Philanthropist, anyone?

...'alms spare me a piece of bread!'

...'ate/kuya pahingi po piso!'

...'ate/kuya pwede akin na po pagkain mo?'

These are just a few words that we often hear from those downtrodden we see in the streets, on the footbridge and practically everywhere in the metro. And what saddens me most is to see children begging, tagging along their months-old younger siblings! Tapos kung magbigay pa tayo minsan may kasamang diri. I know the feeling coz I'm speaking based on experience. But come to think of it guys, Madame Bea Zobel de Ayala, an affluent personality and a socialite was kissing and hugging the so called 'uncivilized and dirty' Manyans without ostentation, as shown on Che Che Lazaro's special valentine episode on tv last night, February 13.


Frankly, I haven't been very aware that a number of rich people go out of their way to help people until last night. They really go the distance for a charity.

The episode really touched my heart and it dawned on me that I haven't really been able to help my less fortunate neighbors in my own little way aside from giving them 'barya'. And if you really think that giving them money will help the government eradicate this perennial problem of poverty, you'd better think twice. I believe that this social dilemma that hardly lingers our society really needs to be prioritized by our government officials...but that's another story.

As the cliche goes, 'give them fish and they'll eat for a day, teach them how to fish and they'll eat for a life time'.

Ang tanong? Pano? Di ko rin alam eh. If I had the money, I would be able to help them how to fish. Pero mali eh. There must be something that we can do even if we are not Madame Bea or Sir Jaime Zobel de Ayala. There must be a way! And I am dying to know it, seriously!

"The power of giving comes from a selfless act - where you simply give from your heart. This act of giving is not tied to any special event, holiday or celebration - it is merely a time when you give from the heart because you want to share what you have, show your appreciation and you give because you truly care. There should not be any other motive behind it. You don't give so that you can get something in return. You give because you want to."

So, question? How far will you go to help?