I spread the love like I spread that tuna

very briefly, i will retell what i have been doing since my last entry and now.
its no secret that the philippines has been pounded by typhoons, leaving hundreds dead, and millions of pesos worth in damages.

so, the day of my last entry was a saturday-- when all the rain came pouring down. the next day, we all find out just exactly how much damage Ondoy (typhoon's name; international name Ketsana) wrought. during the end of mass, Father mentioned volunteering and donating goods for the victims of Ondoy. so, off i go to LSGH (LaSalle Greenhills)--not a traitor! sabi ng pari e!
anyway, i spent about 3-4 hours helping out and half the time i was thinking how i could run this place better with my right hand tied behing my back. no offense.

it was just a giant mess of a mess of bodies and goods and little bodies running between everyone's legs and tripping more bodies. noone but a few handful knew exactly what we were all doing, there were people just looking around for things to do. able, young men looked on while me and a fellow female volunteer lugged sacks of rice across the room. after a, guys what are you doing? wala? pwede tulungan niyo kami sa mga sako na 'to? (nothing? can you help us with these sacks of rice?). its not their fault. they had no idea what was going on.

by the latter half of my first adventure, i tried to breathe some hakuna matata in me and just wing it. i left dirty, tired and a tad frustrated. i was looking for that high you get when you help an old lady cross the street, but it didn't come. i was later invited by my friend cara to ASMPH (Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health) the next day to do some relief work and was completely blown out of my mind with the organization demonstrated by volunteers.

there was a diagram!! A DIAGRAM!! and a map showing you where to go. un-frikin-believable!! we were able to do what was done in LSGH with half the manpower and half the time. i didnt get to go with the dispatch team, but im sure it would have blown my mind twice over and i wouldnt be able to type this blog out, given all my brain cells were blasted away by the amazing amazingness.

there, i just had to say it. i sure as hell hope crazy people come after me after reading this and crucify me for burning my first experience on a stake like that. of course everything was well meant-- not once did i attack the intentions behind the relief efforts. and hey, my intentions are simply to do double the good in the same amount of time and with the same amount of manpower.

after, it was much more low-key efforts, making sandwiches at my friend, clarisse's place to donate to red cross. spreading the love the way i spread that tuna.