By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Perhaps the most
famous story about helping others is the story of The Good Samaritan found in
the Holy Bible.
Bible accounts tell us that Samaritans were detested by the Jews being
products of Jewish and gentile union, calling them “unclean.”
In the story, a Jew was waylaid on his way to his business, leaving him
half dead. A Jew saw the man but did not help him. Another Jew saw and passed
the man as if he saw nothing. Unexpectedly, a Samaritan saw the dying man and
immediately brought him to his house to cure and feed him.
The moral of the story is that help comes in all forms, oftentimes,
unexpected.
In this present time, good Samaritans still abound, waiting for
opportunities to extend help without expecting anything in return, except for
the joy of helping others in their most simple ways.
City under siege
The city has been under crisis for the last eight days as firefight
between the government forces and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)-Misuari
faction only becoming worse as days go by.
As in every armed conflict, civilians are always at the losing end.
Displacement, loss of properties, and worst of all, the loss and destruction of
lives, are all synonymous to the word war.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that as of
Sunday, over 64,000 individuals have been evacuated as firefight continues.
The government is now faced with a gargantuan task of delivering the
basic needs of these people. Although the government has enough logistics to
address the problem, it may not be long that help will be needed.
Bayanihan Spirit
Then again, just when everything is in shamble, good Samaritans again
rise to the occasion, silently giving whatever they can away from the
spotlight. Zamboangueños and even those from neighboring provinces from all
walks of life, rich or poor, showed that the “Bayanihan Spirit,” a famous trait
of Filipinos, is still alive and burning.
As DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman said, “We are very impressed and grateful
to the overwhelming support from all sectors to help meet the needs of the
evacuees.”
Many groups and organizations stepped up volunteering to assist in
whatever way they can for the affected families. Individuals also came to the
Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council Office) to volunteer.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC), as always, has been in the forefront in
making sure that all needs are addressed, even putting their lives in danger as
what the whole world witnessed in the news where a couple of their personnel
were injured during an encounter. The risk of helping is there, but it’s outweighed
by their desire to help in times of need. They still chose to stay away from
recognition and do their job unmindful of everything but the delivery of their
service.
Other groups have also been contributing greatly for the cause of the
thousands of victims of this senseless armed conflict.
Touching lives in need
As this writer tried to interview the heads of some of these groups, they
politely declined any interview. One of them said, “we appreciate the
recognition of what we are doing, but knowing that we have touched the lives of
those in need is more than enough for us to keep moving and continue helping
them”.
This statement gave a concrete picture of the story of the Good
Samaritan, ever so ready to extend their help without expecting anything in
return. For them, no amount of praise and exposure can compare to the fulfillment
of sharing God’s love to those who need it.
Everywhere you go, you can see them quietly exerting efforts to help
showing the victims that they are one with them in this most trying time.
Secretary Soliman, during a press briefing earlier, said that with the
kind of attitude shown by people from and outside Zamboanga, the city will
immediately stand on its feet and get through with this crisis.
The business sector has also been silently heeding the call for help as
reported by
Soliman.
“We also laud the business sector, specifically the restaurant owners for
continuously providing cooked foods for our evacuees,” she said.
The manufacturing sector in the city has also donated ready-to-eat foods
like sardines for the evacuees.
Mr. Edwin Toh of the Rotary Group, himself a member of the business
sector, called on all businessmen whose stores are far from critical areas to
open their stores for the public to secure their daily provisions. He has called
also on his colleagues to refrain from spreading rumors of food shortage to
avoid panic buying.
Even private individuals have come up with their own relief donation
activities to contribute to the ongoing initiatives that the government is
doing, going from one evacuation center to another to reach out to the
displaced people.
Overwhelming support
A staff of a private school in the city who has been conducting relief
operations since day one said her group has been receiving overwhelming support
even from those outside Zamboanga.
“We are in constant communication with the Crisis Management Council
(CMC) for the delivery of relief goods to the victims, from clothing to food
items coming from as far as Manila. There was even one child not more than
three years old who has personally handed to us some diapers. The child would
cry if the parents try to get the item from him. This kind of support has
inspired us to go on and help in whatever way we can,” she said.
Foreign donors
Aids coming from international funding agencies have also provided a huge
lift in addressing the needs of the victims. Secretary Soliman said the USAID
donated P27 million worth of assistance in the form of mats, water jugs, and
portalets (portable toilets).
The city government of Zamboanga is indeed grateful for the overwhelming
support given to the victims, a manifestation that “bayanihan” amongst us is
still alive.
There are still many groups and individuals out there who are doing
everything to help in the situation, groups and individuals whose only desire
is to reach out to those in need without expecting anything in return. Hats off to all of you! You are the unsung
heroes worth emulating. (PIA9)
