BELOW is a delightful essay written by Mharnie Lahoy-Lahoy Dandan. It is amusing and good for the heart and I am publishing it in toto.
“If that day has a flavor, I know it wasn’t bland.
The columnist, Belinda Sales Canlas and I first met on a table where most folks have stories to recount. And these stories weren’t episodes of grand feats like how the Philippines grabbed its first-ever Olympic gold medal. But these recitations were more like of Whang-Od’s controversy, or shall I say, Onyok Velasco’s forgotten reward? So, untamed by the atrocious litanies that busted her ears, Ma’am Bebett (to close friends and family) just snapped, “That isn’t right.” And that hour, I felt heard. Finally, someone now understands. That we aren’t doormats. That we must contend against abuse in whatever form. That standing for what is right isn’t rebellion but a punch of courage to defy anything that is incongruous to what is faultless and moral. And these things, she let me grasp.
Admittedly, I was quite intimidated by her brainpower as if her neurons were born elite. And if she would take a role in Veronica Roth’s book series where society is divorced in five sects, you can’t confine her to only reside in the erudite community. I bet she would also be like Tris – a divergent. And yes, she is. Because she won’t blend and bend for something that contests and refutes the virtues that can benefit many. She is unyielding. She won’t give in.
When my husband worked on a project with her, she was incessant in producing the result that will not scorn her standard of excellence. Mediocrity and incompetence aren’t just in her vocabulary.
But she isn’t just this strong-willed woman who’s got Katniss Everdeen’s nerve to defy the crooked and fiendish president of Panem, she’s got a soft spot too. When she picked up the news about my mother’s death, she lent her hand without uncertainty and delay. We weren’t even close then and since my husband collaborates with her on a project, she asked the company where she works at the time to extend some financial assistance to our bereaved family. It wasn’t a small amount of money. But she worked on it anyway. And to a family who has been financially exhausted and has lost all the means to find some resources, it was a huge relief indeed. God sent an angel.
Maybe she was to Omar, too, her gardener whom she wrote about in this column. Generally, writers give accent to those who have impressive and remarkable accolades. Those who have great exploits in the field of sports, politics, entertainment, or whatsoever. And here she is, taking some snapshots about the grandeur of a simple person and taking heed of all his ramblings and dismay. He could be unseen. Just a common human, clearing some weeds. But she noticed anyway.
In these times when people are like scavengers, self-preoccupied, untruthful, and complacent, there are still a few who took the different way. People who don’t conceal themselves in sheep’s clothing but are willing to share a portion of themselves so others can find a piece of solace. Ma’am Bebett is like this to me. And so I thought she was just a tale. But, hey, she isn’t.”
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Good news! Six thousand jabs were administered to Fish Port laborers and Port workers at General Santos Fish Port Complex during the first round of its vaccination program culminating on August 6, 2021. The second dose is scheduled on August 23, 2021.
The first phase was done on July 24-29, 2021, with 2500 vaccinees while the second batch was held on August 2-6, 2021, with 3500 vaccinees.
The program is a collaboration of the Fish Port Development Authority, the SarGen Fishport Tuna Handline Fishing Association, and the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. The local government of General Santos City provided the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines.
It will be recalled that National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. directed the vaccination of the fish port backbone to achieve herd immunity.
Kudos to Paris Ayon, Marife Alim Quiam, Mercy Ong, Osh Bulanhagui-Contreras, Sha Abdaman, and Janet Rosit for their untiring efforts to set up and manage the vaccination center. Kudos also to Dr. Jette Oco, the Rural Health Unit of Tambler, Barangay Captain Abdulwahid Bualan, Dr. April Maquilang, and all volunteer nurses and doctors for their committed support to the program.
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Writer can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
