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Lessons for Holy Week and the Triumphal Easter: Then Jesus told Thomas: “Because you have seen me, you have believed; Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” Jesus suffered and died just to redeem us for our sins. He was scourged, spitted upon, crowned with thorns, crucified and died on the cross, but has risen. Only when he saw the nail-wounds on His hands that Thomas believed that Jesus has indeed resurrected. Thomas was ashamed of his unbelief.
Such is the situation of the poor people engulfed in difficulties and suffering in our town. One would see them discriminated and unfairly treated, deprived of respect, unattended, left unaided and worse, always pushed back to the end of the line. With no employment, there would be no money to send their kids to school. With no soil to toil, there would be no food to eat on their children’s table. With less in life, they wouldn’t get more in law for themselves. Deprivation has choked them to futility. This is their daily life of awfull disgust: punitive and devastating. Do we need to see them suffer extreme pain before the “Simon of Cyrene”, among us, moves to help? Like Thomas, do we need to see them in “skin and bones” that foretells their hardships in life, before we even lift a finger? “For whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it for me.” The poor are the special children loved by God. We do not serve God, if we do not serve our fellowmen. How wise is it to invest in Lehman brothers, etc... when both principal and interest can one day be lost?, or, Is it wiser to invest where merits earned are countless in heaven. Investment is best where returns really counts in abundance even after life. Some inspiration can be drawn from the defining moments that moved a group of civic-spirited Oasnons to organize and come down to Oas to help the needy victims of Typhoon “Reming” back in early 2007. When the typhoon disaster came, difficulties and sufferings were felt every where. Even the rescue teams who just visited the place were touched to see that the great devastation in Oas (as it was in Albay) was far unimaginable. The sight of destruction and disaster were heart breaking: farmlands became lakes,… coconut trees looked like candle sticks pinned to the ground,… many people homeless. To some, the waters reached rooftop, while others have lost their roof and even their houses and clothing all together. The broken dyke of Cabilogan River further inundated the already ravaged town, breaking fences and walls. Thick sludge and mud covered the greens, and floors of every household flooded. The clarion call sounded and typhoon victims cried for help. These were the defining moments that moved Oasnons in Metro Manila to mobilize after the December 2006 typhoon. Oasnons texted each other in trying to organize into assemblies where they could discuss strategies to ease the burden of those in pain and agony back home. Many were called and invited, many more doubted and vacillated, but only a few responded and were resolute to help. Hence, the birth of CARE4Oas (CAtalysts of REcovery for Oas) in Metro Manila. Their work was challenging on a frontier that together they never had before. In their hearts, the blessing they felt was pervasive: It didn’t happen to them! Their self-imposed timeline of just 4 weeks was almost impossible for them to beat. They have to gather donations thru solicitations from friends and allies. Armed only with compassion, service, and determination, the members moved. Their influences and beauty, together with dedication to work, conquered the barriers they had never before trodden. Vigorously campaigning for solicitations in behalf of the victims, CARE4Oas members connected to friends, relatives, politicians, as well as Oasnons in government and gathered used clothing, food, cash and other logistical support. On February 7, 2007, CARE4Oas members trooped to the town. Their Relief Distribution and Medical Mission was scheduled February 10, 2007 at Oas South Central School. Amazingly in a very short time, they brought with them the good tidings from friends and fellow Oasnons: an army truckload of goodies, food, clothing of all sorts, footwears and bags, children’s toys, ceramic toilet lavatories, plastic pails, basin, “tabo”, sacks of rice, canned goods, noodles, milk and a lot more. On top of these, they brought with them medicines of all kinds and a team of doctors from the Makati Medical Society headed by Dr. Corazon Ramos, Dr. Charry Del Rosario, Dr. Cesar Yu, Dr. Eric Verano, Nurse AJ Olpindo and Levy Matimtin, the medical coordinator. Around 650 families benefited from the relief distribution and another 500 patients received medical treatment on the day they touched lives and comforted victims. That was February 10, 2007, when the Albay NGO group, members of Better Oaseno On-the-Move(BOOM) led by its President Edna Roa, coordinated the victim beneficiaries along the Cabilogan River “Sulong” from Centro to Mayao. Their successful venture only reflected their sincere commitment, dedication, and sense of mission: to ease the pain and suffering of fellow Oasnons in need. “Hurrays!” and well-deserved celebrations was a salute for a job well done! The pictures speak a thousand words.  | BOOM and Care4Oas and other NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) will have ancillary roles in the Oas Micro Finance operations, providing referrals and support. They may, however, branch out to run their own micro finance projects and expand the coverage. |
With God’s blessings and good intentions, CARE4Oas & BOOM members ended the Relief Distribution and Medical Mission with prayers and so much happiness, fulfillment, and consolation. No doubt, God’s hands worked the miracles that brought the goods, the services, the manpower, the resources here and overseas, and the light hearted people together in service for the victims and the neglected. The occasions started and ended with prayers….hence its successes.
Our sincere and heartfelt thanks 1) to our magnanimous Donors: Rebecca (Golden Brothers-Taiwan), Zonie Rodrigo-Jeevaratnam, Engr.&Mrs. Tomas Valencia, Drs. Romy&Nora Sembrano, Jenny, Helen and Johnson Kho, Yetyet Samson, Isaias&Bernardita Rayala, Tess Moreno, Tess Rayala, Mariano&Zeny Fontanilla, Raul Rebueno&Friends, Elvie Reyes, Juliet Cruz, Speaker Jose De Venecia, Cherry&Bong Pineda, Josie Sta. Ana and Friends, Deng&Rhea Yangco, Wilhelmina Robinson, Angel and Milde Tong, Vic&Joey Nolasco, Jo&Letty Franera, Sonia M Espinelli, Sylvia Romano,Joey Yuchongco, Ferex Agrichem, Sonia Manlapig, Helen Granada, Ma. Vida Cruz, Ruben Ricasio, Rosie Llamas, Elsa Rodrigo, Ruth Coran & Mel Romano, Phil. Society of Construction and Safety Practitioners, The Apostleship of Prayer(Dra. Helen de Leon), The Family of the late Demetrio & Corazon Romano, Fortune Insurance (Dr. Jun Makalintal), Kruger M&E Industries, DMI Rizen Christ Circle-Paranaque City, the Bayanihan Club of Union New Jersey, Walter&Jereza Romano, Boy&Zeny Guevarra; 2) and our Partners-in-Service: The Officers and Staff of the Makati Medical Society, the BOOM (Better Oaseno On-the-Move), and the Oas South Central School Officials. As well as the backdoor staff of the fine dining and catering of Milde Rayala-Tong and the nightly musical acoustics by Oca Reburiano, the late DaVinci Nepomuceno, Paco Rabano, Dennis Raguero, and Fermin Ricacho CARE4Oas Officers: Pres. Raul Rebueno, VP-Mel Romano, Sec.-Mariles Rayala-Samson, Asst. Sec- Marilou Nepomuceno-Flores, Treas.-Milde Rayala-Tong, Auditor Romana R. Escalona, Asst. Aud.- Ruth Coran, PRO-Ophie Raquid-Reyes, Solicitation Chairperson- Josie Sta.Ana, and Asst. Chairperson Mitchie Ribaya-Zapanta. Members: Melba Rebueno, Skipper Riva, Don Orido, Alvin Reyeg, Ruben Ricasio, Tess Rayala, Scot Samson, Chony Garcia Michelmann, Aldwyn Requejo, Jessie Nepomuceno, Jose Velarde, Orlando Garcia, Fermin Ricacho, Dennis Raguero, Paco Rabano, DaVinci & Zeny Nepomuceno, Zeny Guevarra. BOOM Officers: Pres.-Atty Edna Bustamante-Roa, VP-Tillie Plandor-Orendain, Sec.-Atty. Bart Roa Rayco, Treas.- Cecile Restubog-Nieto, Auditor-Oscar Reburiano, PRO- Dominador Rinon,Jr. Directors: Raymond Nicomedes, Aurora Ricacho-Encisa, Ramona B. Raneses, Carmen R. Rayel, Carlos Garcia, Isaias Rayala, Ed Ramin, Mel Romano, & Greg Conde.
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