Kudos to the Philippine team of rescue workers now helping out in efforts in earthquake devastated Turkey. Aside from the fact that the work they will be doing is certainly very dangerous and difficult, it is still winter there and the weather is another factor that will make their work so much more difficult.
As part of the community of nations, we are obligated to help our fellow global citizens in need, just as people and groups from all over the world come to help us when we are in dire need during disasters. After all the devastating typhoons that we have been experiencing year after year, people and governments from all over the world have rushed to our assistance, offering rescue workers as well as items badly needed by our countrymen in distress.
In fact, according to the Philippine Red Cross, the Turkish Red Crescent was among the first to send rescue workers and relief aid to us after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit in November 2013. How can we now not help them in whatever way we can? Even if it’s not much, we have to let them know that we are one with them.
I hope we do not hear voices of dissent, complaining that why are we sending people and equipment and giving donations to a country far away when we have so much need right here in our shores.
Let us instead pray for the safety and well-being of our 82 rescue workers, as well as the safety and well-being of our kababayans in Turkey and Syria, and pray for and help however way we can all those who are suffering in the aftermath of the earthquakes. We are one world, one family, one humanity. – Chinchin Lim, Manila