ERNIE E. MAIPID, JR.
The Holy Father, in his Easter message, exhorts all to BRING HOPE TO THE PERIPHERIES. We are drawn to the fringes, those at society’s edges, the scum and the least. They are as ‘lost of Israel,’ whom the Lord sought out to save.
Recently, new hope has filled the dark sky of covid around the world with the verdict on George Floyd, a victim of police brutality in the United States. Sparks of hope further accompanied news of a forthcoming summit bringing our global leaders to commit their stakes to unburden our worsening climate condition.
On the homefront, a young woman has started a community pantry in her deep desire to help the poor in their hunger plea. The initiative encourages people to share what they can and get what they need from a community ‘table’ to mitigate the hunger of many. The act, posted on social media, spread like wildfire, touching a vein hurt by indifference, apathy, and non-action to the plight of many displaced by covid. In a week, this awakened the entire country from slumber.
Unknown to many, though, seeds of hope are planted daily by many unsung heroes and volunteers in the countryside who tirelessly work to ease the poor’s burden. Many of them are poor themselves and also in need.
Alfie Alpuerto has helped the poor residents of the Gawad Kalinga (GK) New Clarin Village, Davao del Sur realize their dream of a community canal that will help suppress the spread of mosquitoes bringing dengue to their populace. This, by simply encouraging the community to work together, facilitating access to people who have resources, and getting all to discover that solutions are within their capacity when everyone gives their best for the sake of all.
Francia Seniedo of Phase 3, GK Bicol Village, Bagong Silang, has encouraged her neighbors to pitch in to help a poor mother whose son was hospitalized for lung problems. She desired to help defray daily commuting costs to Lung Center, where the boy was admitted. He is now well and back home.
Jomari Dalogdog, a foreman in GK Oas, Albay, has helped repair the fallen roofs of 55 homes in his town of Oas and nearby, Malinao and Libon, whose poor owners were victimized by the recent typhoons that ravaged their area. Happy at the thought that he could help people in need, Jomari adds, ‘Maganda ang Bayanihan.’ Nagbibigayan. Kapag may nangangailangan, pinag-uusapan kung paano makatulong!’ (Bayanihan is beautiful. People extend help and give. When someone is in need, all come together and discuss ways to help.)
Glecilda de Capia has led her community in GK Echague, Isabela in the regular weekly feeding of 40 children in their surrounds. Her resources? She encourages all to pitch in what they can give: rice, canned goods, vegetables. She has further gathered the youth and taught them sewing skills to craft table centerpieces, which the village sells.
Louel Moya of the GK Keppel Eco village, Bauang, Batangas led his community in hosting evacuees from the Taal eruption last year. 200 families from a low lying area hit by the lahar flow found refuge in Louel’s neighborhood.
Raida Macabero, mother of 10, an evacuee from Ground Zero in Marawi, volunteers to be kitchen staff for GK’s Kusina ng Kalinga, feeding 2000 children displaced by the earthquake in Makilala, North Cotabato, 8 hours away from Marawi.
Chester de Torres from GK Agri-Specialist Village, Mandaluyong, teaches football to the youth of GK villages, head of GK’s SIPAG program. He now engages the children of both rebels and soldiers in GK Buayan to play in what used to be gunfields of the MNLF in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The poor lifting up the poor! Having grown from self-centeredness, thinking it was the way to survive, the poor are now discovering that if they reach out in trust and concern for each other, seeking the good and happiness of all, they will not just survive, but THRIVE! What sweeter HOPE!
April 27, 2021 Reply
There is hope in everything we do for others. Sometimes we can even learn ftom those we disregard. Simple acts of kindness goes along way to fulfill the happiness of those who do not expect
Message is clear and simple. No matter how lowly in life one may be, there is always room for helping others that one may dip his feet in.
The poor helping the poor puts to shame those who are better off in life yet remain content as mere fence-sitters who do nothing or very little to help alleviate the plight of the suffering. Giving from one’s own want is superior to parting with millions from one’s excess riches.
Helping your neighbor in need is certainly admirable because you do it out of love and more so when there are no strings attached.
The agape kind of love reminds us of the purest form.
Not to forget that charity begins at home and our parents and children are beneficiaries of the generous outpouring of ourselves to them. Then, we are capable of branching out to the rest of the world – our inner and the concentric circles that follow so naturally.
Let it flow….
Inspiring stories of how anyone, even those who have less in life, can be a gift to others. Gifted to share!
Filipinos are selfless souls. This pandemic has proven that. Sometimes we complain too much about the difficulties happening in our own lives not knowing that there are those going through harder times. So thank God every day.
All it takes is one person to start something good that empowers a community. They no longer feel powerless.
Poor helping the poor is a reflection of the good there is in the world, no matter how unfair or cruel it may seem to others. In the Filipino culture, it is called BAYANIHAN. When we think less of ourselves and more of others.
Poor helping the poor is a reflection of the good there is in the world, no matter how unfair or cruel it may seem to others. In the Filipino culture, it is called BAYANIHAN. When we think less of ourselves and more of others.
The stories remind us of the early Church as
recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. They surrendered everything they had so as to supply the needs of those who are in want! Indeed, no one found himself in want! We have heard that age-old adage, “it is better to give than to receive.” For as St Francis of Assisi beautifully put it,
“For it is in giving that we now receive. It is in pardoning that we are now pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life!”
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