Payback time for Bicolanos

Generosity, as the Filipino display of reciprocity, highly regards Bicolanos in the milestone of World History. This becomes a socio-linguistic and cultural identity as the most prestigious remark for today’s Bicolanos after they offered a helping hand to the residents of Metro Manila when miserably hit by typhoon Ondoy.

Behind Bicolanos’ generosity, Ako Bicol, Sunwest Care Foundation, Rotary Club of Central Legazpi, Legazpi Jaycees, Tektone Foundation, the local government of Legazpi, dzGB, Bombo Radio Legazpi, among other government, and non-government organizations blended into one in response to the call of assistance among the typhoon victims in Central Luzon. Through their concerted relief effort, they made up a caravan, which consisted fifty volunteers, more than 30 cars, 10 dump trucks, three trucks filled with donations, and two dredgers, moved to evacuation centers in Metro Manila, Taytay in Rizal, Novaliches in Quezon City, Marikina City, and some part of Los Baños, Laguna and brought with them various food and supplies for typhoon victims. It was indeed an amazing kindness when ordinary Bicolano people along their way would throw plastic bags with sardines or noodles or used clothes into the trucks; while, there are also some Bicolanos who donated a small spared amount of peso just to extend their sincerest kindness to the victims. It is said that the group gave out more than P1 million worth of relief goods, including blankets, canned food, instant noodles, bottled water, and local products like brooms, coco lumber, and mats.

In doing so, it was a payback for the Bicolanos when the Bicol region then suffered from the burden brought about by the typhoon Reming. This has stricken the Bicol region with winds of 190 kilometers per hour. It brought down trees and electric posts, which set the city in the shadows of fear. The heavy rains caused mud and rock stumbling down and burying houses up to their rooftops until some houses were dragged by the strong current of water. This caused death of thousands Albayano people when mudslides and boulders from the slopes of Mayon Volcano crushed Albay villages, which left agony and misery to the Bicolanos. During the catastrophe, the palace sent off a caravan of some 250 trucks laden with P200 M worth of relief goods voluntarily gave out by doctors, clearing crews, carpenters, linemen, masons and other non-government organizations in the countryside.

This simple generosity awakens not only the Bicolanos but the peoples across the globe. This simply shows how kind and charitable are the Filipino people in the midst of difficulty. This simply shows that in better or worse; Filipinos cannot really hold their arms to stretch out to those people who are in need because the fulfillment they shared with the victims cannot be truly sold in the market and cannot surely be bought by millions of money. Money, for them, is just a temporary source of happiness; but, generosity is the eternal source of blissfulness. It is true that when a person is blessed with a good heart; a person will always be remembered.

Today’s reality unfolds; it is an affirmation that typhoon Ondoy makes Filipino people miserable; but, for Bicolanos, it helps them become more generous to others. This is the real manifestation that the Filipino tradition of reciprocity is still burning in our mind and heart despite the global crises we encounter because we, Bicolanos, believe that kindness is not just showing sympathy; but, an act of mercy. Yet, politics was never a question when needy calls for assistance.

Generosity, also known as utang na loob, highly regards Bicolanos not only a fossil in the milestone of Contemporary World History; but, a living legacy of the legendary heroes of Ibalong with remarkable character of a real hero renowned in the heart of the peoples across the globe.