The Filipino Spirit
It was Tuesday 4:00 PM when I first entered the Balay Expo in Cubao to help other Operation-Tulong-Bayan volunteers prepare relief packs for the typhoon victims. I, together with my friends proceeded to this relief center as most of those we’ve gone through have more than enough hands but less to pack.
As I entered, the irony of it all struck me. Here I am standing in the middle of what seemed to be a well organized production department of a manufacturing facility, where human labor, appears to be a functional part of a huge well-oiled machine, has been in place so it could give aid to a pandemonium caused by Typhoon Ondoy. A sight to behold indeed – amazingly structured production area composed of people who hardly know each other and are from different age groups.
You’ll never miss to notice it – the atmosphere. Everyone, though have their hands full, are warm, smiling even giggling yet are actually seriously in a rush to pack as much while making friends on the side. The energy radiating from every volunteer alone is more than enough doze to boost your strength and will to keep going. Little did I know that four hours had passed and I have been scooping more than 10 sacks of rice to be repacked and hearing stories of two ladies I have just met, who by the way, were strangers to each one prior to that evening too.
As the days pass and going through the production line to being deployed here and there, your body may feel really tired and exhausted but your spirits are high. You would feel that certain sense of gratitude, feeling so blessed to have been given a healthy body, perfectly working pair of hands and feet. You’d be grateful to the advancement of the communication technology too, that your connections on your network and the contacts on your mobile phone are multiplying.
What surprised me is that in the midst of all these none took advantage of raising themselves up to be noticed nor to earn recognition. It was all for the spirit of Bayanihan. What stunned me more is that people are actually surprised how united we can all be and all support a good cause – to give as much help as we can to our fellow Filipinos who have lost a lot. Should that really come as a surprise to us until now?
More than two decades ago we have proven to the world that we are one by walking through the streets of this same calamity-stricken region for the same cause – every Filipino’s welfare and future, which describes the very essence of Bayanihan. The stimulus or drive may be of different nature but the goal is still the same.
History do repeats itself. We all decided to take part in marching for every Filipino’s interests after the tragic death of a hero more than two decades ago. Now, we are again moving here and there, united still, after the tragic retort of Mother Nature, for everyone’s safety. So now I’ll ask again…should this still come as a surprise?
We are Filipinos. Our values are deeply inculcated in us. I think we all just got caught up with all the clutter that we tend to neglect the innate good in us. I think more than anything this is what we should ascertain to treasure the most – we have great, unique principles. May we learn not to wait for another misfortune to remember what our ancestors have taught us. May we value it so much that we would think twice before we take advantage of our fellowmen for personal gain.
Together let us refuse to accept that corruption and crab mentality is a Filipino trait, as it is of every man’s, across all races. All over the world we are known to be hardworking, warm, spiritual and compassionate. That is who are and this is what we’ve been showing the world the past few days…and that is our system. That is the idea behind our relief operations – to re-live the morals handed down to us and not just to relieve ourselves of what may have caused all these disasters.
