Christmas became brighter and sweeter for 77 year-old Editha Virina, who was chosen as recipient of a brand new house and lot from Lumina Homes in the “12 Days of Christmas” gift-giving tradition of ABS-CBN morning program “Umagang Kay Ganda” (UKG).

With her win, Editha, who still works as a laundry woman to support her son and grandchildren, gets to fulfill her wish of having a home she can call her own, six decades after leaving her hometown in Visayas.

“Matagal ko nang pinangarap na sana magkakaroon kami kahit kauntung lupang titirikan ng bahay. Lagi naming iniisip, ‘pag kailangan na ng may ari yung lupa kung saan kami ngayon nakatira, paalisin na kami. Ngayon may sarili na kaming lupa (It has been my lifelong dream for us to own a piece of land where we can build a house. We are always worried that the owner of the land where we live now will drive us away once they need to use the lot. Now, we have our own),” she shared.

The new homeowner shared that she left for Manila when she was just 13 years old to find opportunities to improve her way of life. Ever since, she lost contact with her family and was moving from one job to another before finally settling in Nagcarlan, Laguna. There she lives in a hut with her grandchildren and her son—their father, who could no longer work after suffering partial blindness.
With a new house and lot, Editha is looking forward to creating new memories and a more comfortable life with her family.

One of her grandchildren, Jha-Jha, said that they no longer have to worry whenever there is a typhoon.
“Tuwing bagyo na lang na darating mag-aalala sila, lilipat sila sa ibang lugar kasi isang hampas lang sira na ang bahay. Ngayon safe. Hindi na ako mag-aalala para sa kanila na baka ano ang mangyari sa kanila lalo may sarili na silang bahay at lupa (Whenever there is a typhoon that is comming, we transfer to another place because one hit of a wave can destroy the hut. Now I no longer have to worry because we have a home that is safe to live in),” she said.

The house and lot from Lumina Homes is the 12th and final gift given away by “UKG” for this year’s edition of “12 Days of Christmas.” It is a tradition that started ten years ago with the objective of bringing joy and cheer to members of the society that are often overlooked.

Before Editha, “UKG” also gave different kinds of gifts such as a small party, home gallery items, appliances like washing machines and microwave ovens, clothes, noche buena packages, and cash, to different sectors in society each of the 12 days leading to Christmas. Recipients included traffic enforcers of the MMDA, mailmen of Philpost, AFP enlisted personnel, working children, teachers, tricycle drivers, laundry women, among many others.

The biggest gift, however, is Editha’s new home, a 22-square meter Aimee rowhouse unit which features a living area, dining and kitchen, toilet and bath, and provisions for bedroom and a service area. Editha and her family will enjoy living in the house and the community, which is accessible to major thoroughfares, transport hubs, schools, hospitals, and business and leisure centers. It also has complete amenities like a community hall, basketball court, mini gardens and playgrounds, and commercial areas.

Lumina Homes, “Every Juan’s Home,” is the fastest growing mass housing developer with over 40 projects in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. What further sets apart Lumina from other developers is its affordability — as low as 1,898 pesos monthly — and financial accessibility as it offers homes under Pag-IBIG financing and Easy PayLite bank financing which both guarantee fast loan release and low monthly amortization.

Watch “Umagang Kay Ganda” with hosts Anthony Taberna, Jorge Carino, Amy Perez, Winnie Cordero, Ariel Ureta, and Gretchen Ho from Monday to Friday, 4:55 am to 8 am on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. Watch it online via iwant.ph or skyondemand.com.ph. For show updates and online exclusives, follow “Umagang Kay Ganda” on Facebook (@umagangkayganda2) and Twitter (@ukgdos).