Bayanihan and Hope
I’ve always said that I hated inaction. The capacity of others to just scream and talk about things without doing anything is one of the characteristics of people that really annoy me. Then there are those who just read headlines and don’t take into account the larger societal concept of nation building, stability, and that their idealisms cannot be adjusted to the dynamics of reality.
I believe what the government is doing is insufficient, is lacking, and is downright unjust to the situation of the millions of Filipinos living in absolute poverty. To those who are helpless, powerless, and just asking the government for the bare necessities they need to live.
While what I say still hold true. Today I stand down from my previous claims of… this government is doing all it can, that it just needs time to adjust, and that there is an overarching eye that watches over all of us and is coordinating everything with a higher purpose.
Make no mistake, I’m just a college student, and all I have in my bank account is not enough to keep me alive, that’s what I have my parents for. But the small amount I’ve saved up, I believe that a small token can go a long way, to save lives and help those of us who are in dire need of them.
Today I donated a measly PHP1000 pesos to the PGH-MFI. I know it’s not much, it does not deserve acclaim, nor does it need it to be told out there.
But in a time of uncertainty, in a time of people shouting (and seemingly stuck at that vantage point) I want to challenge everyone to take an active stance and do something. Through my Globe Points I was able to donate an additional almost PHP200 pesos, along with my Grab Points I was able to give another around PHP100, bringing my total donation to about Php 1,300.
Again it’s not much. It’s only about 20 face masks, or probably two or three full PPE suits.
I wish I could donate more, I wish I had more to give. But in times today, that we have no idea how the PHP 275 billion of the government was spent, I hope that these small donations we make could cascade and accumulate to help our communities, and those medical establishments who need them most.
I thank UP-PGH and UPRI for their unwavering effort in service of the Filipino. Godspeed to these brave men and women doing the brunt work of lifting up our society forward.
I implore everyone to do their part, and do things on behalf of the common good. To act, and to ask how they can help. Without thinking of ones self, but with the thought of the end in mind. That one day we’ll be able to hold hands together as a community and progress towards a brighter future.
For more data on the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, visit endcov.ph
They have plenty of data on who’s infected, epidemic curves, hospitals and beds available, as well as copies of government policies and advisories. They also have a friendly Messenger Bot that helps address some of the most common queries about the coronavirus pandemic.
You can donate through https://publicservice.up.edu.ph/uppgh-bayanihan-na
I donated by sending the cash straight to the BDO account and verifying that they received the payment through contacting the UPPGH Bayanihan Whatsapp number in the link above.
For me it’s still best to donate straight to the source, to the hospitals needing them the most, that of which includes the Philippine General Hospital. There are also several other hospitals and institutions you can donate to that give a lot of time and effort towards mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other simpler yet still meaningful options you can do to donate include Gcash, Grab, and Globe Rewards.
Take this time to make meaningful change in one way or another. If you really can’t spare as much, at the very least stay home, and save lives.
