By Gregorio “Popsie” C. Taag
Way back in 2012, I was invited to help TCC organize its first ever concert. We collaborated with Michelle Apalla and Greg Daganos and the other volunteers. It was a resounding success because we were able to raise more than P75,000.00 for Ariel Bastian and his dialysis treatment. That was the impetus.
Then, when we were conducting the concerts in 2013, some friends sounded off that if it is possible, we extend our assistance to other socio-civic areas like giving help to victims of disasters. So, Operation Hope was conceptualized and in our initial endeavor, TCC was able to raise two vans load of used clothes and grocery items for the many homeless families suffering here within Baguio-Benguet. We gave these items to DSWD-La Trinidad and they were tasked to distribute these according to the needs of each evacuation center.
Then came the tragedies at Bohol and Samar and Leyte and Taneg in Mankayan which were struck, one after the other, by earthquake and typhoons. TCC-UK sent in money for these tragedy-stricken areas. Then this was shelved for some time owing to the absence of tragedies in the areas. Until today.
Operation Hope, as conceptualized, served as TCC’s arm in helping reach out to beneficiaries who have been struck by calamities. Hope, being a value, became the cry of the charity group. While bringing material assistance to families in need, TCC also brought HOPE to these people especially the children. Being able to look forward with optimism is what TCC aims for. Despite the multiple injuries to the human body, the human spirit rises up and triumphs over all odds.
This Typhoon Ompong has raised the Pinoy characteristic of being charitable to a higher degree. Many well-meaning groups have been organized to help raise funds and collect goods for the victims. Many also offered their services for free – medical missions, debriefing missions and the like – apart from the food and clothes. Indeed, volunteering now has an added fervor to its definition.
As we are collecting goods and clothes, many fellow Cordillerans are sending in their financial help through their country chapters; or if individually, they send to our account or through other means. We are just overwhelmed by the response of it all. People discard differences in the name of charity. Walls are now taken out to help those in need. It has been the first time that people answered enormously the call of TCC for Operation Hope, a combination of rekindled kind hearts of home based and overseas brethren. The series of donations made Operation Hope operational and finally mobilised.
Our Loacan, Itogon trip yesterday was a huge helluva of an experience. I am gushing with delight now because I have had another chance to extend TCCs assistance. Our volunteers, Dr, Ruth Taguiling, came with her car where I and four scholars and a CAS Faculty Member rode. She exclaimed after we reached the main road coming from the destination; “Wow, Sir G! I am now a certified Level 2 driver!” She was very happy being able to negotiate the narrow, slippery, very steep inclinations road. According to Maam Lou Gabiola who brought her Le Chef staff, the road was super difficult to negotiate. In fact, the jeep (of TCC-HK volunteer Juvie Egsan), which was (over)loaded with clothes, grocery items worth almost P50,000.00 and volunteers, careened towards the cliff while negotiating the steep, blind curves 1 kilometer away from the destination. The volunteers had to transfer to the van of Maam Lou and put the jeep aside because it was experiencing defect in its brakes. They had to fix these while we proceeded to the town. When we were coming home, it was also Maam Lou’s other van to experience difficulty in traversing the narrow road. Anyhow, we got through and made it home safe and sound.
TCC was able to repack from the grocery items bought, 273 bags. These contained basic items needed by the resident very much. These are: sardines, sugar, salt, soy sauce, candles, bath soap, laundry soap, dishwashing soap, noodles, toothpaste, and 5 big containers of lamay biscuits donated by the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences. Maam Lou’s team distributed food packs, blankets, kiddie packs for the children. All in all, it was a busy day but a happy day.
Dr Taguiling, Ms Lou and the team of volunteers were so thankful for the opportunity to get involved with OPERATION HOPE. The sign of relief in the faces of people in Loacan, Itogon upon seeing the team of volunteers are already a scent of accomplishment for the grieving souls of the locals are lifted up and comforted, knowing that there are people who are concerned and sharing the moments of ordeal with them.
HOPE, which is under the umbrella activity entitled, PROJECT TAKKAY; can now become an acronym meaning Having Optimism amidst Perdition of the Environment. For the TCC volunteer there is never a road too steep, narrow, and slippery; nor a day which is rainy; nor a wrong timing. For him, it is NOW or NEVER.
THE CORDILLERA CONNECTION 