Mammoth relief, acts of kindness lighten 'Yolanda' tragedy

MANILA, Philippines - Amid the public's mounting frustration on government-aid efforts, thousands of private citizens have launched mammoth relief drives, providing the foreground of the catastrophe.

In a warehouse that survived  in the virtually flattened-out city of Tacloban, hundreds of volunteers are crouched on mats and sitting atop sacks of rice to repack food relief for the innumerable typhoon victims.

The scene is all too similar in various parts of the country that have been spared by the storm's might.

Students and professors of nearby schools repack relief goods at DSWD-Mactan Airbase Repacking Hub, Cebu City. DSWD photo

An airline's cargo house in Parañaque City houses volunteers who drop in on their spare time to pack goods to be flown to disaster-hit areas. Several young people march to the Philippine Army gymnasium in Taguig City to assist in preparing food and items.

Others are assisting the weary staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in at least six sites across the metro.

Metro Manila Universities are similarly buzzing with activity--centers of learning have turned into storehouses overnight after the monster howler pounded on Visayas last November 8. Student leaders keep the momentum at stations for categorizing items, packing them and placing labels and students and teachers alike come and go in between classes to lend a hand.

While generous amounts of donations are from organizations and businesses, most came from nameless citizens and their families.

In cyberspace, social networks are brimming with calls for more relief, inspirational quotes in graphics, volunteers' stories and photos of goods neatly enveloped in plastic bags and ready for sending.

Lists of volunteer opportunities--and not job openings--periodically appear on timelines and threads as more repacking sites mushroom around the city.

A group called Yolanda Citizen Watch, meanwhile, extends help in a unique way: By tracking relief and recovery funds to ensure its disbursement to those affected by natural disasters.

"Citizens say no to the loss of a single centavo to corruption in calamity funds," the group said.

Small acts, big impact

The abounding stories of little acts of kindness show how despite differences, millions of Filipinos share one desire in this tragic period of the country's history.

Student Jem Monedo who still has not received her allowance from her parents spent the little left of her resources by placing some biscuits, crackers and bottles of water in individual packs, labeled with "Kapit lang :)" or "Hold on."

Photo courtesy of Jem Monedo

Manila resident Ginggay Pajaro encountered the generosity of a certain store owner in Bambang while she was shopping for medical items for victims in Tacloban.

"When I was about to leave [the store], its owner called me and handed me 2 thousand pesos. I asked 'para saan po ito?' She answered 'I-bili mo ng biskwit at ipadala mo sabay ng mga gamot.' I asked for her name but she said 'Di bale na'," Pajaro recounted.

A Facebook user told the story of a Manila cab driver she met who fetched Tacloban evacuees from the Villamore Airbase in Pasay.

"Lampas P200 daw ang fare nung mga passengers, pero hindi na niya siningil. Simpleng tulong na lang daw niya para sa mga kababayan natin," the user said.

Two young students from an Olongapo public school knocked at a local newspaper's office with a sizeable plastic bag filled with food items.

"Tinanong ko sila kung sino nagpapunta (sa kanila) at saan galing ang mga dala nila. Sabi ni Clerianne Cerrada at Patrick San Agustin na sila lang mismo ang nag ipon ng relief good mula sa donasyon ng kanilang mga kaklase sa 1st year," journalist Anthony Bayarong recounted on his Facebook wall.

Moving stories from overseas

A photo of a 6-year-old Japanese boy, Shoichi Kondoh, who emptied his piggybank for typhoon victims in the Philippines went viral on Friday.

Photo from the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo shows Second Secretary and Consul Bryan Dexter Lao receiving the envelope from pre-schooler Shoichi Kondoh.

"Accompanied by his mother, Miho Kondoh, Shoichi visited the Philippine Embassy today to personally hand-over his donation of JPY 5,000 taken from his piggybank savings.," the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo reported.

The embassy's youngest cash donor also signed the condolence book for the victims.

A photo of two young American girls selling lemonade also made rounds online on Friday.

The future of humanity is alive & well in my neighborhood. Thank God 4 the beautiful hearts of children #Philippines pic.twitter.com/Tl2XA7oTDl

— Shekinah (@ShekinahEden) November 11, 2013

Though we are not there in body, we are with you in spirit #Philippines. We love you. We hurt for you. In our thoughts & prayers.

— Shekinah (@ShekinahEden) November 10, 2013

A group of Filipino-American nurses from Registered Nurse Response Network left for the Philippines from San Francisco on Friday to address the shortage of medical practitioners in the field. Each nurse's flight has been sponsored by generous souls abroad.

"The Philippines needs our help," the banner they carried reads.

Registered nurse Jan Rodolfo speaks at a news conference at San Francisco International Airport. The nurses behind the banner are from local hospitals, at the event, to show support to the nurses traveling to the Philippines. AP/George Nikitin