Sunday, October 19, 2008 Brian's engagement By Luis A. Quibranza III
ONE Saturday, Brian Codina, a health care representative, decided to take a break from his usual rounds of closing sales deals with numerous physicians in the city.
This time, instead of his offer consisting of the usual capsules and syringes, he had his heart and time on the line.
Brian, along with 25 others from the pharmaceutical company he works for, were ready to get engaged in a stirring noble act of kindness.
It was last Aug. 9, when he was the over-all chairman for an Engage program. Engage is a community outreach project founded by Phizer Inc. for all its employees. It started in 2006.
The Cebu team of Phizer decided to tie up with Kythe Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to provide psycho-social support to sick children in hospitals. Together, they held a children’s party at the Cebu Cancer Institute of the Perpetual Succour Hospital.
It’s a challenge to hold yourself together emotionally when you find yourself in a room filled with children generally treated for leukemia. Eighteen kids were present that day. One of them was little Dave.
Dave sits quietly on his chair in a corner. But it’s not because of shyness he decides to sit at this party, but rather of a physical complication that keeps him from standing up. But there is little that can separate a child from playtime. The beat of Low was enough to make him groove – even while stuck to his chair.
So dance he did to the music. Rocking the four legs of a plastic chair with his body and arms. Another girl in the party was Niña who lives way down south in Dumanjug.
She wasn’t supposed to make it to the affair because she was short on transportation funds. But there she was, thanks to Brian who shelled out some cash for Niña and her Lola to be able to go. But Brian’s act is just a mere example of many out there who choose to live a life of generosity with utmost anonymity.
Vince’s story is proof of that.
It’s tough for Vince’s parents, local shoemakers based in Carcar, to keep up paying for Vince’s medication and treatment.
But donations keep coming in from different people and organizations. “There’s a feeling of fulfillment, it’s so nice, bai. I even like to encourage everyone to get involved. Getting to share time with the kids can help them elevate their feeling of survival,” shares Brian.
“Every day is a gift for them,” Brian adds.
The Engage program proved to be a success. In fact according to Brian, the team was one in their conviction that “their relationship with the kids wouldn’t just end that day.”
As some of us might have realized, the questions that hover in our mind can be endless.
“Why do these things happen? Why do some of these kids lack support? Where is God in all of this?”
But instead of merely questioning God, life and people’s shortcomings, Brian and the group stepped into action and became the answers for these little children. More than just a party, they gave the children a reason to look forward to another tomorrow.
