You guys are probably wondering what’s Bayanihan? It is the term used here in the Philippines if a lot of people will do some good thing (physical labor) together for a benefit of a family or a member of a family. In Wikipedia Bayanihan describes as is a Filipino term taken from the word bayan, referring to a nation, town or community. The whole term bayanihan refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective.
Right now we at the Martin household together with my brother-in-law and our carpenter, we are teaming up to work on my laundry lady’s house. Pat does not live with us here at the house. She lives not far from us though. I didn’t really know how bad her house was until one day when she came to our house in the morning. Her typical time to arrive at work is 8am. I am always downstairs chatting with my kids and my nieces and nephew drinking coffee. Pat arrived and she was kind of tired. I said immediately that finally it rained and we won’t have so much blackout soon. She said “yeah but we didn’t have much sleep last night.” I immediately said “why?” She told me that they are miserable when it rains here in Davao. I said “why? Is it because your house being near the water and you have a little overflow in there?” She told me No. She explained to me that when it rained the water will leak inside their house through the roof and they have to find some dry corners in the house where they could lay down. She mostly let the kids lay down first. Here in Davao it usually rains during night time. So it is really difficult for them to sleep. My heart really goes out to them.
So when we had an extra tarp from our bodega (storage) that we used before I told her to bring it and make used of it. It helped a little bit. When I finally had a project working with my friend I told my carpenter Jun Jun and my brother-in-law Jun if we have some scrap woods that we are not using I want to give it to Pat. I mentioned that to my friend too and asked him if its okay for him that I will give the stuff that its not in used in his house to give it to Pat. He said okay and happy to do so. Pat really needs it for her house. I told Jun and Jun Jun if they could fix the roof at Pat’s house and they said sure. So one day this week or next week we will go to Pat’s house and work and see what needs to get done. Jun and Jun Jun said that they will work there for free I will just let them have some bottle of coke and Jun Jun will have a few beers. I told them its a deal. We can all help there and rebuild the place of Pat.
A few days ago I’ve been going through our bodega (storage) at the back of our house and trying to get rid of the stuff that we don’t need anymore. My goodness, I didn’t know how much junk was stored in there. So I gave away a lot of stuff to Jun, Jun Jun and Pat. I felt pretty good to give it and it makes our place cleaner. We found we have some wood and tin roofing that we can give to Pat. So at the end she’s really in good shape then to build her house.
I can’t post any pictures until I talk to Pat and ask her if its okay to put some photos here. Not sure if she wants the before pictures. Hopefully she will agree with the after our work though. I will try. The important thing we will work and make her life a little bit easier for them. Also it shows my kids how to help other people in need and they will someday help more people like Pat.
Cheers!
Feyma,
My hat is off to you and the people who helped. This is what we are missing in todays world compassion and care for one another. When I get to the Philippines I hope to mirror your example and help me family and the ones who will be helping me everyday in my household.
You have been truly blessed.
Hi Michels5098 – Thank you so much for the nice comment. Highly appreciated.
Thank you also for stopping by. Take care!
That’s a very nice gester. It is good that there are people like you to help out when someone is in need. I am sure Pat will not forget this and think of you as a good friend rather than an employer.
Hi Mike in Canada – Thank you very much.
Good to see you here! Keep reading.
Take care!
Cheers to you. It’s amazing what a little kindness does for the world.
I only wish more people were so inclined to help others when in need.
Doug
Hi Kano Doug – Thank you. I really appreciate your kind words.
Thank you for stopping by!
Cheers!
Your a fine Ambassador Bob, kudos !!!!
Hi brian – Thank you.
Good to see you here again.
Take care!
Hi Feyma;
That was an act of kindness that should inspire us all. Everybody feels good after something like that.
And I really like the idea that Jun-Jun will work for beer, he is my new hero (lol)
Hi Paul – Thank you so much for your kind words. Yes really make us feel good.
Ha ha ha. I will tell Jun Jun what you said. He will be proud of himself then. 😉
Good to see you again Paul. Take care!
Hi Feyma
What a wonderful idea to help Pat in such a way. Community spirit is missing so much these days. What you are doing reminds me so much of when I was young. People here were always ready to help each other out. Luckily there is still some who do that. But sadly people are so enmeshed in their own lives they do not see where help is needed. This is sad because I feel they are missing something good in life.
Maybe if there was more community spirit there would be more people with smiles on their faces.
God bless
Marjorie
Hi Marjorie – Thank you. Bob and I just want to show our kids what our parents taught us when we were kids before. I know its different culture but similar ways of teaching though. I hope and pray that they will also do the same later with other people in need.
We will try to set some good example and hoping they will pass it on.
Thank you for stopping by and your nice comments. Take care and God bless!
Cheers!
Good on ya feyma thumbs up to you and your family ,in this day and age people just walk on by to caught up in there own lives to worry about anyone else , anyway i hope that your carpenter can fix pats roof for her and her family
chris
Hi chris – Thank you so much. We really appreciate your kind word.
Jun Jun will try his best. Good to see you here!
Take care!
Hi Feyma, In my forthcoming post, I touched on the bayanihan in Batanes. It’s still very much alive. Alex
Hi AlexB – Good for you. Keep it up. Good to know you are active on that too.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Cheers!
Hi Feyma;
I think Kano’s can go bayanihan also; my friend had a 1957 Chevy at his old house disassembled, the day before they moved to the new house, we wheeled the frame and engine to the new house 2 streets over, here in Olongapo one afternoon. On the last day of the move we still had the car’s body to move, after thinking about it, he decided to call all his friends and have a car moving party. 9 show up, (I was one) and we lifted it using coco lumber and bamboo and started down the street. It seemed to cause a lot of excitement seeing all those Americans carrying a car. A group of Pinoy guys jumped in and started helping, (bless them for it was heavy) the police came and helped by blocking traffic, the laughing and joking while doing this was the most fun I’d had in awhile. We arrived at the new house, the beer was cold and the BBQ was going, our new Pinoy friends that helped us stayed, and joined our group and my friend sent them home to bring back their families. The sad part was, none of us thought to take pictures of our big adventure.
a lot off hands make light work …….