‘Damayan’ reaches out to Navotas folk

In a place called Isla Uling in Navotas, residents are used to the hard life.

Poverty is everywhere — from dilapidated shanties to tattered clothes worn by people weary of destitution.

But on Saturday, Christmas came early for these neglected Filipinos, most of whom make charcoal to get by, hence the island’s name.

Volunteers of "Operation Damayan" — the humanitarian arm of The STAR — took a 20-kilometer boat ride and walked half a kilometer in a muddy fishpond to make residents of Isla Uling feel the Christmas spirit.

Even as Isla Uling is surrounded by water, its residents could not venture into fishing because they have no boats. Also, marine life is scarce in the polluted waters.

Each family usually earns a measly P1,000 a week. And that’s when sales are good.

Residents thus had a grand day when Damayan extended a modest Christmas treat to them Saturday.

Children specially were filled with delight when for lunch, they munched on Jollibee chickenjoy, a favorite Filipino fastfood, for the first time.

Kids also lined up excitedly for 150 new T-shirts handed out by Damayan volunteers.

For 10-year-old Ma. Cristina Cruz, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

"Masaya po ako. Kasi may bago na akong t-shirt, nakakain pa po ako ng Jollibee. Para pong Pasko na talaga (I’m happy. I did not only get to eat Jollibee, I also have a new T-shirt. It feels like it’s Christmas already)," Cruz said.

To the delight of the children, Jollibee crew organized parlor games also enjoyed by the adults. Laughter and cheers filled the air and everyone was smiling.

To keep up the festive mood, Damayan volunteers also had its own parlor games including a bubble gum-blowing contest, pabitin and pukpok palayok.

Miguelito Villanueva, another 10-year-old, recalled how he and his friends only get to play these fun games when there is a fiesta in the town proper.

"Minsan po nanonood lang ako kasi ang daming sumasali. Mabuti po ngayon, dito sa aming kayo nagpalaro (Sometimes, I could only watch the games because there were too many who want to join.  It’s good that you held the games right here in our place)," the boy said.

A brainchild of The STAR’s late founding chairwoman Betty Go-Belmonte, Damayan is the socio-humanitarian arm of the STAR Group of Publications. Damayan aims to provide relief to the sick and the needy.

The project is now being continued by Belmonte’s son, STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte.

Damayan has been providing cheers to deprived children every Christmas season through its "Mano po Ninong, Mano po Ninang" project that has been ongoing since 1996. Beneficiaries include orphans, abandoned and street kids and children of convicted inmates.

This year Damayan ventured into the "Adopt-A-Community" project to help ease the suffering of Isla Uling residents who perennially face the uncertainty of where to get their Noche Buena this Christmas.

While the children were partying, Damayan volunteers gave out 200 buckets each full of five kilos of rice and assorted grocery items to their parents.

Damayan will also donate a motorized banca for the island-town residents to use.

Erlinda Pascual, 55, lamented it is difficult for them to go to a hospital, especially in emergencies, because only a few of them have boats.

Fetching water has never been this difficult as Isla Uling residents have to cross the sea.

"Naghahanap pa kami ng mahihiramang banka. Madalas nasa gamitan kaya malala na ang kondisyon ng pasyente bago naming madala sa doktor (We look for any available boat. But these are often in use. A patient’s condition has deteriorated before we could bring him to the doctor)," Pascual said.

Residents expressed much gratitude to the volunteers. Happiness and hope were reflected in their eyes as they waved goodbye.

Meanwhile, Damayan wishes to thank the following for supporting its recent "bingo" project, the proceeds of which were used to assist the Isla Uling residents: Miguel Belmonte, STAR president and CEO, for donating P10,000, Frank Pe for donating P5,000, Paper Industries Corp. of the Philippines, Elvie Estavillo for donating the bean bag and wooden cabinet prizes and Sony Ericsson for donating a unit of mobile phone as prize.