"...Pinoy bayanihan lives on. It is a deeply-rooted Filipino practice that cannot be forgotten. There is bayanihan in holding the arm of an elderly who is crossing the street, or in helping someone carry belongings.
In this modern age when even our grandparents are on Facebook, and when a Dear Diary is now called a blog, and when “following’’ is the new word for “stalking,’’. Bayanihan is still very much alive through the share button, re-tweet, re-post, and message forwarding.
Yes, things can now be done a lot easily but it is the bayanihan spirit that matters. Through social media, missing persons are found; sick persons are given chances to live a healthy life. I say, that is the modern bayanihan movement...."
Bayanihan and Baby Liam
by Maria Kathrina Lopez Yarza
September 12, 2011
I was in primary school when I learned about the beautiful concept of bayanihan. Back then, bayanihan was defined as “village people helping one another to move a house from one place to another by carrying it together.’’
It may seem to be a thing of the past; but in this modern world, Pinoy bayanihan lives on. It is a deeply-rooted Filipino practice that cannot be forgotten. There is bayanihan in holding the arm of an elderly who is crossing the street, or in helping someone carry belongings.
In this modern age when even our grandparents are on Facebook, and when a Dear Diary is now called a blog, and when “following’’ is the new word for “stalking,’’. Bayanihan is still very much alive through the share button, re-tweet, re-post, and message forwarding.
Yes, things can now be done a lot easily but it is the bayanihan spirit that matters. Through social media, missing persons are found; sick persons are given chances to live a healthy life. I say, that is the modern bayanihan movement.
BABY LIAM
On May 29, 2011, Chrisvel Liam was born to Levirizza Mendillo via caesarian section. Levirizza is a young unwed mother of two from Cabanatuan City. Baby Liam was born prematurely with a severe chronic lung disease. He was transferred to a more advanced private hospital where he was hooked on tubes in the ICU. This cost the family R15,000 per night.
They did not have any idea on how they would be able to produce such a large sum of money to pay for Liam’s medical expenses, but the family fought for Liam’s life without any hesitation. Levirizza mother even told her: “Ilaban natin anak, ang pera ay nahahanap at nauutang. Ang buhay hindi.”
Baby Liam underwent intensive medication and treatment for three months. Levirizza sought help from everyone she could think of — foundations, government agencies, friends and relatives. “Nagugulat sila kapag nalalaman nila na ako ‘yung mother at kapapanganak ko pa lamang at caesarian ako pero kung saan saan na ako nakapunta,” the young mother narrates.
It was difficult, but she was willing to do everything just to save her son’s life. She posted Baby Liam’s story on Facebook asking for prayers for his recovery. The word started to spread and in three days, he was discharged from the hospital. Levirizza recalls, “Araw-araw na nagdaan parang walang nangyaring maganda kay baby. Gaganda pero andyan din biglang papangit, hindi siya stable. Pero sa tulong ng Facebook, nabuhayan ang anak ko.”
But then again, it just took a turn for the worse for Liam’s family. They were not allowed to leave the hospital unless they pay the balance on Liam’s hospital bill. His family did all they could but the money which the family had gathered were already depleted by the spiraling costs of medications.
Through the help of the Facebook group, Definitely Pinoy, and different organizations (both public and private), and a number of kindhearted individuals from different walks of life, donations started pouring in. Baby Liam was released from the hospital. He was able to enjoy the comfort of his home for the first time.
There had been times when Levirizza would become anxious because the money she had received from the donations is not enough for Liam’s expensive medicines, like Meronem, Vancomycin, Ampotericin, Clyndamycin, to name a few.
Levirizza shares, “Kinakabahan po ako na mahinto ang paggamot sa aking anak ngunit hindi po ako pinanghinaan ng loob dahil madaming nagpapadala ng message sa akin upang palakasin ang loob ko tulad ng ginagawa ng mga magulang ko.”
A number of people offered help. There were online stores that volunteered to raise money for Baby Liam through the sale of their items. Every time Baby Liam needs blood transfusion, many people came out and donated blood for him — bus drivers, house helpers, security guards, and even the employees of the hospital he was confined in.
There were anonymous donors too who until now do not wish to be recognized. The administrators of Definitely Filipino on Facebook banded together and created a fan page for Baby Liam in order to seek more help. The website is: http://www.facebook.com/Saving.Baby.Liam
Leverizza manages an online shop to sustain her family’s needs. She also takes care of her three-year-old daughter. Liam’s father is a minimum wage employee who is soon to reach the end of his contract.
Leverizza pleads, “Patuloy pa rin po kaming nananawagan ng tulong para kay baby sapagkat malaki pa po ang aming bayarin sa ospital at kailangan pa po siyang ipagamot at ipacheck sa Optalmologist, EENT, BAER, Neurologist, EEG.”
As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.” We, as part of the community, are able to influence the way a child grows up by first giving him the chance to live a normal and healthy life. Let us give Baby Liam the chance and the hope to become healthy and strong. When he grows up, then he will be able to say with pride that he is a product of what is truly Filipino bayanihan of the modern times.
GRACE BE BORN
Kathleen is one of my schoolmates in high school. She is celebrating her birthday this September. She finds joy in giving to the needy through the small projects she has joined in, so she decided to celebrate her birthday by doing a worthwhile project.
Her chosen beneficiary is “Grace Be Born Ministries”. It is a non-profit shelter for unwed mothers to be and abandoned babies. Currently, the ministry is in need of diapers, formula milk, feeding bottles, maternity and baby clothes, toiletries, and other household items. You may donate in goods and in kind, just visit: http://birthdays.kathmadula.com
Baby Liam was pleased..
Photo from Help Save Baby Liam
And also please support Kathleen's Birthday Project..
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