Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Imelda Papin is excited about her new role as the newly appointed director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, which starts tomorrow, June 10.

The Jukebox Queen considers this a blessing because she'll be able to continue what she had been doing when she served as a vice governor in Camarines Sur.

“I've been doing this kahit noon pa. Talagang gusto kong tumulong sa ating mga kababayan. Since naging bise gobernador ako, 'yun na talaga ang aking ginagawa,” the OPM icon said smiling during an interview with the entertainment media, including GMANetwork.com, on Saturday, June 8, at Mesa Restaurant in Quezon City.

Imelda will be one of the members of PCSO's board of directors, including its chairman and general manager.

As a new director, the veteran singer wants to focus on one of the missions of PCSO: to give healthcare and medical assistance.

In connection to this, she is planning to propose “Isang Linggong Serbisyo,” which was derived from her hit song “Isang Linggong Pag-ibig.”

“Alam ko na ang nasa puso ko. Siyempre, we can concentrate more dito sa pagtulong,” Imelda said.

“Noong time na nakausap ko si Presidente [Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.], ang sabi ko sa kanya, 'Sir, may program po ako, kailangang magkaroon tayo ng 'Isang Linggong Serbisyo.' Kailangan yung Saturday and Sunday ay hindi kami magpapahinga, di ba? Kailangan idiretso natin ang patulong na 'yon.”

Then, she went on to explain the program that she had in mind, “It doesn't mean na lahat pumasok sa opisina para magkaroon ng seven days work, no. Ang ipo-propose ko sa body, yung Sabado at Linggo, kahit call center or online or something like that. Basta matugunan agad yung mga pasyente na lumalabas supposed to be ng Friday, wala ng time para humingi ng tulong sa PCSO.

“We should really focus on concerns na ganun. Kasi, there's so many patients na natutulungan ko… I, myself, have experienced it, na pagdating ng Friday, wala na. This time, we'll try our best na i-open ang Sabado at Linggo sa mga nangangailangan.”

On issues and controversies

Imelda is aware of the issues and controversies surrounding PCSO because of the recent lotto results. However, she chooses not to dwell on it and, instead, focuses on pursuing charity work.

She reasoned, “Kasi, ang mandate ng PCSO is more on providing healthcare, medical assistance. I will focus more dito sa mandato ng PCSO. Sa mga issues, hayaan muna 'yan. Temporary lang 'yan, that will be solved in a while.”

Imelda is also positive that these issues will be resolved soon.

“Hindi naman permanent ang lahat ng problema. Ang lahat ng problem ay nabibigyan ng solusyon. I'm very positive,” she said.

In conclusion, Imelda encourages the public to participate in the lottery to support the government's charitable initiatives.

“There will be transparency this time. Kasi, kapag tumaya kayo ng 20 pesos or 30 pesos, charity work ito, nakakatulong. Ang balik po nito ay kawanggawa. Dapat maging malinaw sa mga tao 'yon. Kawanggawa ito, mas malaki pa ang maitutulong ng 20 pesos o 50 pesos,” she ended.

Meanwhile check out these celebrities and their advocacies: