Assumption studes spare meal money, sends 'love letters' to Ilonggo soldiers in Mindanao
Ilonggo Army soldiers in the battlefield of Mindanao got early Christmas presents in hundreds of love letters, over a thousand rosary beads, and meal money pooled by students of a private school here in Iloilo City.
Bearing touching messages that wished the soldiers safety and expressed gratitude in the battle for peace in Mindanao, the gifts came from Iloilo Assumption Convent.
A wonderful surprise, said Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) here. And one that has "deeply moved the AFP," he added.
"The profound efforts of these children, the students – it certainly inspires us and for this we shall always be thankful and remain courageous in our battle," Captain Marquez told The News Today (TNT).
A total of 980 letters with heartwarming messages alongside 1,509 rosaries were sent to Army forces stationed in the highly-dangerous warzones of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
"I'm praying for your safety," one letter went. Enclosed was P20 of the unidentified child's meal money.
"Thank you for helping our Country to be a peaceful place to live," another letter went with a P50 inside.
Portion of the letters also reached wounded soldiers who are fighting for their lives in V-Luna Hospital's Heroes Ward in Manila.
These, the AFP said, uplifted the spirits of the wounded soldiers and their families.
"The perfumed stationeries with sketches of butterflies, flowers, flags and soldiers will truly be a blast of cheerfulness for our soldiers in the fields," Captain Marquez added with a big smile. "From the hearts of these children, believing that our soldiers are their heroes is one of the most rewarding thing any military man can have."
The meal money spared, TNT learned, were given by the students as their way of sharing and sacrificing for the soldiers.
"In their young minds, they already know that our soldiers' job entails a lot of sacrifices,' Captain Marquez continued. "We are truly grateful. It makes our job easier and worth fighting for."