-Mother Teresa
3 days before the suggested relief mission we still didn’t have a dump truck to carry all the goods we gathered for the week. Stress stress.
2 days before we were supposed to leave some 2000 kilos (2 tons) of used tarpaulins from Globe Telecom were dropped off a container van into my garage. 3 tons! I thank Allah for Peter of Globe Telecom and Ms. Eva for facilitating the connection.
1 more day to go. With the help of Joel, a batchmate, we picked up donations from the Holy Child School of Davao, Matina Town Square and APM Advertising. At the Holy Child School, thinking that we would be picking up only a few boxes, we weres shocked to find 15 big boxes of assorted goods ranging from foodstuff, old clothes, water containers, shoes, beddings, soaps, shampoos and a whole gamut of stuff. Joel had to call in reinforcements to carry the load to my house/warehouse/war area.
But still no confirmation on the dump truck though. At my lowest points of the day, which were usually near nightfall when fatigue would set in, I would chant some OHMS, do some yoga and tell myself over and over, “Allah will provide”. As I continue repacking goods into boxes I chant it all evening.
At 8pm my sister’s driver and I drive our pick-up trucks to the Maharlika Charity Foundation to pick up their donations of 500 grocery bags filled with pre-Ramadhan goodies (uncooked bihon, and rice, coffee, juice, condiments, and even a large pack of chocolates for the children). Bless their kind hearts.
D-Day. Woke up at 5 am and proceeded to wait for the truck. I waited.. and waited… and waited still. Contacts in Paidu Pulangi, Ms. Malu (Principal of the evacuation center/school) and Vice Mayor Don were already texting/calling asking us if we were on our way. Obviously, we weren’t. Desperate for a truck, at 10am we decided to rent one. With the help of friends, we pooled together some cash and were on our way. Alhamdullilah.
We took to the front seat of the truck cabin. Hadji (the quack doctor, fellow Sinag member and designated photographer), Emil our driver, and myself. The truck wasn’t in the best of condition so sitting cramped in the front seat near the window wasn’t the best position to be. Good thing my seat had a headrest (Hadji’s didn’t) so I contemplated on a really long deep slumber from Davao to Pikit. Unfortunately, my backside and the seat weren’t getting along very well so I didn’t get a single wink of shuteye at all.
We got to Paidu Pulangi at past 2. Contrary to what the newspapers tell us, the evacuees were still all there. No one went home. We saw the same familiar smiling faces all glad to see us.
We proceeded on the distribution to the 3 evac centers and finished with a delicious lunch at 4pm courtesy of the dashing Vice Mayor.
A bucketful of Salaams and may Allah Bless these kindred souls:
• The SINAG Foundation crew as always and Ateneo HS Batch 87 (you're the BEST guys);
• Former Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo who gave us cash through the kindness of our indefatigable Paring Bert Alejo. We used the money to buy soaps, shampoos, sanitary napkins and etc.;
• The Maharlika Charity Foundation for the NCCC pre-Ramadhan grocery bags and the boxes of medicines;
• Tina Suelto and her crew from DXN;
• Joyce Cesar and everybody at the Organiczar Events Company;
• Alex Montañez of APM Advertising for the tarps;
• GLOBE Telecom and Peter for the 2 tons of old tarps. Yes, 2 TONS (2,000 kilos)!!
3 days before the suggested relief mission we still didn’t have a dump truck to carry all the goods we gathered for the week. Stress stress.
2 days before we were supposed to leave some 2000 kilos (2 tons) of used tarpaulins from Globe Telecom were dropped off a container van into my garage. 3 tons! I thank Allah for Peter of Globe Telecom and Ms. Eva for facilitating the connection.
1 more day to go. With the help of Joel, a batchmate, we picked up donations from the Holy Child School of Davao, Matina Town Square and APM Advertising. At the Holy Child School, thinking that we would be picking up only a few boxes, we weres shocked to find 15 big boxes of assorted goods ranging from foodstuff, old clothes, water containers, shoes, beddings, soaps, shampoos and a whole gamut of stuff. Joel had to call in reinforcements to carry the load to my house/warehouse/war area.
But still no confirmation on the dump truck though. At my lowest points of the day, which were usually near nightfall when fatigue would set in, I would chant some OHMS, do some yoga and tell myself over and over, “Allah will provide”. As I continue repacking goods into boxes I chant it all evening.
At 8pm my sister’s driver and I drive our pick-up trucks to the Maharlika Charity Foundation to pick up their donations of 500 grocery bags filled with pre-Ramadhan goodies (uncooked bihon, and rice, coffee, juice, condiments, and even a large pack of chocolates for the children). Bless their kind hearts.
D-Day. Woke up at 5 am and proceeded to wait for the truck. I waited.. and waited… and waited still. Contacts in Paidu Pulangi, Ms. Malu (Principal of the evacuation center/school) and Vice Mayor Don were already texting/calling asking us if we were on our way. Obviously, we weren’t. Desperate for a truck, at 10am we decided to rent one. With the help of friends, we pooled together some cash and were on our way. Alhamdullilah.
We took to the front seat of the truck cabin. Hadji (the quack doctor, fellow Sinag member and designated photographer), Emil our driver, and myself. The truck wasn’t in the best of condition so sitting cramped in the front seat near the window wasn’t the best position to be. Good thing my seat had a headrest (Hadji’s didn’t) so I contemplated on a really long deep slumber from Davao to Pikit. Unfortunately, my backside and the seat weren’t getting along very well so I didn’t get a single wink of shuteye at all.
We got to Paidu Pulangi at past 2. Contrary to what the newspapers tell us, the evacuees were still all there. No one went home. We saw the same familiar smiling faces all glad to see us.
We proceeded on the distribution to the 3 evac centers and finished with a delicious lunch at 4pm courtesy of the dashing Vice Mayor.
A bucketful of Salaams and may Allah Bless these kindred souls:
• The SINAG Foundation crew as always and Ateneo HS Batch 87 (you're the BEST guys);
• Former Ombudsman Simeon V. Marcelo who gave us cash through the kindness of our indefatigable Paring Bert Alejo. We used the money to buy soaps, shampoos, sanitary napkins and etc.;
• The Maharlika Charity Foundation for the NCCC pre-Ramadhan grocery bags and the boxes of medicines;
• Tina Suelto and her crew from DXN;
• Joyce Cesar and everybody at the Organiczar Events Company;
• Alex Montañez of APM Advertising for the tarps;
• GLOBE Telecom and Peter for the 2 tons of old tarps. Yes, 2 TONS (2,000 kilos)!!
• Ms. Eva for facilitating the connection between Globe and our efforts;
• The Holy Child School and its Administrator, old friend from way back, Bobet Leuterio and his mom;
• Matina Town Square and Mr. Gene Arcena;
• and of course my children and mom for helping me repack, sort, rebox everything we received.
All these would not have been possible if not for the good Paring Bert who led me to this endeavor. I trudged along my daily activities not knowing that I was caught in a selfish web of self gratification. In my quest for acquiring everything good in the world, I ended up being this sad woman with nothing to show for. I lost touch of the kindness and the simple things in life.
Now I know better. I’m smiling again and I laugh even more these days.
• Matina Town Square and Mr. Gene Arcena;
• and of course my children and mom for helping me repack, sort, rebox everything we received.
All these would not have been possible if not for the good Paring Bert who led me to this endeavor. I trudged along my daily activities not knowing that I was caught in a selfish web of self gratification. In my quest for acquiring everything good in the world, I ended up being this sad woman with nothing to show for. I lost touch of the kindness and the simple things in life.
Now I know better. I’m smiling again and I laugh even more these days.
I told you it was addicting.
Happy Ramadhan to my Islam brothers and sisters. Peace and light everyone!!
Happy Ramadhan to my Islam brothers and sisters. Peace and light everyone!!
(yes that is my living room. or whats left of it) 
(Doc (?) Hadji and I got front row seats to the best ride in town :)
(the boatman: Pikit version)
(Vice Mayor Don talking to the crowd)
(it was a really hot day. Vice and I in my ubelicious shirt)
(unloading)
(distribution)
(way past 9pm we were still on our way home to Davao. Hadji used his camera lens as a loudspeaker/amplifier for his cellphone media player. such ingenuity.)
photo credits: shots were taken by my old school Canon Ixus cam and Hadji's Hi-tech Canon SLR 9 megapix cam. Can you tell the difference? bet you can't!
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