The Business Administrations Major in Financial Management 3rd year college student of Western Philippines University (WPU) Puerto Princesa Campus, Chris Favila Jr., celebrated his birthday in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, last April 15, 2021, with 300 beneficiaries together with the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 4.
According to Chris, his brother encouraged him to share his blessings with people who are in need.
“Kaya ‘yun si kuya din talaga ‘yung nagsabi na gawin namin ‘yun. Siyempre nga kasi ‘di ba pandemic tapos maraming walang work tapos hirap din lalo na ‘yung mga tao doon sa mga liblib na lugar. First time ko siyang gawin itong gift giving.”
He feels lucky as life nowadays is difficult. Hence, we should help those who are struggling.
“Yes, very lucky lalo na ngayon mahirap ang buhay talaga so parang feel ko lucky pa rin kasi mayroon pa din ‘di tulad ng iba so dapat tulungan natin sila.”
He was shocked to learn that there were 300 beneficiaries or 117 families to receive goods from them.
“Noong una, kasi ang sabi nila 150 [beneficiaries] tapos 300 pala kasi family pala [at] hindi lang siya mga bata. Kasi dati parang 150 po yung mga bata na beneficiaries tapos 300 plus daw pala lahat. Kasi nga bukal yun kaya ‘wag daw natin bilangin kung ilan ‘yan [ginastos sa pagtulong sa mga tao].”
He also shared that the budget for the gift-giving activity was partly from his savings.
“Ipon from my allowance… Years pero hindi ko naman siya lahat naubos. Siguro’ yung part na ‘yun mga 6 months o a year din [kong pinag-ipunan].”
The lesson he learned was that we should help each other no matter how big or small the gesture is and that as long as it is given from the heart.
“Na-fulfill. ‘Yung feeling mo na makita silang masaya habang inaabot nila ‘yung mga relief goods. At saka may palaro kasi siya kaya masaya talaga, maraming activities. Ang lesson is ‘yung pagtulong ay ‘di siya sa laki o sa dami ng binibigay mo, ang mahalaga is from the heart siya.”
He said that everyone is affected by the hardships brought by the pandemic, but people should help each other even in the simplest things.
“Dapat ngayong pandemic, siyempre lahat naman tayo apektado nito, dapat sama-sama tayong magtulungan para hindi mahirapan ang lahat kahit sa maliliit lang na bagay kahit simpleng pagsunod lang sa mga protocols, ganun, saka pagbigay ng tulong sa mga kahit simpleng mga noodles ganun.”
And, when asked if he is planning to do something like this again, he said,” Opo, ibang beneficiary naman sa ibang lugar para sila naman yung makatanggap ng tulong.”
Besides him and his family, he also invited his friends Maria Joje, Sammy Gregorio, Nerissa Mahinay in celebrating his birthday.
Activities such as free haircut, circumcision were also held in the compound of the Brgy Ipilan School. This was made possible in conjunction with the MBLT 4. The Philippine Marines do missions like these whenever requests are sent to their office.
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