The ‘bayanihan’ spirit

Philippine Ambassador Willy C. Gaa late last month called on the Filipino community in the United States to extend relief to the victims of Typhoon “Ondoy” which caused epic floods in Manila and 25 provinces. The floods rendered almost half a million Filipinos homeless and killed nearly 300. In his appeal, the ambassador said: “Let this moment be a time of giving, solidarity and oneness for our people and a chance to manifest the Filipinos’ resiliency in the face of calamity.”

But for Filipinos in the United States or elsewhere, there was no need for any encouragement. Overwhelmed by the disaster that was unfolding before their own eyes, hundreds of Filipino American organizations nationwide spontaneously launched their own fund raising campaigns. In the Washington metropolitan area, groups led by Feed the Hungry, the Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC), and the IMF/World Bank Filipino Association sent out phone calls, emails and faxes asking for donations. Other local groups have set up fund-raising benefit concerts, dances and musical programs the proceeds of which would go to the flood victims.

The same instanT reactionS came from Filipino organizations and individuals in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

While the ambassador asked that donations be coursed to the National Disaster Coordinating Center (NDCC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Philippine National Red Cross, most groups have decided to handle the assistance themselves. Government agencies, according to reports, have failed to undertake rescue missions, evacuation of the homeless, and to distribute food and water to evacuees in temporary shelters. These agencies were reportedly paralyzed by communications and bureaucratic problems. Congress is even now moving to abolish the National Disaster Coordinating Agency led by presidential candidate Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro which was supposed to handle calamities like this.

The FtH, for instance, did not course its assistance to these government agencies because it has its own an ad hoc machinery in Manila. Whatever funds FtH had on hand was immediately sent to Manila by volunteers like Bing C. Branigin of the Manila Mail.

This spontaneous reaction of Filipinos around the world to aid their suffering countrymen means that the “bayanihan spirit” is alive and well.

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