Wednesday, December 20, 2006 The gift of a thousand caring hearts By Zac Faelnar Camara
THIS Christmas season may seem bleak to many. Metro Manila was hit hard by Typhoon Milenyo, but Bicol was hit even harder by Typhoon Reming.
Although you may still see the damage that these typhoons have caused to infrastructure and to crops, it is heart-breaking to see the communities severely affected by the storms.
Often, we are thankful that we are spared these misfortunes. And so we go on with our lives, living and working for our future. What about the rest? What future do the typhoon victims look forward to? All they look to now is surviving each day that passes.
It is not only heart-breaking, it is heart-wrenching to think that disasters of such scale happen, and so close to Christmastime.
Shouldn’t this be the season that we all rejoice and be merry, spending precious time with kin and exchanging gifts?
I did my Christmas shopping early this year, thinking of everyone I wanted to show my gratitude to. But as soon as Typhoon Reming hit, I knew exactly what it was in my heart that I needed to do.
I went shopping, again. This time, for non-perishable food items and other goods that the people in evacuation centers needed badly. And I posted my announcement that donations for Bicol could be coursed through me. A good friend of mine is coordinating with three evacuation centers in Daraga, Albay in cooperation with Operation Bagyo Reming. So, I was assured that all donations would reach these families. There were over 1,400 families or over an estimated 6,000 people in one evacuation center alone, she told me.
Donations are gifts from the heart. And if even just a thousand caring hearts were to give what little they could, then a thousand two-to-three-fold would be able to rejoice with us this Christmas. I’m still in the process of gathering boxes of food, toys and clothing donations before sending them off. There are many, many organizations and individuals working towards this goal.
The world is my home and there is nothing more important than my personal contribution to help make it a better place for everyone. Let that be our greatest gift this year!
