It was a bad start for me. I slept through my alarm clock that was set at 5am and I had to leave without a bite nor my usual cup of brewed coffee. Before I got to my motorcycle, I called my childhood friend, Alfred, who was already at our EDSA corner Boni Serrano rendezvous. Right when I got to Alfred, I called RFAC COE Pong and asked him to wait for us at Shell Valenzuela. We were to join RFAC’s relief rescue mission to a deserted barrio at Calumpit Bulacan aptly called Pulo (Island). We arrived at the gas station just to find out that the Select store that I expected to feed my grumbling stomach was closed. I was not in the best of moods because of the snags that met my day.
The ride spun off with the usual briefing and prayers. The 55-strong Valenzuela team (with a jeepney-load of relief goods) regrouped at a Malolos gas station where 8 Tunog Pinoy and 10 Club YBR Bulacan volunteers merged in. YBR President Robert brought with them an elf truck with a motorized canoe outlengthing the land vehicle. Off we rolled to a remote town in Calumpit.
After we dismounted at the edge of a lake, we immediately created a human chain where the relief goods were passed from volunteer to volunteer – while some of the men unloaded the long heavy canoe and its motor. More human-powered canoes came in to fetch the volunteers and the goods across what we thought was a natural lake. It was flood waters over a vast ricefield. All the canoes led us to the steps of a chapel just before noon. It was the only dry refuge in a forsaken barrio of 86 homes and 150 families.
Where we parked.
Joko pulling a canoe-load on mud.
A 30-Minute Journey on man-power
Arrival at the chapel
Barrio Pulo was painted with greeting smiling faces behind their helplessness and above thirsty throats and empty stomachs – including ours. In no time, the children who playfully swam were cordoned off by a queued human chain with buckets to keep their precious rescue packs dry.
Grandma greeting
Waiting in line
One by one the residents dripped the flood waters off as they emerged onto the chapel stairs to claim their noodle packs, pan de sal, sardines, crackers, and precious bottled water.
Happy mom
Man and woman cannot live on bread alone
waiting in line
Mother and child
Next please!!!
The RFAC team did what they knew best to do… to deliver relief in an unceremonious expression of charity in the hope that others too would pay forward and extend kindness to thier fellow man. While the goods were distributed away, some volunteers clicked away while others comforted the locals with assurance, humor and compassion.
After the feat of riding for hours, carrying relief goods and crossing though mud and flood waters, the RFAC team waited for the canoes to return to their dear motorcycles. In the meantime, there was clowning from Joko and RFAC photo ops for memorablia, and a nice capsizing stunt from RFAC figurehead PogiKazz.
Comedian Joko and COE Eric
LMV low five
Sta. Maria Bulakenos Pinay_Ako and COE Speedmaniac
COEs Eric Nikki and Speedmaniac among YBRs
Pogi Kazz stunt
The lull came only when the last batch of canoers waited patiently and the townspeople thinned away to their soaked homes.
Goodbyes
I settled down to feeling shame for the problems that I had created for myself in waking up late and not having my coffee… while I complained to myself, these people now have no bathrooms, no electricity, no food, no water and just no help from the Government. They live on rainwater. They are all in one refuge with what is left of their animals to be butchered for their churning intestines. Even if our visit makes us feel that these folks are no longer so abandoned, they will have to cope with a projected month of hunger, thurst and sickness in isolation. This town is just too small for a politician to garner pivotal votes and spend valuable pre-election advertised relief plastic bags for.
Precious rain water for drinking
Pending roast duck, siopao and azusena… in one roof with refugees
A chapel made holier
Rice and Noodles
Potential migrant
The RFAC COEs have decided to return with water and medicine. Diarrhea and dehydration are plaguing their children. Please message me if you want to have the benefit and pleasure of helping out these people with your donations. I will message you back the account number of the RFAC treasurer, Jojo “Speedmaniac” Lorenzo and your donations will be posted in the RFAC FB site upon confirmation of your deposit. Goods can be picked up by RFAC volunteers from anywhere within Metro Manila and its peripherals.
In the meantime… as what is written in a political advertisement… God Bless Calumpit!
God Bless Calumpit!