Sunday, November 10, 2013

SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT in Typhoon Yolanda Relief



Anyone seeing the heartbreaking images of apocalyptic devastation in Leyte, Philippines and nearby towns, one cannot help but to get emotional, shake his head in disbelief, and be moved to tears.  While Metro Manila hardly felt the wrath of Typhoon Yolanda last Friday (November 8, 2013), Tacloban City in Leyte was just waiting for the unimaginable destruction of epic proportion.  Just like a thief in the night, the Super Typhoon left with almost wiping out the entire city.

A general shot shows houses destroyed by the strong winds caused by typhoon Haiyan at Tacloban, eastern island of Leyte on November 9, 2013. (AFP Photo / Noel Celis)

For those who were spared from damage, you can just say, “everything is already water under the bridge, time to move on”.  In reality, however, a huge, daunting OPPORTUNITY is right before us.  EVERY Filipino citizen can do his fair share in reaching out – regardless of one’s political color or religious affiliation.  More than pity and LOVE, cultivating a SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT is key.

Sacrifice means a loss or something you give up, usually for the sake of a better cause.  The all important question now is this:  What am I willing to sacrifice to reach out to the victims of the calamity?  While posting in social networking sites to share important messages of sympathy and doing acts of prayer can help, here are a few more ways to show it:

INSTEAD OF

  • eating out next weekend in your favorite restaurant; 




  • dining in your preferred coffee or tea shop to have an expensive Frap or Pearl Milk Tea;



  • doing early shopping for the holiday season;




  • buying cases of beer and indulge in binge drinking to celebrate an occasion or clubbing with your friends next Friday night; 



  • ordering gastronomic food for delivery into your home;


7.        

  • and betting in the lottery or just buying packs of cigarettes for pure leisure;



why not save the budget for these items/activities and channel the same for sending donations in cash or in kind for calamity victims? (Check out the following link for list of Operations Centers accepting donations for relief: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/43300-reliefph-victims-typhoon-yolanda-help)

A loving citizen can do the sacrifice - even for just one day if not for one week

Imagine the positive and refreshing results if each individual - a student, a worker, a professional, or a businessman - will find ways to do his share, showing this contagious self-sacrificing spirit. 

The task is never easy.  But with collective efforts to show how much we care for our dear kababayans who until now are stunned and grieving, every sacrifice can translate into something meaningful – one that is soothing to the soul.  After all, "there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving".  (Acts 20:35).

It is time to reflect, it is time take the initiative - NOW.

1 comment:

  1. Imagine the positive and refreshing results if each individual - a student, a worker, a professional, or a businessman - will find ways to do his share, showing this contagious self-sacrificing spirit.

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