honored,” Pastor Denny said.
Pastor Denny said that it is our dream for all of them to eventually graduate from college, and encouraged them about the importance of kindness.
“On behalf of UPLIFT, under the leadership of Pastor Ito de Jesus and CCF, we want to wish you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! May this season bring peace, joy, and a deep sense of God’s love in your heart,” he ended his message.
The rankings of the three groups were revealed, and UPLIFT Cares Scholarship Lead Sid Valencia communicated his announcements regarding some of the scholarship duties for the existing scholars.
The scholars each received an ADBC Noche Buena bag. A group photo taking opportunity capped off this event.
They also had the opportunity to pray for one another through the “Prayer Board,” and share their favorite UPLIFT Cares moments at the “Memory Station.”
Distribution Activity For CCF Center Agency Workers
At the same venue in the afternoon of December 21, UPLIFT Cares staff members distributed Noche Buena items to the CCF Center Agency Workers, who lined up per agency or designation. Each of them received an ADBC bag, along with a Chooks-to-Go stub from Bounty Fresh, an Ever Bilena Hello Glow item, and Laura’s Biscuits, which they could share with their families so that they could spend a more meaningful Christmas season with them.
The agency workers who trooped to this event composed of housekeeping personnel, security guards, logistics personnel, gardening personnel, drivers, and technical personnel. After they received their items, they took a photo opportunity in their respective groups.
They could also treasure their precious moments and build camaraderie with one another through the “Paskong Magkakasama” school bus-style photo booth.
Through this activity, UPLIFT Cares recognized their heartfelt dedication in rendering their respective duties with perseverance to CCF staff, attendees, and visitors at the CCF Center, devoting their time and abilities in serving God. This was also our way of sharing God’s compassion as part of a wider CCF community.
For the UPLIFT Cares’ #StoriesOfHope Campaign 2024 last November, eight agency workers representing various designations expressed their hopes and dreams for the then-upcoming Christmas season, which were featured in a campaign video.
As our scholars and CCF Center Agency Workers experienced blessings that inspired them to cherish the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus, we are praying that they will continue to live with hope and joy in their hearts in every season of their lives!
To volunteer or partner with us for our Uplift Plus scholarship program for underprivileged students or our other initiatives, you may send us a message on our social media accounts or send us an email at sponsorship@upliftcares.com
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