By Gregorio C. Taag
Gleaning from recent events that hugged the TCC limelight, aside from the incoming Concert for Life 26 on July 22, two unexpected members from Thailand and Japan were stricken by acute illnesses.
First to catch me by surprise was the news in the early morning two days ago that Jacky Palaly, TCC-Thailand’s President had stroke and was operated on. But after that, she fell into a coma. Margaret Locano, our in-house performer since 2013 yet, was the one who broke the news. It came as a surprise to me because she was up and about recently, attending to the sudden illness, too, of Vretchen Daguines, collecting funds from other TCC Chapters and collating them, together with the other officers. Leah Angog was the one giving me updates on Vretchen’s condition as they were the ones visiting her in the hospital until she was brought home to the Philippines.
Ironically, the same thing happened to Jacky or Jay Pee. I was wondering, “why in Thailand, most of their illness were related to the illnesses of the brain and the nervous system. We posted this sad news on FB and it gained ground. We were requesting for healing prayers for Jacky and many were responding. I was informed by Leah that she was now responding to stimuli. We hope and pray that this will continue until her sisters, Joan and Le Bay will arrive in Thailand to see her condition.
Last night, I slept early because I was feeling the effects of my colds. I was in bed till 2:00AM when Fleurie Lawangen, a.k.a Vhar Kaye Laws in our TCC circle informed me that her cousin, Arjay Lawangen, who went to Japan last 24th December 2017, was now hospitalized in Japan all by himself. I posted again another appeal asking those in Japan (we don’t have yet a chapter there – maybe this will be the wake-up call) or those nearby to please go and visit and accompany him. Also, they will look at his needs.
First to arrive there was Teddy Tampican who brought smiles to Arjay’s lips. Of course, who would not be happy to see a fellow Cordilleran visiting you in a foreign land during your direst moment. The appeal gained ground and was shared and reposted – calling the attention of other TCC members world wide. Gladys Labi, also know as Miss Lipz sent messages to her friends and relatives and just this afternoon, I received news and pictures that Gloria Katano’s friends and perhaps churchmates, The Free Believers, went to visit and prayed over Arjay. WHAT A POIGNANT SCENE! This welled my eyes with tears, not of sorrow but of joy – all because we can see how people respond to others who are in need.
Indeed, TCC now is redefining the word CHARITY and VOLUNTEERISM. We have added a new paradigm to the already shifting of terms. There is a new face we are adding an that is the value of CARING. We have LOVED through our Concerts for Life series and Project Takkay activities. But we are now showing to the world that we CARE a lot, even to the point of forgetting ourselves and SERVE our fellowmen who are in dire need.
IYAMAN kakabsat. GOD does not sleep. HE will reward all your kind ways!
THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION 