I joined the “Worldwide Walk for
Yolanda Victims” February last year. I remember getting a shirt stamped for
the “cause”. I still have it in my
drawer. But my two hundred fifty pesos (as I remember paying) did not only left
me a shirt to remember but it had helped BIG to those who were really
unfortunate that mournful moment of their lives.
The Walk spearheaded by Iglesia ni Cristo did not only gave new
and sturdy homes to the victims of the terrible typhoon but has brought new
life and REAL NEW beginning to the beneficiaries NOT limited to church members
alone.
The homes are livable – there is water, electricity, safe walls and
above all there is something inside the community that gives them long-term
relief not just for days, weeks or months but probably for a lifetime – farming
tools with the necessary techniques (through seminars just as what has been
provided in Agusan resettlement –even invited foreign experts to teach latest
technology on farming) and equipment; dried fish factory; garment factory—
sewing training with pay and employment later on, I was told by a friend who is
employed in the same Nueva Ecija resettlement Unlad Garment Factory too. Those will surely give new life and hope to
the unfortunate victims of the catastrophe.
The problems of most resettlement areas even from the Government is
sustainable living. Yes, the occupants have a shelter but how can they stay on
that place IF there is no way they can earn for a living – that was theorized
and planned by the church administration, when they said we will HELP the
victims, they really mean it seriously. The people in that community will no
longer go far to find a living. They are educated and the workplace is built
within. There is no reason they cannot sustain daily living. The church
administration is deeply reaching-out to the victims and has exhausted REAL
efforts to realize it. Participants of the “Worldwide
Walk for Yolanda Victims” are just members
of the Church – and I can say that not ALL had participated in the Walk; compared to other organizations
that raised fund for them who have more members and participants BUT we are
seeing substandard structures as new homes being provided and no thoughts about
sustainable living within the community(?!).
And the amount we paid, not bad having a t-shirt bearing the stamp of the event as a remembrance and
watching the proceeds of that registration fee, makes me feel not a cent was
wasted, everything accounted for. I feel
so proud that some “hollow blocks” or nails came from me. Through that we
have shown great love to other people.
Here are the links if you wanted to see for yourself.
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