Changing lives for the better one wish at a time
A dignified home remains a crowning achievement for millions of hardworking Filipinos. In Philippine culture, nothing rivals a home as an offering of love to your family or as a sign that you’ve progressed in life.
Despite that, the country faces a huge backlog of homes, estimated at 6.5 million units. A dwelling, indeed, remains a dream for millions of households, especially for low-income earners.
So, if you’re a garbage collector and strangers suddenly come with everything you need to achieve that dream, your heart would truly leap for joy.
That’s exactly what happened in Pampanga province when a low-income worker finally got a home—a true shelter.
Make-A-Wish program
That was just one of many heart-warming stories that
unfolded nationwide over Christmastime through the Make-A-Wish program of DigiPlus Interactive and its social development arm, BingoPlus Foundation.
“The Make-A-Wish program is our way of embodying the true spirit of Christmas,” shared Angela Camins-Wieneke, executive director of BingoPlus Foundation. “Every wish granted represents not just a gift, but a beacon of hope, love, and community.”
Aside from a new home, Make-A-Wish also provided a motorcycle in Rizal, solar lights and generators in Mindoro, school supplies in Tawi-Tawi, a year’s supply of diapers in Iloilo, a laptop in Davao, medical assistance in Muntinlupa, books and toys in Bulacan, and livelihood assistance in Manila—just some of the 45 wishes granted.
Foundation’s advocacies
The Make-A-Wish program covered the foundation’s advocacies in education, livelihood, healthcare and resilience—areas of concern in the Philippines for which the foundation had provided countless grants and organized outreach programs.
The lucky grantees were meticulously screened from a bigger number gathered by BingoPlus and PeryaGame players and employees from stores nationwide.
With the support of BingoPlus Studio’s “Sagot ng Bingo Ang Regalo Mo” program and the brand’s different stores, Make-A-Wish expanded from just seven cities in 2023 to 37 cities in 2024.
Across 20 provinces, “Digibuddy” volunteers went to the beneficiaries, fulfilling wishes from individuals in need, their loved ones and, in some cases, concerned citizens and organizations. Surprise and delight were undeniable on their faces.
Changing lives
The gifts changed the lives of over 1,000 people, many of whom—like the Pampanga garbage collector—belong to sectors that are vulnerable and in need of support to improve their quality of life. Some are women and children, persons with disability and afflicted with illnesses, members of indigenous groups, and members of impoverished groups.
Through the docu-series “ChristPLUS Stories,” those stories of transformation can be viewed by millions everywhere. These can be watched on the official social media pages of BingoPlus Foundation.
“The greatest reward is seeing the smiles and the transformative impact on our beneficiaries,” Camins-Wieneke said.
