Meaningful Day

December 18, 2014 Charity Day

Our family shared our time, energy, resources and our love to the sick at the Philippine General Hospital.

We decided to time the Blessing of Angels right on our wedding anniversary date to make this day more meaningful. Instead of going to some fancy hotel, money was spent to help the less fortunate.

300 cups of Coca-cola, 300 hamburgers, 300 spaghetti, two priests, four photographers (photo booth), six assistants, and the four of us, we spent four hours at the ward sections of the hospital.

Reverend Irmo went from bed to bed, patient to patient, blessed them individually and prayed for their healing and full recovery.

We were like machines moving in one direction.
I would introduce myself first, my family, why we were there, our intention, what we’re going to do next. Reverend Irmo would lead the short prayers, then he would go around praying for the sick one by one. We were careful not to offend those non-Catholics, we asked first if they wanted to be blessed. Out of the hundreds, only two refused.

Blessing of the Rosary

My son was in charge of carrying the standee, Oyen was the one carrying the microphone and portable speaker, I assisted Rev. Irmo, our six staffs distributed the food, the last to come in was Edmund who played Santa Claus. He’s the one giving the P200 cash gifts to each of the patients. Every time he gave the money, he would apologize “pasensya na ho kayo, yan lang ho ang nakayanan”.

Most of them were appreciative and happy to receive P200 cash. But there were two who asked for more. Yung isa ipinatawag pa ako, gusto daw akong makausap. He told me, dagdagan ko daw pambili ng gamot nya. I couldn’t, otherwise all the others would also expect and ask. I apologized to him. I felt bad but I had to say no. We’re not prepared to help them with their medicines. Hindi namin kaya. We just wanted to give them some money for food. Parang papasko lang na konti.

We prepared the funds that morning. Tupi-tupi na yung P200 para mabilis maiaabot ni Edmund. He was also the only one tasked to give the cash gift para hindi magka doble-doble.

This mom is having triplets plus four she already has = 7 children. Sabi ko “wag mo ng dagdagan ha?”

We had a photo booth which we moved from one ward to the next kaya pagud-na pagod ring yung mga photographers. Upon the request of the chaplain, we included the standee of Pope Francis. Others wanted both the Pope and Jollibee mascot to pose with them.

This is Cookie. He’s 8 but looks 3. He was maltreated and physically abused by his own father, abandoned by his mother. His bones were broken and his whole body was full of cigarette burns. His father is in jail. This lady is not his relative. She’s a kind soul who took pity on him and took the big responsibility of taking care of this boy. He would soon be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for adoption.

Remember baby Fatima? (post: Lugaw Feeding)

Their baby has hydrocephalus.

My Kuya Ben’s third son Bembol died of hydrocephalus when he was two. Until now, I could still remember my brother crying at our driveway because the doctor was asking for P10,000 professional fee for Bembol’s operation. Fee pa lang nya yun. It did not include the hospital bills. That was a staggering amount 28 years ago. Wala rin naman akong pera. That was a very sad moment. I can’t forget that day. Parang nade-depress ako thinking about it.

Oyen

I went in between beds trying to make the patients and their families feel a little bit better. They are burdened and weary. Mabigat ang pinagdadaanan nila. Wala ng pera, may sakit pa. I tried to console some who were crying. Di ba may pag ka clown naman ako? Yung iba biniro-biro ko. “Magpa-galing ka ha. Sana gumaling ka. Fight lang ng fight”.

Deep in my heart I wish I could say something that would happen for sure.
With 100% certainty.

That everything is going to be OK.

to be continued