Joint efforts to care for those in need

Hi po sa lahat ng bumibisita sa blog ko at angbabasa ng entries ko kahit na medyo stupido. Nakakataba po kayo ng puso.

Mayron po akong kuwentong isi-share sa inyo. Mejo mahaba po pero siguro its worth your time naman po. Nagsimula po ang estorya noong January 2007.

Eto po yun. While some people enjoy the bounty and luxury of life, this family residing at Uriarte Subdivision in La Carlota City seems hopelessly deprived of the good things in life.

This family is composed of an 80-year old lady, Fortunata Bayog and her grand-daughter Joanabel Bayog, 14 years old, mentally ill and extremely undernourished, who was abandoned by her mother when she was only one year old.

The breadwinner is Fortunata's son, called "Baruk" (because his brother was a.k.a. "Tarzan"). He is in his mid-40s, unemployed and accepts part-time, menial jobs. The other children of Fortunata have gone to other places and might have their own family now.

Close to her mother, Baruk, could not afford to leave Fortunata in her present state. He opted to remain single. "Mabudlay pa kon magpangasawa ako sa amon situasyon subong," (Mas magiging mahirap kung mag-aasawa pa ko sa sitwasyon namin ngayon) he says sadly with tears dimming his eyes. His meager income from the odd jobs he has could hardly suffice for their food every day.

This kindness inherent among Filipinos reminds us that life is still beautiful in this wide world.

The miserable plight of the family came to the attention of the Peer Counselors' Society (Isang peer helping organization po sa alma mater ko where i was a member). With the help of the incumbent president of M.O.R. Kaberks organization, Alberto Carbajusa (he happens to be my pal) and the College Voice (student publication ng alma mater ko), these organizations visited the hovel where the Bayogs lived. They took pictures of the family members, interviewed Baruk and their neighbors. Then, they sent a letter with the pictures seeking for assistance to ABS-CBN TV 4 - Negros, Lingkod Kapamilya office, in Bacolod City.

Soon after, the news team headed by Mitch Lipa, TV Patrol newscaster and reporter, went to La Carlota to document the family's dire situation. The team was accompanied by Vice-Mayor Demi John Honrado (now mayor of the city) and city administrator Homer Bermudo. "We will see to it that DSWD will provide assistance to the family," assured the vice mayor.

Unfortunately, after the story was flashed on tv screens, Fortunata passed away due to acute cardio pulmonary arrest. The City Government of La Carlota and barangay officials shouldered the family's burial expenses. Joanabel was given a wheelchair and was sent to her mother in Bicol. But sadly an information reached us that she had a fatal heart attack in Manila.

Despite the death that claimed the lives of two persons, the PCS, CV, M.O.R. Kaberks and ABS-CBN feel a sense of fulfillment to have given time and effort in making the Bayogs feel that people care in the worst moment of their lives.

Gusto ko pong sabihin na this kindness inherent among Filipinos reminds us that life is still beautiful in this wide world.

Salamat po sa pagbasa ninyo. :)