FEATURE STORY: How I started the "Tabang sa mga biktima sa bagyong Ondoy"

CEBU, Philippines - I was in Manila with my wife Nena when Typhoon Ondoy started unleashing its ugly dark clouds and heavy rains in the morning of September 26. Knowing that so many people will be affected with the flooding, Nena and I could only say that we Cebuanos should be very grateful and thankful to Señor Sto. Niño.

I decided that we should involve ourselves and do something for our less fortunate brothers, the victims of Ondoy in Metro Manila and the victims of Pepeng in northern Luzon.

Since the University of the Visayas is a university with a heart and a university that cares, I felt that it was important and urgent to get our students, the faculty and the alumni to participate and share whatever they can, whether in cash or in kind, to the victims of the typhoons.

In this project, I involved The FREEMAN and Banat newspapers. And since The FREEMAN and Banat News are under the STAR Group of Publications, all donations gathered by the newspapers were coursed through Operation Damayan, The STAR’s very own foundation. Donations gathered by the university, the Gullas Medical Center and the six satellite schools, meanwhile, were coursed through ABS-CBN Cebu through the help of Mr. Leo Lastimosa.

I am very happy to share that in such a short period of time, the University of the Visayas, the Gullas Medical Center and the six satellite schools came up with 977 bags that contain assorted items like clothing and canned goods, as well as P183,000 in cash donations. I am deeply touched by the generous contributions of our students, faculty, non-teaching staff, alumni and friends of the university. Their generosity will go a long way in helping the victims of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng.

I am a strong believer of the idea that no one is so poor that he cannot give something. Some may not have tangible things to share, but everyone has a heart that could offer a more priceless gift – love.

If we have something to share, let us not hesitate. God knows who among us have something to share and He has a way of sending His message.

So blessed are those who have both tangible and intangible things to offer and share, for they are the true Angels of Charity. (THE FREEMAN)