The Manila Bulletin Bag of Hope: 'Pagbibigay pag-asa'
By BARBIE ATIENZA
Some things in life simply cannot be stopped even by the worst of adversities. Among these is the spirit of giving and sharing during the Christmas season. No typhoon, earthquake, pandemic, or economic recession will be able to deter people from digging deep not only into their pockets but more so into their souls to reach out in one way or another and touch other people, especially those in need.
This is amplified so much more by the kind of Christmas we are having this year. For almost two years since it started, COVID-19 has kept its grip on everyone. People getting sick or dying are such a running tragedy. This has also led many businesses and industries to slow down or even grind to a halt, resulting in loss of livelihood or income for many.
It was in the wake of this destructive force of nature that the Manila Bulletin Bag of Hope came to be, as news of the devastation of towns and cities in the Visayas and Mindanao reached the Manila Bulletin office in Intramuros, Manila. You could say it was an organic development, a prompt, if not instinctive response, to what was going on in the wake of the typhoon, just colleagues and office mates coming together to heed the call for help.
And then, to top it all off, as we counted down to Christmas, came Typhoon Odette, leaving a swath of destruction across the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in Siargao Island in Agusan del Norte, in Dinagat Islands south of the Leyte Gulf, in Bohol, in Cebu, in Negros Oriental, and more.
But none of that could stop Christmas, especially its true meaning.
It is in these terrible situations that the best in people emerge.
It was in the wake of this destructive force of nature that the Manila Bulletin Bag of Hope came to be, as news of the devastation of towns and cities in the Visayas and Mindanao reached the Manila Bulletin office in Intramuros, Manila. You could say it was an organic development, a prompt, if not instinctive response, to what was going on in the wake of the typhoon, just colleagues and office mates coming together to heed the call for help.
Alive with the sense of sharing and pure volunteerism, it began with the silent call to get people and things together and organize missions of delivering much needed help to those badly affected by the typhoon. Donations of rice, canned goods, noodles, and other essential items poured in. Employees readily volunteered their time, effort, and energy, rolling up their sleeves, to help pack bags and bags of goodies and load them onto trucks.
It was love in action—pure and sincere indeed, motivated only by the shared desire to do something to ease the misery.
In their hearts the message of Christmas was clear—giving, sharing, reaching out. Through these hearfelt actions comes the reassurance that, no matter how terrible our circumstances, no matter how dire our straits, as long as people are moved to give, to share, to reach out to one another, love will rise to the occasion to give hope, the most essential gift of all. #PagbibigayPagasa
Through the ongoing Manila Bulletin Bag of Hope relief campaign, we can help you reach out to people in need in Odette-stricken areas in the Visayas and Mindanao. With your cash donations, we will shop for essential relief goods, which we will pack, along with the donations in kind, and ship for you. Call Badette Cunanan, head of Manila Bulletin’s Corporate Social Responsibility office, at 02 8527-7508 (landline) or 0921-605-4973 (mobile, Viber, G-Cash).