“Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous.” Albert Einstein. The statement purportedly came from the world’s most noted scientist who admittedly did not believe in God. My posting come at a time when PCCCI (Philippine Cabin Crew Charities Inc.) is about to hold its annual charity fund raising event on November 30. Whatever it is worth, first, I would like to express my gratitude to PCCCI and the ever-helpful Josie Wenko for responding quickly to my solicitation (or is it plea) for donation to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda in Estancia, Iloilo. To my other friends, specially Bles Mendoza Zialcita, who shared their blessings, thank you so much. Your selflessness gives hope to the downtrodden and restores faith in the goodness of men. Each of us help to carry the crosses the victims bear and in our own way, thank God, for our good fortunes that we were spared of the destruction. Yolanda’s fury was closer to home as Estancia, the birthplace of my late mother Edith, was the hardest hit among the provinces in the island of Panay. The fish trading town suffered a double whammy when the 32-megawatt Napocor power barge, anchored near the fish trading hub, was swept ashore and spilled more than 600,000 liters of bunker fuel that stretched 10 kms away and ruined the already fragile marine ecology of the area. More than 100 died, near sea or at sea when many wooden outrigger called pump boats were tossed like matchsticks by the wind force that reached more than 300 kph. As the typhoon battered the southern islands, I could not help but think about the spirit of my late wife Pearl Litan who would have been very concerned about the fate of my widowed aunt in Estancia, now living with only the helpers and her visiting daughter Arlene. I could still recall the image of her, lying down on our bed, knees folded and with her small laptop computer on her groin and alternating between calling colleagues and friends while watching a TV program. In a very short number of days, I was able to solicit a significant amount to go on a solo journey to do what little I can do to help. Of course, I needed to tap on the generosity of my friends in Iloilo City to source, pack and arrange the transport of relief goods to Estancia. I posted my plan on Facebook on November19 hoping to attract more donors and not knowing if I could pull it off. An Indian CX cabin crew by the name of Rozario Sukrutha read my post and asked if she could tag along. She introduced herself a few months ago as someone whom Pearl had befriended on a flight to Paris and met at The Grotto of Lourdes. Strange coincidences – Pearl … Lourdes … Rozario. Kindred spirits I call them. A Sunday catholic like me had talked and wrote about Pearl’s devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes that she was interviewed and talked on camera by GMA-7 about the miraculous intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes. That clip was shown on Pinoy Abroad a couple of times with Pearl proclaiming her faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother. There had been many strange coincidences when the song I sang for Pearl during her 50th birthday celebration “Can’t take my eyes off you” would suddenly play in the midst of my longing moments … or when our friends gathered together, or even a video clip of her speaking about the miracles at the Lourdes Grotto. The reminders would seem to go off at the most unexpected places and at the right time. The Grotto at Lourdes was the first stop of my honeymoon with Pearl in 1989 and where she prayed for good health, despite given six months to live when diagnosed with cancer in 1987. She prayed to be blessed with children, despite having been told she may find it difficult to bear one. She prayed for people she knew who were sick and brought them miraculous water from the stream at the grotto. The grotto was her spiritual refuge, a place of healing. I told my children I would bring them there in June 2014 upon the graduation of my eldest son Julien. It was to be a journey to thank the Blessed Mother for all the miracles, blessings and to reunite with the legacy of faith Pearl left behind. It was then that I felt a spiritual jolt when I received a message from a woman named Rozario whom Pearl had met at Lourdes, France in May 23-24, 2012. Strange happenstance. That was her last visit as a CX crew and the next month June she brought the whole family to say her last goodbye as she was to resign from the company. She introduced herself to me as Sukrutha although I never did ask her why she did not carry Rozario as it is first in her name. She said she wanted to be with the victims, to be able to console, feed them and just feel their pain and suffering. She would pay for her hotel, transportation, food and everything. I just needed to guide her. She underestimated Filipino hospitality. My friends in Iloilo City fed her enough to make her feel guilty. I saw the path of destruction of super howler Yolanda from the towns of Banate to Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Batad and finally Estancia. Steel structure, trusses and GI sheets folded like crumpled paper. I could not help but feel how helpless we are against the fury of nature. Upon seeing the outstretched hands of children who lined the streets begging for donations and the convoy of cars and cargo trucks carrying relief goods, I am reminded of the humanity of our existence that life, stripped to its bare necessities, is really a relationship and interaction between and among men, and man against nature. The sights showed helplessness versus helpfulness side by side with each other. Sukrutha struck me as a pious person who kept her piety at bay. What she found in Estancia were simple town folks, down but not out. She saw the cold inanimate structure of the power barge that rendered hundreds of families homeless, and a coastline coated with thick bunker fuel. It struck her that the evacuees and victims lined up patiently and orderly to receive their meagre share of donations. In their destitute situation, toothless elders still manage to smile and laugh at their miseries. She saw children, unmindful and playing alongside litters of debris. She witnessed the toils of many people, including the foreign soldiers, medics and other of members international donor organization who discuss their plans with local officials. On our visit to Estancia on November 23, a Saturday, I was told there were enough food from all sorts of donations to feed the evacuees. Blankets, sleeping mats and mosquito nets were their immediate needs as the litters and debris were everywhere. While it may seem that there is enough activity to impress an outsider about the semblance of normalcy, it cannot be denied that the fishing town is almost barren of pump boats, the essential livelihood tool of a fishing community that was once known as the “Little Alaska of the Philippines. ” The distinction is a tribute to the bountiful marine products that could be harvested in the Visayan Sea facing the town. Now fishing is uncertain. My aunt was apologetic she could not give me pasalubong of dried squid from Estancia. A story goes around that a few fishermen had caught squids which had allegedly eaten human flesh from those who were swept away by the giant waves, furious winds and drowned. The once bustling fish market is near empty as no one would dare eat fish or any marine catch. I left Estancia a day ahead of Sukrutha or Rozario, hoping to return again very soon and help in rebuilding lives of victims. I still do not fully comprehend how I was thrust into such an arena though I felt a sense of healing that I, had somehow fulfilled a role that my late wife Pearl would have done. It is not by strange coincidence that I found myself in a journey with Ms Rozario on a mission my late wife would have forced me she would take. Or maybe, she may just be telling me to pray the Rosary. As much as Sukrutha requested to remain anonymous, I apologize for abusing her kindness, lest I would not have a story to tell. Altogether, our modest donations, coursed through my aunt’s family (Jovero) and in cooperation with the City Mayor of Estancia Rene Cordero and the municipal branch of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and development) consisted of the following: 300 pcs of 5 gallon water container/dispenser. 300 packs of rice @ 3.3 kilos each. 300 pcs 4-meter laminated woven PP sacks (multi-use for shelter, cover, blanket) 960 bottles of distilled water 300 pcs One can Argentina Corned Beef 300 pcs One bar Surf laundry detergent.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:44:42 +0000
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