ENDEAVOR
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me, and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.” When Mt. Pinatubo erupted 30 years ago, an employee in one of the companies housed in an Ayala Avenue building contributed the entire contents of his half-month pay envelope and wrote: “I’ve heard it said, ‘Give until it hurts.’ It is the many people affected by the eruption who are hurting, as they have lost their homes and livelihood. I want to help them and I feel good about helping them.”
Giving to others and sharing what we have to ease the pain of those who have little, or much less, or have lost their homes or loved ones — this concern has gained currency on account of the prolonged pandemic and most recently, the destruction wrought by super typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) that swept across six regions in the country just as the nine-day novena masses for Christmas began.
Even as the national government is apparently hard-pressed scrounging for funds for calamity relief, aid from the international community and from civil society continues to pour in. Allow me to share some vignettes from my Rotarian notebook.
The ninth and last landfall of "Odette" hit Roxas town that is located just above the capital Puerto Princesa on the island’s eastern coast. Based on a quick needs assessment survey, the Rotary Clubs of Roxas, Puerto Princesa and Puerto Princesa Central procured 2,650 kilos of rice from funds raised by the Rotary District 3830’s disaster relief committee mobilized by District Governor Jocelyn Tan. The supplier acceded to the Rotarians’ request to release the rice immediately, so the sacks of rice were provided to the recipients even before these were paid for. Some 500 needy families received five kilos of rice while 150 families got one kilo each.
This feat was replicated in the town of Araceli, on Dumaran island, that is 164 kilometers northeast from Puerto Princesa. Some 2,900 families (or around 14,500 residents) were provided their rice requirements for three days while awaiting DSWD food packs. The packaging of goods was done by members of the Rotary Community Corps (RCC) in Araceli that is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Parañaque North. As a coastal town, Araceli has abundant supply of fish but inadequate rice supply.
A third quick-response project involved the provision of a house repair relief grant in the amount of P3,300 for each of 102 families (612 residents) whose homes were destroyed by "Odette." Amie Lustre, a civil engineer and past president of the Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa Central surveyed the damage and determined the basic requirements for expediting the repair or rebuilding of the damaged homes: Three pieces of corrugated roof, five kilos of umbrella nail and four rolls of sawali, “traditional woven split-bamboo mats used as walls, paneling, or wall cladding.” In canvassing among local suppliers, a Rotarian hardware owner offered the lowest prices and released the goods in advance of the actual payment so that the homeowners could immediately start rebuilding.
In Surigao City, Rotarians headed by District Governor Anna Louisa Bumagat and disaster relief executive director Archie Francisco Gamboa, a former Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), purchased in bulk tarpaulin and canvas materials for use as improvised tents and shelter by the displaced residents. Drinking water was also distributed.
In Cebu, the Rotary Club of Cebu embarked on a water distribution project supported by the Rotary Club of Makati. The water tanks were installed in five police stations around Metro Cebu to provide for the needs of some 3,500 families. As this is being written, a shipment of relief goods containing 1,200 kilos of rice, 600 sets of canned goods and noodle packs, and 50 Tulip water filters is being conveyed to San Vicente, Palawan, in partnership with the Hotel and Resort Association of San Vicente. In Danao City (Cebu), Sun Savings Bank through Paquito Dizon of the Rotary Club of Forbes Park initiated the distribution of relief bags to 400 families in Barangays Suba and Taytay.
RC Makati also reported that a 40-foot container van has arrived in the port of Manila from South Korea carrying relief goods, including among others, 5,000 packs of diapers; 2,000 pieces of wipes; and 4,000 shampoo containers. Other projects in the Club’s "Odette" pipeline include a mission to Southern Leyte supported by SGV & Co.; a mission to La Libertad, Negros Oriental, where "Odette" also made a landfall, in partnership with ARK, their partner in the Feed Back program; and similar initiatives in Surigao, Bohol and Palawan.
Indeed, there is no shortage of kind-hearted Filipinos who feel good about stepping up to help their brethren at a time of great need.