get over the hate - donate!

Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably already know about Supertyphoon Yolanda/ Haiyan - so I won't waste time reiterating everything other people have already said about it.  Days after we were visited by the strongest typhoon to ever hit land, we're still in a storm of sorts.  For one thing, there are still a lot of people in need of help.  And for another, social media is swirling with controversies, criticisms, gossip, and myriad opinions on what should be done, how things should be done, and so on.  It's quite tiring actually, to have to see all that, especially when people are craving for something to lift their spirits.

Anyway, I promised that this was going to be a purely-good-vibes blog, so I won't go into that.

I'm quite thankful for the positive memes and photos going around - testaments of hope and resilience and a general sense of love for fellow man.  To people spreading the positivity - thanks, cheers to you, you are a breath of fresh air.

I know we're not supposed to ignore the not-so-nice realities, but truth be told, I already feel so exhausted.  Exhausted physically and emotionally.  So I'd really like to take a break from all the negativity, thank you very much.

If the problem is so big that you can't offer a solution, just don't be a part of the problem.  i.e., Instead of wasting your time speculating, use your energies doing something good and helpful na lang.  Instead of hating, go donating.  ^_^

So here I am repacking rice for those relief packages.  It's a tiring and muscle-numbing task, especially after midnight (that's the time The Hubby and I, together with The Sister, decided to help out, figuring there will be less people then).  But really, it's fun.  It's like playing in a sandbox! Only with rice instead of sand, and adults instead of kids.

Some naysayers are forecasting that all that hard work will come to naught since a lot of DSWD relief packages don't get to their destinations.  But I don't care.  I will just do what I can in good faith, and trust the system.  If someone drops the ball somewhere along the line, I can be sure that it isn't me.

My family and I also volunteered to do some stress-debriefing / psychological first aid with the newly-arrived evacuees, but there was a surplus of counselors that night, so we eventually went back to repacking.

Right now there's this whole brouhaha over the operations.  So sad when politics get in the way of good things.  I have some opinions about that too, but I'll shut up now.

I'm no one important, and I honestly feel mostly useless - I mean, I'm not a rescue worker, I'm not a doctor, I'm not a media person, and I have just about no influence.  But I can still help in my own way.  Like the proverb goes, walang piso kung walang isang sentimo. 

I intend to keep volunteering and giving and praying in the weeks that come.  This is far from over, and I won't sit in the sidelines.