By now you’ve seen the devastation
that hurricane Haiyan has done to the Philippine Islands last week. My heart goes out to all the people who have
lost their homes, jobs, not to mention the loss of friends and relatives. Rebuilding is going to take years, perhaps
decades, but I admire the resiliency of the people, I always have. After viewing Anderson Cooper’s report (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/anderson-cooper-defends-philippines-coverage_n_4280683.html) I felt compelled to write a bit
about my own short experience in the Philippines.
Although born a third generation Californian, most of my
family’s ancestry is rooted in the Philippines. I had always wanted to visit the Philippine
Islands even though pretty much all of my relatives had come to the US long
ago. In 2004 I finally got my chance to go when my Uncle and Aunt decided to
spend a couple of their retirement years living there and they invited us to go
visit. As their son, my cousin, and I we
were in the plane preparing for landing, I looked out the airplane window and
looked over the first signs of civilization; a patchwork of fish ponds and huts
and thought to myself, “This is the land of my ancestry” and I could have sworn
I felt the twang of a distant, ancient, albeit thin tether binding myself to that
land’s watery and green terrain. For 2 weeks,
my cousin and I stayed with his parents and they took us everywhere they could
for us to become familiar with the land.
One morning, after having our own huge breakfast, we were
leaving their rented house on a pineapple plantation (simple, VERY simple to
American standards, a luxurious abode to most indigenous standards) and we were
invited to a birthday party taking place on the compound for one of the
youngsters. Now let me explain
something. Filipinos are a very
welcoming often making those around them “family” even though there is no blood
relation. They are very giving and it is
perceived as dishonorable to have a party and not invite all of the “family”
even when provisions cannot accommodate, which is why everyone who comes,
brings something to share. So as you can
imagine, one cannot turn down an invitation to attend without being rude.
The celebrants invited us into their home (a corrugated roof
over a dirt floor), served us food (though we were already stuffed from our own
breakfast) and we were compelled to eat because they gave us their all, pretty
much everything they had. From right off the flame (not a stove) I was given rice
and chicken adobo (I was wondering why there was one less crowing rooster that
morning!) and I ate as much as I could, not letting them know I didn’t eat
chicken (I gave it to my cousin when no one was looking). After eating as much as we could, we were
then led outside for dessert. One member
of the family climbed the coconut tree that shaded their home, threw down fresh
green coconuts, and the father of the celebrant cut open each one and gave each
of us our own and we drank the coconut water and ate the flesh. I have never been so full in all my life! Some music was played, the children danced,
the old people laughed, the parents served, the babies clapped.
I was astounded that people who had so little could give so
much. They could have very easily had
their party without us knowing or given us smaller portions, knowing that we
had just eaten, however, they actually took smaller portions for themselves.
They were clearly living, “simply”, yet they gave like they were the
richest people of the day. It would have
been very easy for them to live in a poverty mind set and not celebrate their
child’s birthday so “extravagantly”, but that was not an option, and the joy
they shared despite their circumstance was unexpected. What a mind shift!
Since that time, another cousin of mine and his wife and
children have spent the last 5 years or so ministering in the Philippines. They started a foundation called, Nothing 2
Lose and it was set up as leadership training for the youth which they do
through basketball camps and scholarships.
If you feel compelled to donate, if you haven’t already, know that there
will be no “middle man” and your donation will go to where it is needed in
areas that may be overlooked by other foundations. Here is the link: http://www.n2lfoundation.com/.
I thank you and ask you to continue to pray for all the
victims of this disaster. I know that
even now, they are still a joyful, giving people despite having lost pretty
much everything. It’s who they are; it’s
who I strive to be.
-Tessa L. Charles
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