MerryGalo
Five Yuletides of joy — pairing gift-giving with a live ballet of The Ugly Duckling so indigent children experience a full theatrical wonder they'd never otherwise know.
For a child growing up with little, Christmas can pass without a single gift — and the magic of live theater is a world away entirely. MerryGalo, the Merry Men's flagship Yuletide tradition, refuses to let either of those things be true in Mandaue and beyond.
Each holiday season, JCI Mandaue teams up with the Ballet Academy of Cebu to stage a theatrical ballet of The Ugly Duckling — a full, hour-and-a-half spectacle the children watch wide-eyed, then join as dancers teach them the basics on stage. The performance carries gentle life lessons about worth and belonging, paired with gifts, treats, and a warm meal, giving indigent kids a complete theatrical experience they would never normally have.
Over five years, MerryGalo has generated ₱700,000 and brought this joy to 1,000 indigent children from 16 LGUs — including children with leukemia supported through the Hope Drive. Together, the Merry Men celebrate the innocence and magic of childhood, turning a single afternoon into a memory these kids carry for a lifetime.
