MANILA – A group of Filipino household service workers in Doha, Qatar extended help in their own small way for kababayans whose lives will never be the same again after super typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) struck central Philippines on November 8.
And their help came in the form of an empty tissue box.
Instead of just throwing it away, Jovelyn Bayubay-Revilla found another use for it. This time, as donation box dedicated to kababayans greatly affected by the typhoon.
"Maraming nag-donate sa Kleenex box namin. May Malaysian, Lebanese, Indonesian, Indian at Pilipino din," said Revilla.
Although miles away from home, Revilla and some 30 members of the charity group she formed called, “Handog Ngiti ng mga Inday”, made sure that their chores would include passing on the tissue box to families living inside their compound.
It was the photos and television footage of destruction and despair that continue to emerge from the aftermath of Yolanda that urged Revilla to initiate the donation drive.
"Nang mabalitaan ko si Yolanda, lagi ako sa CNN kahit naka-vacuum ako, open ko lang ang tv. Napaluha ako sa nangyari at gusto ko na makatulong, kaya pumasok sa isip ko ang mangatok dito sa mga villa ng Ezdan Compound kaya kinuha ko ang Kleenex box at nilagyan ng HELP PHILIPPINES YOLANDA VICTIM!” Revilla said.
Revilla said she and her fellow OFWs got the blessing and support from their employers and wards to conduct the donation drive.
“Tuwing hapon o gabi kumakatok kami sa mga pinto ng mga dayuhan. At dahil positibo kami na may pinto na bubukas at hahandugan ng kaunting barya ang box namin ay isang malaking pasasalamat na sa maliit na halaga malaking tulong na sa kapwa Pilipino na biktima ni Yolanda,” she said.
The donation box yielded 2,481 Riyals or P29,523. The money was already remitted to trusted friends in the Philippines who will buy, pack, and distribute relief goods to typhoon-hit residents of Leyte.
Revilla said many of their friends who are from typhoon-hit provinces were affected by the calamity. Some have lost their loved ones and homes while others have family members who remain missing until now.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
