A light of hope for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, and the eruption of Mayon Volcano have made Filipinos realize that the word “family” does not only refer to one’s relatives.

These calamities, although tragic, made Filipinos realize that they belong to a bigger family - one that includes every Filipino - and that it is only through unity, working together, lending a helping hand to those in need that we can all move forward.

For Filipinos, there seems to be an awakened sense of caring for others, a desire to share the joys with members of this bigger family, especially with the not-so-fortunate ones.

Meralco extended this same care to six charitable institutions by making them beneficiaries of the company’s annual Maliwanag ang Pasko lighting contest.

“It is the most opportune time to share our blessings,” says Meralco VP and head for corporate marketing, Miguel Lopez. “With the 2009 Maliwanag ang Pasko campaign, we will strive to give a glimmer of hope to our countrymen who are in need and may be losing hope.”

Meralco chose six established institutions, which are highly respected for the help they provide less-fortunate members of society. These are Caritas Manila, Hospicio de San Jose, Ladies of Charity AIC, White Cross, Tahanang Walang Hagdanan and Manila Boystown. From this list of six charities, each of the 15 winners of Maliwanag ang Pasko Christmas lighting contest chose one institution. The selected charity received from Meralco P25,000, the same amount the winner got.

Two of the charitable institutions that stand to benefit from Meralco’s campaign cater to two special groups. The Ladies of Charity AIC takes care of the elderly, while Tahanang Walang Hagdanan works with the physically challenged.

“As a nation which gives so much importance to family, it is just right to give proper acknowledgement to our lolos and lolas,” says Lopez.

Based in Paco, Manila, Ladies of Charity AIC takes care of the elderly from Regions V to VIII.

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, meanwhile, seeks to provide persons with disabilities sustainable enterprise through employment and an ideal venue for the holistic development of their physical, mental, economic, social and spiritual well-being.

The organization traces its roots to the efforts of Sr. Ma. Paula Valeriana Baertz, (a Belgian nun who belonged to the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), one of its founders. The pathetic lives of the severely physically disabled mostly abandoned by their kin in the National Orthopedic Hospital moved her so much. With the help of civic-minded citizens, she started putting up sheltered workshops patterned after the Cheshire Homes of the United Kingdom.

In five years, 10 half-way homes have been established. Sinagtala for Boys was the first to be built in 1965, while Sinagtala for Girls was put up in 1968. This was followed by the Bahay Kakayahan. Later on, the organization established many more workshops.

 “The help given by Tahanang Walang Hagdanan to persons with disabilities is remarkable,” says Lopez. “Up to now, it is still the most formidable organization looking after our handicapped brothers and sisters.”