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Follow-up on Martin Household Bayanihan

Philippine Culture / by

As I told you earlier, we planned a Bayanihan, or a work party at our maid, Pat’s house.

A few weekend ago my kids, my nieces and nephew and of course Jun & Jun Jun, and I went to Pat’s house to start working on her house. It was really something for the my kids seeing how Pat and her family lived in a tiny house. They really were feeling sorry for them. It was nice for my kids to see how some people live here in the Philippines. I could see on their faces the wishes and hopes for Pat’s life to be better. It was really a good learning experience with my kids.

Jun and Jun Jun started to measure out the house. Trying to figure out while building outside the old house we can still use the old house for Pat’s family to sleep in during night time. Jun Jun made the new house bigger and a bit wider too. Also for the bathroom to be included inside the building instead of being outside. Jun Jun also tried to figure out where the bedroom for Pat and where the kids’ bedroom be and the living room and kitchen.

It is small but at least with the new house they had a nice roof already and when it rained the family could sleep now instead of looking for a dry place to lay down. Then, my nephew Deo and my sons Chris and Aaron were trying to help Jun put some plank on the bottom side of the wall and later they finished up the top with Kalakat (a bamboo decorative wall). To top that they nailed a stick of bamboo to hold the Kalakat nicely. I am proud to say that my kids helped out on that. Jean Jean and Jared even tried to help out on putting the Kalakat too and the bamboo stick on the window.

It was a hard worked for my kids but they enjoyed it. They told me that they really like to work for the poor people. It made them feel good to help. They were very happy with the end result. I’m proud of them.

Here’s some photos that I promised to you guys. Pat agreed for her house be featured here. We still have some work to do there but I know we will finish up in no time. A really big Thank You to the people that worked there. My kids, my nieces and nephew of course Jun and Jun Jun especially who really worked hard to make this project possible. THANK YOU GUYS!

We still have a few weekends to go in working there. We still have to build the bed and the wall inside the house. Chris wants to go there even everyday. We can’t do that since its just back to school now. Have to to school first. So weekends works for us. I was just thinking now that maybe someday soon we will launch or have a LiP Bayanihan. I know we will make some family happy with our help. Just a thought guys.

Mabuhay!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hi Feyma
    That what you and your family have done for your maid is very nice and sure Pat will always be thankfull for what you have done for her and her kids. Also your kids will always remember doing something to help some body else and the good feeling that comes with that…thanks for the nice write up..very nice.

    • Hi Dan – Yes it really made me proud of my kids. We could tell that Pat was so grateful of what we did for her and her family. Pat’s relatives and neighbors even said that not much employer would help build a house like that.

      Honestly when I talked to Jun and Jun Jun about the project I really just wanted at that time to show my kids the spirit of Bayanihan. But hey, the kids really enjoyed it and it made them good at the end. That really made me happy and proud of them.

      Thank you so much for the nice comment. I really appreciate it very much.

  3. Hi Feyma, What a nice new house for Pat and her family. This is the spirit of doing something hands-on that will show your children and family the thrill of doing something special for people less fortunate. I’m happy for all of you.

    • Hi queeniebee – I’m happy to say that Pat and family now sleep anywhere inside the house. The house now has 2 bedroom a living room, kitchen and bathroom.

      Yes, it was really nice seeing the kids having fun in helping there. I didn’t even have to asked them, they just asked Jun and Jun Jun what the next thing they had to do. They even had contest who would done ahead on putting up the stick on the windows. It was really fun time for them even though one finger get a hit by the hammer. They just laughed it off.

      I’m really happy and proud for my kids. Sorry to brag but just the thought of them helping and makes them feel good to help really makes me so happy as a mom.

      Thank you so much for your nice words. Its always good to see you here.

      Take care!

  4. Feyma,
    Thank you so much for doing this article! For several months I have been trying to explain to my wife/in-laws that I wanted “Kalakat” on the inside of our walls, so that it makes the interior look like a nipa hut, but I didn’t know what it was called. If it is varnished, will it last a long time? I think that your LiP bayanihan idea is brilliant! If we’re not back by the time you start this, perhaps, we could send some money via Paypal to Bob, to help with materials? I once met with Tony Soriano in a squatter village and we discussed this same idea. The Rotary Club was going to organize the project, but it didn’t come to fruition before I left. While I expect to be quite busy when I return, I’d be willing to spend one day a week doing this. I’d even consider bringing the crew that I hire to finish our house, for one day each week. Gee, How any neighbour could have a clash with a great family like your’s is beyond my comprehension. Best of luck with that headache(neighbours)!
    Mike

    • Hi Mike – Ha ha ha… At least you found something here that you’ve been looking for. The Kalakat.. 😉

      Watching my kids helping and working and enjoyed it, really made me happy and proud of them. I know we have lots of Expats living here that reads this site and wanting to help others that made me think of doing it for the LIP too. Look at our LIP drive every year we have lots of help there. Anyway something to think about in the future….

      I can’t stand any longer with our dear neighbor. A pain in the neck.

      Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. Good to see you again here Mike.

      Take care!

      • If only your ‘neighbors’ , using the definition loosely, had just a speck off your compassion for others…

        I had a neighbor like that once, oh what problems, he has since passed away, may god rest his soul.

  5. Looking good. What a wonderful gesture by an apparently wonderful person and group. Please do a final update when you’re finished.

    Your article is uplifting, thank you.

    Cheers,

    Doug

  6. Watch out – according to my wife (who seems to know everything useful and is (almost) never wrong. We put kalakan in our kids’s play/study house. BUT with Kalakan you will have a BIG bug problem. so what, I asked my wife? The kalakan will be destroyed qickly and in the meantime there will be dust – alot of dust as the bugs turn the lalakan into dust. If you spray, the bugs stay away for only the time that you can smell the spray.

    At least that’s what my wife says. For me, looks very good. but what do I know?

    • Hi ProfDon – I don’t really know how long the kalakat would last. I know a lot of people uses kalakat and it last a long time for them. With the Kalakat before putting up try to treat with solignom(anti termites) and varnished it. Hmm, I better ask Jun Jun he knows better than me on this stuff.

      Hey, try to listen to your wife. 😉 Hey, maybe what we suggested here might worked too. Try to ask the expert with kalakat in your area. Good luck to you.

      Take care!

  7. Congratulations to you Feyma, Bob and family. Your generosity and selfless care for all people is heartwarming. Thank you for in uplifting the living condition for just one family, it makes the world a better place for all. If only everyone felt this way.

    ProfDon, I once had the same thought about putting up a panel of kalakan (now I know what it is called) on the wall above the landing of the stairway to the second floor. It was/is a blank wall and kind of visually boring. Daisy was not as enthusiastic as I was. We didn’t do it. I live in Florida/Bugida, and know those bugs are very opportunistic. Daisy does not even like bamboo furniture because of the bug problem. I like the look of it, but Daisy and her good sense won out. No biggie as I’m easygoing. Our sala set is made in the style of traditional carved furniture. Still wish it were made of bamboo though, he he. BTW, just bought a 6 piece living room set of bamboo for the house here in Bugida at a garage sale for $150. I love it. I hope Daisy is ok with it when she finally gets over here. Oh she’ll like it as she is easygoing too. (exwife took all of the formal uncomfortable colonial stuff and is welcome to it… ho ho.)
    “Changes in Latitude; Changes in Attitude”

  8. All I could think of when I saw the pictures was I wish I could let you borow myskill saw when i saw the hand saw you had to use! good work, are you going to put in some kind of floor other then dirt?

    • Hi JackF – Thank you for the thought. Honestly it was good for my kids to work hands on. They had fun doing it.

      We had to let the husband of Pat put a lot of dirt inside the house before putting some concrete. When he filled it up the way Jun Jun told him to do, then Jun Jun will come back and help him put the concrete and a few pile of hollow blocks too. Of course with our help again too.

      Take care!

  9. Hi Feyma,

    Looks like a wonderful job all of you are doing on that house. Before I began learning about The Philippines I was not too familiar with how things are built for a tropical climate and I find it quite fascinating. I enjoy the pics you have posted. Best of luck on completion of this project.

  10. Hey Feyma,

    In Batanes, bayanihan is big time. I was hinting I wanted a beach house there, and wondered how to build one (of course, I can’t since I’m not Ivatan). They told it’s all bayanihan. Maybe, when I find my little place in the sun, preferable on the beach, I can organize a bayanihan? he he he… I actually prefer native style what you call kalakat is sawali in Tagalog (and I think in Bohol it’s another name.) It has to be treated and varnished to keep the little animals out. It’s nice to get kids started at a young age.

    Alex

    • Hi AlexB – You can find somebody to build anything. We just are lucky here we had Jun Jun knows how to build for us. If you build in Batanes you might want to build strong enough to hold for the typhoon. Just a thought.

      Hey way to go. You can ask your neighbor to help you out. Just have a few cases of beer, that will do. 😉

      Thank you so much for stopping by!

      Take care!

  11. What a lovely gesture Feyma. You should be proud of your kids. I’m a believer in Karma. This good will come back to you 100 fold. As for your neighbors well unfortunately for them the opposite is also true, hehe. I’m sure Pat knows how lucky she is to have you and Bob as employers!

  12. A young couple years back started a tradition they gave one nice present to each of their two children and no more at Christmas. They then gave each child money and a list of names that the school had provided the mother to buy a present for. Eventually they had a rule relatives could not give their children presents, but could give money so their children could buy for poor children the next Christimas.

    People in my parish were upset with the parents and thought it was cruel. I had heard so many complaints from their friends and members of our parish that one year I went with them as they delivered the presents the Saturday prior to Christmas Day. The first house we came to I noticed the children could not wait to get out of the car and carry gifts inside. They were excited and thrilled. They wanted to do more.

    Last year someone email me that their oldest daughter is now doing the same with her children. Each year after I went with them that Christmas I would allow the children to share pictures and their experience with the parish.

    Children learn a lot when they get involved and it makes them better people.

  14. Hi Feyma – thanks for sharing – it’s really a special thing y’all are doing – very special and rewarding – win na win!!

    Rose says hi 😉

  15. Hi Feyma

    As everyone has said this is a lovely way to give children a chance to help others.

    Too many people these days are more interested what they can get for themselves, it never dawns on them that they could help others. thats how communities used to be like. There was always people to give a helping hand.

    God Bless

    Marjorie

  16. Hi feyma ,i agree with a lot of the other comments that this is a very wonderfull and comendable thing that you are all doing ,i always say what goes around comes around ,you have alll done good for someone else and you will receive good in return maybe not large but in some way you will be repaid
    welll done chris

  17. Bob, I love your site. I get a lot of helpful tips here. I miss your articles with Bebe Metillo, though. I loved listening to you speaking in Bisaya. I speak the dialect fluently as I am from Mindanao myself. Keep up the great work!

    Elsie Sarmiento
    West Palm Beach, Florida

  18. Wow Femya,

    If everybody had your out look about helping out the fellow human then the would will never have problems like we do now. everybody is out for themselves and forget about those less. In the process you have taught your kids the wonderful art of giving and expecting nothing in return. I’m sure you and your family is blessed and will continue to be blessed. Counting down my days to retirement.

    SSG Aydelott, Chris
    US Army

  19. Hi Femya,
    In our family compound there are a lot of guys walking around with their fighting cocks. There are about 70 of them in total. (the roosters that is) I do not know what they do for a living, and do not ask!!
    The rooster compound is located just outside our bedroom window !!… uuuuuuuh!
    Daisy and I live a private life. I have been invited to their afternoon SMB Red Horse sessions, and have participated. Mind you now I have nothing against a cold brew, but the sessions are more than WE want.

    Back to the thread – what do they do??? – I dunnow!