By Telly G. Ocampo
A Plea for Compassion
About two weeks ago, the barangay where I live informed the different puroks of Odette aid as announced by President Duterte. Names of beneficiaries were posted thru the puroks.
I’ve wondered why the distribution of the aid took so long when other towns have already distributed theirs. It’s a 5k aid to each household.
Please don’t think I’m sour graping. I chose not to take mine.
And here is my story. It was announced that the distribution was on a Monday. Since we are just a few meters away from the barangay hall where the distribution was held, I asked my daughter to go there early so I could not be queueing for long. But she was told that purok dos distribution was to be made in the afternoon. I decided to give the authorization to my daughter since I had a schedule with my therapist in the afternoon. But, again, they would not entertain the authorization because personal appearance was required. My therapist came soaked in the rain for it was raining hard.
I was ready for the tricycle ride going to the barangay hall but my going up to that slippery road heading to the barangay hall was a risk for me. If I slipped on my way to Astoria with the smooth sand, the risk was much much higher in that slippery road. Not that I don’t need the money. Everybody does. But we have to calculate the risk.
My daughter narrated to me that there was one elderly lady who was pushed in the wheelchair just so she could get the 5k. An old man with a cane all by himself braved the rain for the 5k. A man (I know who was in the ICU) could not get his share until the necessary documents were in place.
Isn’t this cruel? Isn’t this rude? Isn’t this inconsiderate? Where is compassion for the disabled, the aged, etc.? A lady came over to inform me that the “distributors” were waiting at the barangay hall for me to claim the 5k. It was my decision not to. Do we really have to beg???
Here we are. Senior citizens with disability. We feel we deserve a little compassion.
This is not a fight for myself alone. God knows I still can earn my keeps. We, as a family, know how to share. Why would powers that be in the barangay not show a little compassion?
This is a tragedy in the people of the barangay. I was hurt once when I applied for a business permit. The purok where I geographically belong slapped me with all kinds of penalty for not attending purok meetings from 2016 to 2019. I paid so they will be contented. But I had to write my piece to the barangay council. Since when have they informed me of meetings. Everyday they pass by my place for they are using the road we have made which is private but they can use it. Secondly I’m a senior citizen. It’s no longer obligatory.
These are things that I cannot tolerate. This tongue will be of thistle and thorns until you will right a wrong.
Here’s a poem that has mellowed my temper. I hope the powers that be can gradually change their mindset. I’ve heard that the loud mouths allegedly belong to 3 BHWs.
IF-
IF’you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two, impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And which is more-you’ll be a Man, my son!
It’s us giving aid to the people after typhoon Odette – to the employees of Baclayon Trading and to those presently serving the Heirs of Tan Akoy. Our visit made us cry remembering the good old days. This was done last January.
It’s us giving aid to the people after typhoon Odette – to the employees of Baclayon Trading and to those presently serving the Heirs of Tan Akoy. Our visit made us cry remembering the good old days. This was done last January.