Buy a table, build a house
A month has passed since Pope Francis left the country. The “sepanx” (separation anxiety) is still felt by many whose lives the pontiff has touched during his five-day visit to the Philippines.
Yvonne Dayrit-Romualdez, chief operating officer of Miladay Jewels, feels the sepanx and has decided to do something about it — by putting meaning to the words of Pope Francis.
“I was one of those very privileged to be in Tacloban on Jan. 17, a day I will never forget for as long as I live. Not only did God allow me to witness this most beautiful Mass but he made me experience his love through a personal encounter with survivors of typhoon Yolanda,” she says.
As soon as the Pope boarded his PAL flight back to Rome, Yvonne gathered her family and friends and in their hearts she knocked unflinchingly. The result was “TaclobBAND,” a benefit dinner-concert for the survivors of Yolanda on March 11, 6 p.m. at The Eye, Green Sun Building on Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City.
The I Love Tacloban Band (ILTB), whose four members are all Yolanda survivors, will play at the concert.
Chef Jessie Sincioco, who prepared the Pope’s meals at the Nunciature, and stage director Freddie Santos heard about this advocacy and they, too, have jumped into this project to render their services.
The dinner costs P5,000 per person or P60,000 per table. In essence, if you buy a table, you build a house for a family of survivors in Tacloban. Not only that, it will also help build one boat, which three families in Tacloban can share. Fishing remains to be one of the sources of livelihood in the province.
The “Buy a Table, Build a House” project is done in cooperation with the Operation Compassion Philippines.
“I am still in awe of how God surprised us all when Pope Francis, Vicar of Christ, visited the Philippines recently. Through five unforgettable days, the Pope filled millions of hearts with an abundance of precious gifts.
“Why did he come here? The reason is very close to his heart. The main purpose of the Holy Father’s visit to the Philippines was to be with the people whose lives were ravaged by the catastrophic typhoon Yolanda. The highlight of his visit was a celebration of the Holy Eucharist and a homily straight from the heart that moved everyone to tears. Why did we weep? What drove so many to tears?” Yvonne shares.
She knows that like a father who knows what his children need even before they ask, the Holy Father brought healing, tenderness, mercy and compassion to Yolanda survivors through his presence. In the midst of all their pain and loss, he brought Jesus to them. He made them feel loved, the kind that gave them hope and a strong will to live again. And to us, he gave the desire to help them rebuild their lives.
“Now that Pope Francis has left, the work begins. When and where do we start to reach out to others with mercy and compassion in the Year of the Poor? The Holy Father showed us the way. There is much to be done,” says Yvonne.
She adds: “A world filled with love, hope and compassion is our prayer for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda. As they move on from the devastation wrought by the super typhoon, the members of the I Love Tacloban Band, all Yolanda survivors themselves, use their voices to tell the world that the people of Tacloban need all the love and help they can get.”
Yvonne, her family and friends are motivated by the realization that after 13 months, the Yolanda survivors are still in great need of help.
(If you wish to help, call Shayne Esteban at 0922-8986749 or 890-7738.)
Sold-out papal issue of PeopleAsia
My good friend Jiggy Manicad, a veteran reporter of GMA-7 who covered the Pope’s visit in Tacloban, called me the other day to inquire where he could get a copy of the PeopleAsia’s special commemorative issue of the Pope’s visit in the Philippines. He had combed all the bookstores in his area but still he did not find a copy.
I told him the Pope’s issue of PeopleAsia is already sold out. Yes, it’s sold out, one proof that the people’s sepanx with the Pope is apparent.
I was told, however, that a few remaining copies can be had at the PeopleAsia office, 4/L of the JAKA Building, Ayala Ave., Makati City. You may also call 892-1854 and look for Bong or Flor.
PeopleAsia’s special commemorative Pope issue is indeed a collector’s item. In its pages are comprehensive reportage of the five-day visit of Pope Francis.
Faith, hope, compassion are beautifully discussed on the pages of this special issue of PeopleAsia.
(For your new beginnings, please e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com. I’m also on Twitter @bum_tenorio and Instagram @bumtenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)
