BICOL RELIEF OPERATION


Considerable time has passed after typhoon Reming struck the Bicol region on November 30, 2006. But the damage was still very evident. There were still many of the Bicolanos in need of assistance, some of whom were even employees of the PJLI whose homes have been greatly damaged.

This prompted the employees of the PJLGC and the Lhuillier Family to raise funds to buy basic commodities for distribution as gift packs in the hardest-hit province of Albay which suffered most in terms of casualties and property damage because of the severe aggravation caused by the eruption of its Mayon Volcano To make sure that the hard-earned money contributed by the employees of the PJLGC and by the Lhuillier Family in funding the gift packs would find their way to rightful beneficiaries, the PJLFI Executive Trustee and its Poverty Alleviation Project Supervisor, in the company of officials and volunteers of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), first conducted an actual ocular inspection of the physical conditions of the residences of the intended beneficiaries. From the pictures at right and below, you can see that what they actually witnessed were mostly seas of deserted land covered by black sands and big boulders! What used to be the residences of the intended beneficiaries were totally buried and manual excavation appeared to be a gargantuan task, if not an impossible one, so  they  had to continue staying in the evacuation centers. After personally validating the list of the barangays recommended by the PNRC, the PJLFI Executive Trustee,

Atty. Cesar Vidal, and Poverty Alleviation Project Supervisor, Ms. Wilma Dee, together with volunteers from the Legal Services Group (Atty. Krisma Guyala, Ms. Marian Balao, and Ms. Princess Caladiao), the Corporate Communications Division (Ms. Rhea Rapera) and Area 307 (ATA Hedy Yulolo, ATA Rene Nimo and 6 other Area personnel: Gerry Lim, Florencio Omaga, Mary Ann Brillo, Sayri Sayco, Ma. Luisa Sayco, and Marcelito Quiachon), a Foundation scholar in the subject Area, Mary Ann Omaga, as well as officers and volunteers of the PNRC, conducted the actual distribution of the gift packs from early morning to late evening of January 30, 2007.  

Each gift pack consisted of ten kilos of rice, 24 pieces of assorted grocery items and a Cebuana Lhuillier t-shirt with a total approximate retail value of Php 600.00. According to the PNRC, these were the biggest packs of goods and the greatest in number ever distributed by a private donor. In fact, many beneficiaries jokingly complained of the volume and weight of the gift packs! 

Despite the whole day spent in the actual distribution, about half of the number of gift packs prepared had to be left to the care of the PNRC for distribution to other barangays  in the succeeding days.

The distribution may not have been possible if not for the pledges from the employees of the P.J. Lhuillier Group of Companies, as well as the two times counterpart given by its owners, the Lhuillier family, initiated by PJLFI Executive Trustee and Corporate Secretary Atty. Cesar Vidal.  Excess funds from the pledges were distributed to employees from Bicol who were adversely affected by the calamity.

Such acts of kindness, when put together, proved to be of great impact to those in need.

Let’s see what the participants from our end have to say about the activity:

“The activity was so physically tiring and emotionally exhausting, especially when we were told that some of our venues of actual distribution were the same venues used in piling up for identification the truckloads of our dead brothers and sisters who were retrieved from the avalanche of boulders and sand which covered the once happy communities of Bicolanos. But it was truly spiritually fulfilling!”

-Atty. Cesar Vidal

"The Bicol operation was truly an enlightening and liberating experience for me. Seeing the hope on people's   faces   as   they  lined   up for their individual packages made me assess my own outlook on life. It made me think that if these people who have lost their houses and their livelihood, with some of them even losing their loved-ones, were still able to smile, even laugh and not forget to thank PJLGC and its employees for helping them, then all the more reason for me to always have hope and faith. It struck me that the key in life is to never give up. To believe that God never abandons His children and that He reinforces His presence through others to bring that inspiration that some of us badly need. Activities such as the Bicol relief operation is one of those experiences that would surely bring you some perspective on life - that there is a bigger world out there where self-gain, greed and animosity have no place.  It will encourage you to channel all your energy into helping those who are truly suffering. At the end of the activity, I felt motivated, that in my own little way, I was able to inspire a fellow Bicolano to smile again, even for a moment."

 

- Atty. Krisma Guyala

“The sufferings of the people affected by the typhoon were really evident on their faces. All of them were so grateful for the assistance the PJLGC extended to them and wished us more blessings. In spite of the body aches brought by the activity, nobody from the volunteers complained and aired regrets on joining the
activity. It was really a worthwhile experience and the self-satisfaction we got from helping other people was one of the best feelings we ever had.”                 

- Ma. Wilma Dee

 “It had been an opportunity for me to be part of the volunteers for the Bicol Relief Operation. During the distribution of relief goods, all the beneficiaries were one in thanking and expressing their gratitude for all the help and support the P.J. Lhuillier Group of Companies and its employees have given them. Some can’t help but cry because of joy knowing that there are people who care about them. Though the activity itself was tiring and exhausting, I didn’t mind because it was truly a rewarding experience for me. I can't help also but feel how fortunate I am for not experiencing that tragic incident.”    

- Princess Caladiao   

“Behind their smiles and laughter, I still saw the sorrow of the beneficiaries in their eyes. Even though, they were so thankful and happy about the relief operation. I was honored for the opportunity given to me by the company especially the Foundation. The activity was worth all the hard work and effort.”  

- Marian Balao