Bayanihan comes to the fore

As it has already been several weeks since killer Typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc on the islands, it is perhaps time for us to return to our senses. Various thoughts since then have crossed our mind. Is there such a thing as “over dosage” of good intensions? OA (over-acting) ba ang Pinoy in the manner in which we responded to the calamity? Many other writers have admitted the difficulty of separating the grain from the chaff.

Is national icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s appearance at the site of the delubyo out of the goodness of his heart or is it tinged with political designs, as our favorite columnist has pointed out? No one can tell for sure, not even Pacman himself who has always been known for having a heart for the downtrodden to which he once belonged.

The sight of apl.de.ap at the same location to give away food and donations is clearer to us. He is not a politician. He is a Pinoy who has risen from poverty to the top of the international entertainment scene. He can hardly be accused of dubious intentions.

It seems that we as a people are to blame. OA talaga ang Pinoy, even in the devotion to our God. Who in the world would go the lengths of having their bodies pierced by flogging and crucified on a cross? But we have remained steadfast in these practices that even the Church has learned to ignore.

Yes, we are a good and talented people that the world has accepted. However, as a poor country from the Third World, we have fallen prey to the machinations of those in the First World, and have gone overboard to prove ourselves. Why then would we be the Texting Capital of the World when the new invention was introduced? Again, when Mac conquered the world, who would be among the first in line to acquire the latest model? Pinoys, of course.

With the onslaught of Yolanda, the Filipino bayanihan came to the fore. But the more erudite and knowledgeable saw the opportunity to sell themselves, their companies, their products under the guise of concern for those who lost their families and homes to the typhoon. Their images filled different media platforms. With Christmas fast approaching and companies cancelling Christmas parties in exchange for products to be sent to Tacloban, how are we to know who is genuine and who is fake?

We know of one though, a former doctor of medicine and mountaineer who quietly called old friends in both fields to bring their expertise to the stricken places. Calling themselves the “Flight of Hope,” 19 of them responded, solicited donations of food and medicine from family and friends, and left for Tacloban. After five days of going from barangay to barangay, she gave her staff the following instructions for future calls for help:

Be a DSWD volunteer, instead of criticizing them. If you know of a hospital, choose a partner hospital to rebuild. Assign volunteer doctors, interns and nurses to assist the injured and provide food, clothing and shelter. If you know of a school, tap them to find a sister school to rebuild. If you are an artist into crafts, identify sources in order to start an industry. Energized by the success of their venture, the group has decided to make “Flight of Hope” a going concern. Our friend’s husband found a company willing to start the victims on a rice-planting program.

Another admirable practice we recently unearthed had been ongoing for the past 17 years called Handog Pasko. It is a yearly project for Christmas by St. John’s Academy, a private non-sectarian school in San Juan. Fourth-year student Michael Pineda reports going to different barangays in San Juan to distribute tickets to the people who may claim relief goods. “I was assigned to Barangay San Perfecto. I’m willing to do it again.”

“Based on my experience last year,” writes John Nebrida, “I have learned that I am still very fortunate to have things that other people cannot afford to buy.”

Alisha del Campo, a second-year student, states, “Handog Pasko was an overwhelming experience… it was never about me and my experience. It was about all the people that I have assisted.”

Other students who participated in Handog Pasko were Kathleen Webb, Cleo Villamiel and Martina Macalanda who all learned valuable lessons from the experience.

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