HSBC writeup in Bonding Part II

(The following writeup was published in an internal HSBC circulation as a report of the HSBC volunteers' outreach program at Sitio Maporak.)

In line with the ongoing HSBC commUNITY initiative, volunteers from HSBC revisited Sitio Maporak located in the inner recesses of Cabangan, Zambales.

We have been showered with fine weather last 30 July 2006, in defiance of the consistent rainy days during that week.

Our day began with a forum with the “tribal council” composed of the community elders under the auspice of Maporak Aeta Organization (MAO) who incessantly advocates the Aeta’s rights. During our discussion, below are the related issues and concerns of the community in order of priority:

1. Health – they have one trained/skilled resident health worker but apparently there’s no available equipment and medicines even the basic ones such as thermometer, blood pressure, paracetamols, etc.
2. Livelihood – the place is blessed with different kinds of organic goods, yet all these are left strewed in the fields since they don’t have direct access to the market.
3. Education – dearth of teachers and books due to problems on funding requirements and lack of literacy program.

The main purpose of our visit is to be able to hark their side/areas of concern and eventually what possible actions/help we can extend to the community. But before we concluded our forum, one of the elders named “Tatay Isko”, uttered unselfishly about his neighbors residing near the river who were affected by the recent “Glenda” typhoon and hoping that some miracle will happen the next day and will help out his friends. But then he smiled and took it back as he knew that it is impossible and even took us months before we were able to visit them again. Without any idea on their end, as one of our speakers began divulging about the relief goods we had for them… We wouldn’t forget the reaction on Tatay Isko’s face as he whispered, “Naku, matutupad yata ang wish ko” with his shy gestures as he didn’t mean to request anything from us. We told him that God really loves him and wouldn’t wait for tomorrow to grant his wish.

It is in this regard that we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the people of FIN, TRA, Trust, Collections and Recoveries, Hongkong Bank Independent Labor Union, PFS CCR and HRD. In spite of the one-day short notice of appeal, said departments/sections immediately provided their invaluable assistance and 50 Aeta families were benefited from their altruism.

To date, we can still vividly recall the smile on their faces…. And subsequently contrived us smile within…