Showing posts with label help. Show all posts

MY OWN CONCEPT OF “SHARING”

By Apolinario Villalobos

FOR THE TNTH TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE THAT MY BLOGS ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATES ARE NOT MEANT TO BE USED AS TOOLS TO SOLICIT FUNDS. I SHARE MY PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH THESE PEOPLE TO LET SOME VIEWERS KNOW THAT WHAT THEY OCCASIONALLY SEE AS FLASHED ON TV SCREENS ARE TRUE. I MADE THIS CLEAR IN MY EARLIER BLOGS THAT VIEWERS ARE NOT ENCOURAGED TO SEND HELP TO ME AFTER LEARNING MY LESSON FROM RECEIVING HELP WITH STRINGS ATTACHED. THAT IS ALSO THE REASON WHY I HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT POSTING THEM ON FACEBOOK. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT I ASK ARE PRAYERS FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GO ON, AND FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GO ON WAKING UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THEY ENJOY LIFE DESPITE DEPRIVATIONS.

IT IS FUNNY HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN BE SKEPTIC INTO ASSUMING THAT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING ARE IMPOSSIBLE, JUST BECAUSE THEY (SKEPTICS) CANNOT, EVEN IN THEIR WILD IMAGINATION, DO THEM AS SUCH ACTS MEAN A LOT OF SACRIFICE. THEY ALSO REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT OUT THERE, ARE PEOPLE WHO DIRECTLY PUT INTO THEIR MOUTH MORSELS OF FOOD PICKED UP FROM TRASH. THEY THOUGHT ONLY ANIMALS DO THAT. WHAT ELSE WOULD ONE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A FAMILY WHO KEEPS MOVING AROUND WITH THEIR PRECIOUS BELONGINGS IN A PUSHCART FOR FEAR THAT THEY WILL BE “APPREHENDED” BY SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT OCCASIONALLY STOPPING BY GARBAGE DUMPS TO PICK UP JUNKS THAT THEY CAN SELL, OR IF LUCKY ENOUGH, EATABLE MORSELS OF FOOD THAT THEY CAN STUFF DIRECTLY INTO THEIR MOUTH?

I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE PHOTOS AND ESSAYS THAT FOR THEM ARE HORRENDOUS AND DEPRESSING, AS THEY CONTAIN WHAT THEY ASSUME AS “UNBELIEVABLE” PRIVATIONS. THEY ARE THEN, ADVISED TO SKIP MY BLOGS WHICH ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE REALLY INTERESTED.

SOME PEOPLE ALSO THOUGHT THAT SHARING IS A “TREND”, A “CRAZE”.  JUST BECAUSE OTHERS ARE DOING IT, THEY MUST DO IT, TOO, TO BE “IN”. THEY MUST KNOW THAT SHARING IS A 24/7 ADVOCACY THAT KNOWS NO SEASON AND TIME. IT IS NOT JUST SHARING ON CHRISTMAS DAY JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE “BIRTHDAY” OF JESUS. IT IS NOT ABOUT SHARING JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE ASKED FOR HELP. SINCERITY IS LOST IN SHARING IF ONE WHO DOES IT NEEDS TO BE PRODDED. AND, SHARING IS NOT ABOUT GIVING BECAUSE THERE ARE CAMERAS AROUND!

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THE MINUTEST DETAILS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES BEFORE THEY GIVE HELP AS IF WHAT THEY SEE OUTRIGHT AND ON-THE–SPOT ARE NOT ENOUGH.

 IF I SHARE THE DETAILS OF WHAT I DO TO EARN THE TRUST OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED FOR A LONG TIME THAT THEY BECOME SUSPICIOUS EVERY TIME A STRANGER WHO TALKS TO THEM BRINGS OUT A CELLPHONE WITH CAMERA, THE STUFF WOULD NO LONGER BE A SIMPLE BLOG BUT A BOOK.

SOME VIEWERS ALSO, FORGOT THAT I DO THINGS ALONE DRIVEN BY A PERSONAL DESIRE. I AM NOT A PAID JOURNALIST NOR, DO I BELONG TO A FOUNDATION OR AN “NGO”. I SHARE SPONTANEOUSLY WHAT I CAN AFFORD BASED ON WHAT MY POCKETS CONTAIN AT THE TIME OF ENCOUNTER. HOW CAN I ASK THE FATHER OF A FAMILY ON THE SIDEWALK IF HE HAS MONEY, WHEN OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE NOT YET EVEN SHARED A CUP OF COFFEE TO WARM THEIR EMPTY STOMACH? SKEPTICS MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT UNTIL NOW, THESE PEOPLE WHO LEARNED TO TRUST ME DO NOT KNOW MY NAME.

FOR SEVERAL DECADES THAT I HAVE BEEN SHARING WITH THE UNFORTUNATES, I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO AT FIRST GLANCE SEEM TO BE BENEVOLENT- THEY WHO I THOUGHT WERE SINCERE IN EXTENDING ASSISTANCE. IN TIME, THEIR TRUE COLOR BECOMES DISCERNIBLE WHEN THEY BEGIN TO GIVE ME INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW I SHOULD DO MY RANDOM ACTS, EVEN TO THE POINT OF IMPLYING THAT “PERHAPS, SOME OF THE UNFORTUNATES REALLY DO NOT NEED HELP”.  

GIVING HELP TO OTHERS DOES NOT NECESSARILY

ENCOURAGE DEPENDENCE OR MENDICANCY

By Apolinario Villalobos

Food in any form is among the basic needs of man, as with clothing and shelter. In a dire situation, it is man’s resourcefulness that makes him survive. If he is in the countryside, he can survive by going to the field and pick edible leaves, shoots and fruits. If he is in the city, he can forage in garbage dumps for morsels that can somehow see him through the day. The innate survival instinct in man is so strong that given the chance, he does not need help from others. In other words, he does not ask for it. Help is extended voluntarily by others who are driven by their desire to extend a hand, as some kind of an advocacy. More so with the government, one mandate of which is the general welfare of the citizens.

In my experience of meeting many street dwellers, I learned that despite their impoverished condition, most often, pride prevails every time they are offered help, even suspicious of the giver’s intention. Living on sidewalks is not their primary desire. The deprivation of a decent habitation is due to its prohibitive cost. I met couples who live on sidewalks with the husbands working as messengers and security guards while the wives sell candies and cigarettes….which for me is a decent life. They told me that they are willing to rent but if they do, almost nothing would be left for their subsistence.

I have also met many people who go out of their way to set aside a good portion of what they earn to be shared with others. One of them are three women who would cook “pancit” on Sundays, apportion them in many small plastic bags, and using a borrowed single-motorcycle, two of them would scour the streets for beneficiaries – children and families who most often, are junk collectors who need to sell their finds at the end of the day before they can buy food. The three women are themselves, among the deprived city dwellers living under a bridge.

Of course, it cannot be denied that today, enterprising syndicates have made use of the impoverished in their racket. In this case, to be blamed should be these evil-minded, and not the victims who are threatened. The Badjaos from southern Mindanao who have invaded prosperous urban areas are another case, as for them, begging is part of their culture.

Finally, the program of the government in which qualified families are given cash assistance for the education of their children is also another thing. This assistance is in exchange for the commitment of the parents that the cash should be spent as expected and supported with several requirements. It should be noted that this assistance is “volunteered” by the government as its way of supposedly alleviating the lot of the poor. And, since, it is from the people’s tax, it is in a way, fair, though, unsavory remarks from some sectors pervade the air.

In closing, those who want to “feed” others should do it willingly, while those who hesitate due to doubts and apprehensions should not worry, for they can still pray for them…but quietly without the unnecessary remarks tantamount to discouraging others to do such act.

The “Funny Money” that Goes A Long, Long Way

By Apolinario Villalobos

The “funny money” comes from “Perla”, a kind-hearted Filipina benefactor based in America. She earns the money from her translation “sideline”, as she is on a regular call to interpret for Filipinos with cases being heard in court, and who have difficulty in speaking English. The “funny” is her lingual concoction for the job that she did not seek, but in a way, accidentally came her way. She has been consistently supporting my RAS (random acts of sharing) which started when she learned of my RAS from my blogs about such advocacy.

What is really funny is the reaction of friends who keep on asking where some of my fund comes from, as if suspecting me to push drugs just to earn extra. They just cannot believe that somebody would send money for total strangers who are in dire need for help. When I add that there was also a time when another friend in London sent money, and still another in America sent a “blessing” through her “balikbayan” sister, their eyes get bigger in disbelief. In exasperation, I just tell them that it is very difficult for somebody to understand the sharing that others are doing if he or she does not have the same advocacy in life….or if he or she does not extend a hand to others as a habit. As expected, these fence-sitting friends fail to get what I mean. The problem with some people is that, they are used to seeing “charitable acts” done only by people who wear t-shirts emblazoned with their mission.

Perla drives or commutes to courts or hospitals where her service as translator is needed. Her benevolence sometimes bothers me, as I would imagine that she could be left with a little amount or nothing for her own needs. Every time I remind her about that, she would send me a message with typed laughter with an assurance that what she sends me is “funny money” earned accidentally from the job that she has somehow learned to like.

The unselfish sharing of Perla always reminds me of the comment of my two “balikbayan” friends who tried to treat me to a lunch. On our way to the restaurant inside a mall, I saw an emaciated mother and her child who was holding on to a black garbage bag half-filled with empty plastic bottles. Both were staring at the customers eating fried chicken at a lunch counter near the aircon van terminal. When I told my friends to go ahead and that I would just follow in a few minutes, as I would like to buy packed lunch for the mother and her child, they told me not to bother, as “we can just pack our left- over for them after our lunch inside the mall”….they meant “doggie bag”. What they said made me adamant and which also made me decide not to join them anymore despite their pleading. When they left, I bought three packed lunch for the three of us – I, the mother and her child, and enjoyed it in the farthest corner of the terminal where we slumped on the floor. That lunch made my day….and, for which was spent part of Perla’s “funny money”.

Sharing Need Not Be a “Big Time” Effort

By Apolinario Villalobos

I ask from friends and collect myself, what others consider as “trash” – empty rice bags, used shopping plastic bags, brown paper bags, net bags, used tarpaulins, empty jars, lengths of straw rope, etc. – to be distributed among my friends who sell recyclable junks and vegetables by the pile on sidewalks. They are called “buraot” vendors and the “buraot” refers to the junks and wilting vegetables that they sell. Some of them keep the brown paper bags to be used by their children as book covers, and the sturdy plastic grocery bags as “school bags”. On the other hand, the rice bags have many uses, one of which is safekeeping of things in the absence of decent bags that are sold in department stores.

It takes me about two weeks to be able to collect a sizeable volume of these various “treasures”, classify the plastic bags according to size, carefully fold them and finally apportion them together with the rest of the items among the pre-identified recipients for easy distribution. I am most glad if I am able to collect big plastic cover of refs and washing machines because they can be used as extended roof for “kariton (pushcart) home” of my friends. I taught them to fold big plastic bags in such a way that they can be used as “rain coat”. I used to do that when I was in elementary during which I would scavenge the garbage dump of a bakery in our town for recyclable junks especially plastic bags.

One time, a friend in California, “Perla” sent plenty of blue tarps that went straight to sidewalk and “kariton” dwellers. But I told her to stop sending such kind of item because I met a couple who sell “tinseled” bags of condiments that when spread by slicing open the two sides can serve the purpose of a mat, as well as, protection against the rain – for just Php20.00 apiece.

Every time I come home from shopping, I see to it that the bags, both made of plastic and brown paper are properly folded and set aside instead of tossing them into the garbage basket. The brown bag can also be used in keeping extra portions of vegetables before storing them in the ref. Also, I am not ashamed in picking up lengths of straw ropes from the ground while shopping in outdoor shopping areas such as Baclaran and Quiapo, as they are also needed by my friends in tying things that they always bring along with them. As a recycling advocate, I had been doing this for more than thirty years now.

Every time I hit the road for my random acts of sharing my backpack is full of these “treasures”, aside from Skyflakes crackers and home-cooked pudding for sharing. I just want to show that sharing blessings need not be a “big time” effort that involves a lot of money. If I can do it, I am sure others can do it, too. Those interested to do the same can start with the plastic bags that can be collected and given to their favorite vendor in the market….by doing so, we also help Mother Nature as the plastic bags that we recycle are prevented from clogging esteros or canals.

The Best Ways to Show Gratitude

By Apolinario Villalobos

Benefactors may be generally classified into two: individual and institution. The individual may be classified further into two: discreet and obviously selfish. There is no problem with the institutions which may be government agencies or non-government organizations (NGO), because their projects need to be publicized so that people, especially, their donors will know where the donated money and commodities go.

The obviously selfish individual benefactors could be politicians, attention-hungry career and show business personalities, or any attention-hungry person who does selfies every time he or she extends a helping hand. On the other hand, the discreet benefactors are those who would rather keep their identity confidential because of their limited resources, hence, the consistency of their projects are dependent on the availability of funds. The latter do not even give their real name to their beneficiaries.

While receiving help gives much relief to the needy, it is important to know how gratitude should be properly expressed. Those who received help from institutions should not despise what have been given to them, if they are not what they have expected, except when they are spoiled food items from government agencies that should be reported immediately. In fairness to the NGOs, they have no habit of giving spoiled food items to the victims of calamities, that the Department of Social Welfare is wont to do, based on reports. If there is an opportunity available to share the information through the social media, such as, facebook, by all means, it should be done. The same should also be made for sincerely given unspoiled foods.

Individuals who are given financial assistance should put the money to proper use as originally intended. If the help is for reviving a losing business, so be it….and, should not be used in buying a tour package to Boracay. If the money is intended for the tuition fee, it should not be used to buy a new cellphone. If the money is intended for medicine, it should not be used to buy groceries, etc. Using the financial assistance in some other ways, other than its original intention is tantamount to fooling the benefactor.

Discreet benefactors always tell their beneficiaries to pass on the help to others, and this should be respected. The beneficiary will only irritate the benefactor of this kind, if he insists on returning the favor to the latter. If there is an added request to keep the act of charity a secret, then, this should be respected, too.

But the greatest and the best way to show gratitude for the help received from any of the abovementioned benefactors, is by praying for them, be their intention is sincere or selfish.

More on Sharing…

By Apolinario Villalobos

There is more in sharing than what most of us know about it. The heavenly bodies in the universe share ample space. Without the fair sharing in the seemingly infinite space in the universe, the heavenly bodies including earth would have been bumping with each other. Humanity shares the air to be able to survive and so are the lesser creatures. Sharing is not limited to food. The Designer is wise, indeed, and that is what He expects His intelligent creatures to be.

Unfortunately, because of pride and greed among humans, even the road space is not shared fairly, resulting to altercation among greedy motorists. They want to get more than what is provided by going against the flow of traffic or by overtaking the long queue of vehicles as they come to a standstill. This greed sometimes results to violence, and worse, death.

The disgusting land grabbing of government officials and moneyed entrepreneurs show their blatant greed that borders on exploitation of the ignorant. Add to these their robbing of government coffer. These greedy people are not satisfied with what they already have. If only they let the bounties be shared by all, poverty could, at least, be minimized.

Some of us refuse to share honors with others who deserve them by robbing them of such opportunity. In school, students who are desirous to be on top of the honor list, do all possible to garner high grades even to the extent of submitting plagiarized reports and thesis.  Unsuspecting artists are also robbed of their rightful opportunity to achieve honor, when their works are plagiarized by fellow artists who make sure that they alone shall get the honor.

On the positive side, there are so many things that we can share with others, such as happiness, knowledge, prayer, and of course, blessings. The righteous sharing is what’s expected of us to do. But if we do otherwise, we should be prepared for the consequence in what the Golden Rule says….do not do to others, what you do not want others, would do to you.

Help Sometimes Comes

From Least Expected People

By Apolinario Villalobos

Years ago, with the onset of the hi-tech trend, and everybody rushing to get hold of the best cellphone unit, I refused to use one, for my privacy’s sake. When I finally realized its importance and acceded to its necessity, I was forced to start with the cheapest and an easy to operate Nokia unit, and let myself be taught by a ten-year old nephew its intricacies. When I entered an internet café to open a facebook account, it was a seven-year old kid who showed me where to point the cursor of the mouse, if I want to delete or edit an uploaded item.

When I got dizzy while walking along the busy Avenida in Sta. Cruz (Manila), a sidewalk cigarette vendor held my hand and guided me to his stool so that I could rest. When I lost my way in a squatter’s area, two junk-collecting kids sacrificed an hour of their time to help me find my friend’s house. And, when I puked in a sidestreet somewhere in Pasay City due to a bum stomach, a student who was passing by, gave me her bottled mineral water so I can rinse my mouth.

I consider people who at the moment of other people’s need extend their hand, as angels. And, these people do not wear barong tagalog or neckties. They do not get off cars, and they do not smell strongly of perfumes or colognes. These are ordinary people who are even willing to part with some of their money and valuables to help complete strangers.

It seems that God is sending a strong message that help in times of need, come in the simplest way…not in fancifully gilded boxes. And, when we receive one, we should pass it on.

Maging Totoo

Sa Pagbigay ng Regalo o Tulong

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, dapat maging totoo tayo sa pagbigay ng regalo o tulong. Huwag tayong magregalo o magbigay ng tulong, para lang masabi na may naibigay tayo. Kailangang isaalang-alang ang kabuluhan ng ibibigay sa taong bibigyan. Ang regalo ay hindi kailangang mahal upang magustuhan ng bibigyan. Ang tulong naman ay hindi kailangang malaki, basta angkop sa pangangailangan.

Kung minsan pumapalpak ang mga regalong binibigay sa mga bagong kasal o may bertdey, kaya sa halip na magamit ay dinidispley na lamang, o di kaya ay nireregalo na lang sa iba. Sa mga maysakit naman, dapat isipin ang kalagayan ng binibigyan. Halimbawa, ang mga may sakit na hindi na makakakain ng maayos dahil mahina na ang panunaw at  mga ngipin ay hindi dapat  nireregaluhan ng mga pagkaing hindi angkop sa kanila, kaya nabubulok lamang ang mga ito, o di kaya ay pinakikinabangan ng ibang tao.

Ang mga taong maysakit na alam namang hirap sa buhay, dapat ay regaluhan na lang ng pera na makakatulong pa ng malaki. Ang perang iaabot ay hindi dapat ituring na abuloy, kung hindi ay pandagdag sa gastusin. Hindi dapat isiping nakakahiya ang anumang halaga na maiaabot sa maysakit, dahil may kasabihang, sa taong nangangailangan, kahit piso ay mahalaga.

Hindi mahirap ang maging totoo sa pagbigay ng regalo o tulong, basta ilagay natin ang ating sarili sa katayuan ng taong inaabutan natin nito.

Sa Pagbigay ng Regalo o Tulong…

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa pagbigay ng regalo o tulong, maraming bagay ang dapat pakaisipan ng nag-aabot nito o ng mga tumutulong. Ang pinakamahalaga ay huwag ituring na hayop ang mga taong inaabutan dahil sa aba nilang kalagayan. Hindi dapat isipin ng mga tumutulong na para silang naghahagis ng buto sa aso. Kaya hindi ako sang-ayon sa kasabihang “hindi dapat namimili ang nangangailangan” na ang katumbas sa Ingles ay “beggars are not choosers”. Wala nga silang karapatang mamili, subalit karapatan nilang respetuhin bilang tao dahil kahit papaano ay mayroon pa rin silang dignidad, kaya lalong hindi sila dapat ituring na patay-gutom!

Tuwing pasko, nagkakaroon ng dahilan ang mga mayayaman na magdispatsa ng mga bagay na hindi na nila kailangan na ang pinatutunguhan ay mga mahihirap na namamasko. Subalit, sana naman ang iabot nila sa mga ito ay mga bagay na hindi patapon o wala nang silbi. Nangyayari din ito tuwing may kalamidad kung kaylan ay bumabaha ng mga donation mula sa mga concerned citizens, subalit ang iba naman ay hindi nakokonsiyensiyang mag-abuloy ng mga damit na halos ay basahan na!

Maraming kuwento tungkol sa mga mapagkunwaring pagtulong sa kapwa. Ang isa ay galing sa isang nagtatrabaho sa isang bahay-ampunan na binisita ng isa sa mga dating pangulo ng bansa na karay-karay ang kalihim ng isang ahensiya na may kinalaman sa pagtulong sa mga tao. Marami silang dalang mga regalong binalot ng matitingkad na gift wrappers. Nang matapos ang okasyon, binuksan ng mga binisita ang mga “regalo” upang maipamahagi na sa mga bata. Laking gulat nila nang makita ang mga laman na mga sapin sa paa na puro large size, na ang ibang pares ay hindi magkasukat, at ang iba naman ay putol ang strap! Awang-awa sa kanilang sarili ang mga binisita lalo na sa mga bata na umasam kaya sobrang excited.

May mga kuwento naman tungkol sa mga de-latang pinamimigay na halos bundat na dahil sobrang lampas na sa expiration date (madalas itong mangyari kung may kalamidad, at ang dahilan ng DSW ay hindi nila napansin). Yong isang nabigyang nakausap ko ay nagpumilit pa rin na buksan ang isang sardinas na lomobo na, kaya nang matusok ng pambukas ay sumabog at lahat nang nakapaligid ay natapunan kaya nag-amoy sardinas!

May isang nanay naman na nakatanggap ng dalawang kumot – magaganda at mukhang mamahalin. Subalit, amoy formalin at may mga bakas pa ng dugo. Yon pala, pinambalot sa isang bangkay ng nasaksak. Punerarya pala ang pinanggalingan ng donasyon. Ang kumare ng nagkwentong nanay, ay nagbahagi rin ng kanyang kapalaran sa pagtanggap ng regalo mula sa isang mayaman. Malaki ang plastic bag at halatang maraming lamang naka-cartoon. Pagdating niya sa kariton nila sa isang bangketa, dali-dali niyang binuksan ang bag at natambad ang maraming karton ng cake mix! Ang ibang karton ay may mga butas na halatang kagat ng daga! Dahil nakakabasa naman, nalaman niya na lahat ay expired na!

May isang pamilyang nakatira sa bangketa na nakatanggap ng plastic bag na ang mga laman ay gamit nang mga brief na large size, mga bra na maluwag, isang pantalong size 38 ang baywang na pang-opisina, mga puting long sleeves na malalaki ang sukat, at mga gamit na boteng de-tsupon! …subalit sila ay walang sanggol.

Yong isang kaibigan kong ama ng isang pamilya sa Tondo ay nakatanggap ng ilang pirasong kupas at numipis nang guwantes na pang-motorsiklo, isang pares na leather shoes pero nakanganga ang mga suwelas, maliit na teapot, dalawang malalaking imported toothpaste pero matigas at kumakatas na lamang, at isang bote ng paco rabanne na panlalaking pabango na may ¼ na laman.

Ang isang pamilya naman ay nakatanggap ng matigas pa sa kahoy na dried cassava nakalagay sa malaking supot galing  sa Thailand at expired, isang office planner na hindi pa gamit subalit 2 years old, 4 na coffee mugs na lahat ay may lamat,  4 na pinggang puro may mga pingas, at isang malaking garapon ng imported na kape, pero nang buksan ay matigas na ang laman.

Sa isang iskwater naman, may mga naglibot na namigay ng mga sample na gamot, nakalagay sa magandang maliit na supot na karton. Ang laman ay isang banig ng gamot para sa loose bowel movement o lbm,  isang banig na gamot para sa lagnat, at maliit na bote ng alcohol – lahat ay dapat magamit sa loob ng apat na buwan upang hindi lumampas sa expiration date. Nagkodakan ang mga namigay, kasama ang mga nabigyan. Nakita ko mismo ang mga pangyayari dahil bumisita ako noon sa mga kaibigan ko. Kaya mula noon, na-allergic na ang mga kaibigan ko sa kodakan kung sila ay bibigyan ng tulong – ginagamit lang daw sila, na totoo naman!

Minsan umatend ako ng birthday party para sa inaanak ko sa Pasay. Habang nagkakape kami ng kumpare ko sa kusina dahil maaga pa, narinig ko ang kumare kong nagbilin sa kasambahay nila ng: “o…yong mga tirang spaghetti at pansit sa mga pinggan huwag mong itapon…tulad ng dati, ipunin mo upang maibigay sa mga Badjao na humihingi ng pagkain…isama mo na rin ang magiging tutong sa sinaing…”. Sa narinig ko, nabulunan ako ng mainit na kapeng iniinom ko kaya ako ay napaluha, sumabay pa sa pagtulo ang uhog. Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko sa pagbuga ng mainit na kape dahil siguradong mahihilamusan ang kumpare. Inubos ko na lang ang kape at ako ay nagpaalam, nagdahilan na may importante pang gagawin.  Mula noon, tuwing imbitahin ako ng kumare ko kung may party sa kanila, hindi ako pumupunta pero nagbibilin na lang na “tirhan ako ng natira”…ewan ko kung naintindihan niya ang ibig kong sabihin.

Noong mga nakaraang kalamidad, may mga nagreklamong mamamayan ng isang bayan na ang natanggap nila ay mga pa-expire nang mga local de lata, ganoong ang nakita nilang na-deliver na mga donasyon sa bayan nila ay galing sa Amerika. Nagtaka sila kung bakit ang inaasahang mga emergency kit ay hindi nakarting sa kanila. Sa halip ang natanggap nilang supot ay may lamang tig-tatlong kilong NFA rice, ilang pirasong sardinas at ilang pirasong noodles, na may pangalan at logo pa ng ahensiyang may kinalaman sa pagtulong sa mga tao.

Noong katatapos pa lamang manalasa ng bagyong Yolanda, may mga donasyong ibinaba sa Cebu na agad tinakpan ng mga lona, subalit nasilip ng ilang mga reporter na mga galing sa ibang bansa. Mula nang araw na dumating ang mga donasyon, naging off-limits sa mga reporters ang pinaglagakan ng mga ito. Nang mga sumunod na araw, ni isang pirasong donasyon na may tatak ng donor mula sa ibang bansa ay walang nakitang nakarating sa mga biktima ng Yolanda. Makalipas ang ilang buwan, ang mga nakalagak sa isang bodega ay binalitang ninakaw, at kitang-kita sa CCTV na parang walang anumang inilalabas ang mga donasyon!

Noong mag-ingay ulit ang mga taga-Tacloban na sinalanta ng bagyong Yolanda, dinayo sila ng caravan ng malalaking trak na nagdeliber ng mga relief goods. Sa kasamaang palad, ang ibang pagkain ay bulok at inuuod! Ni isa sa mga sangkot sa anomalya, lalo na ang namumuno ay hindi man lang pinitik upang matauhan dahil sa balasubas nilang gawain. Ni walang narinig ang bayan na may nasuspinde man lamang, o di kaya ay natanggal dahil sa ginawang kapabayaan.

Padating na ang pasko. Siguradong busog na naman ang mga magnanakaw sa gobyerno ng mga bonus na galing daw sa savings ng kani-kanilang departamento, samantalang ang mga taong umaasang maambunan man lang ng kahit kapiranggot na biyaya, na alam naman ng lahat ay karapat-dapat na kanila… ay nakanganga sa kawalan! At ang walang konsiyensiyang mga kababayan natin ay maghahagis na naman ng mga patapong gamit  at tirang pagkain sa mga kakatok sa kanilang gate, o di kaya ay magpapakodak habang nag-aabot ng regalong ilang pirasong kendi at biswit sa mga depressed areas…at naka-costume pa ng Santa Claus!