I strive to live by these words because our fellow Filipinos are always worth the sacrifices, no matter how big or small, and even if our own lives are at stake.
I am a survivor of an open- heart surgery. Before the surgery, I came to know of Gawad Kalinga. At first, I was hesitant to participate in its activities because the GK site in Sta. Catalina was known to be NPA-infested. Although we had military escorts, I couldn’t help but feel scared.
But as they say, there’s always the “first step” which is the hardest, and before you know it, you’ve already gone the distance.
After joining that first GK activity, there was no more stopping for me. Late last year, I volunteered in Operation Walang Iwanan for the victims of the typhoon and earthquake in the Province.
Later, I learned more about Gawad Kalinga. I came to know their objectives, and I became part of realizing GKs goaldream by becoming an active volunteer.
Because of my rheumatic heart disease/mitral stenosis, my family and friends were always scared something bad might happen to me during one of our activities. But what keeps me going is what Ninoy had said.
I had vowed to myself then that I will continue to serve others, even if it will cost me my life so that others may live a better life.
Some might find this principle stupid, maybe because they believe we can never be modern-day heroes. Or that I need to save my own life first before saving others. Does it mean then that I should be centered on myself, to always think that I am sick, and that I can’t be of help to others?
I know there is something that I can do to help. I find it really hard to stop from being a volunteer because honestly, the work at GK is addicting. The smile in the faces of the people we are able to help is very refreshing. I never realized that helping others can be this addicting.
I can’t help myself but be present in most of the GK activities even when sometimes I don’t feel well, or I didn’t get enough sleep. Then one day, it hit me. With all of these routines, I might not live long. I said to myself, I’m not afraid to die anyway. Because I have learned to communicate with God again, I have learned to be thankful of the blessings that I receive, and because GK has given me a sense of fulfillment.
