Life-changing experience for volunteers
OPERATION TULONG YOLANDA
LINGAYEN—Members of the 113-man “Operation Tulong Yolanda” team from the provincial government came back changed from their experience of helping the survivors of what is considered one of the worst calamities in history.
Fifth District Board Member Clemente Arboleda Jr., who headed the team, said going to the town of Dulag in Leyte quickly restored the spirit of Christmas in him.
“My mother died on Christmas Day, since then I wasn’t really doing Christmas. But coming back from Leyte, I started putting up decorations… for the first time in three years, I felt the true meaning of Christmas again,” said Arboleda upon their return to Pangasinan on December 22 after a week-long service in Leyte.
Arboleda also said the greatest fulfillment comes from helping with no political agenda as the people they served were not their constituents.
“(It was) not to get votes but you know people need your help,” he said.
Arboleda, who comes from an affluent family in Pangasinan, did menial jobs like the rest of the team saying, “I had carried wood and books, I drove a truck, used crew bar in the construction of classrooms from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the whole week.”
One of Arboleda’s staff, Mario Jimenez, also said this year’s Christmas is the most meaningful for him after joining in the mission.
“Wala kang maramdaman na pagod kase ang alam mong nakakatulong ka sa kapwa mo ng walang kapalit,” Jimenez said.
The team was composed of volunteers from the Provincial Engineer’s Office, Provincial Health Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, General Services Office, Provincial Information Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and Philippine Army.
In welcoming back the team, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said, “You are the best examples on what the provincial government is today.”
The team helped in the rehabilitation of classrooms in three major public schools in the town, cleaning up the compounds and along streets, and installed street lights at the town plaza and Christmas lights at the Lady of Refuge church.
Calimlim led the turnover of the eight classrooms — two at Dulag Central School, four at Dulag SPED Center, and two at Dulag National High School — to town Mayor Manual Sia Que.
The team also provided relief operations and gift-giving activities in 10 barangays — Camote, San Isidro, Calubian, Luan, Sungi, Cambula, Catnogan, Comvis, Maricom and Sabang-Dagitan — serving1,400 families or 7,000 persons.
Further, medical and dental services and health information drives were also conducted at the Rural Health Unit and in several barangays which served about 1,300 residents.
“Dati po tayo ang humihingi ng tulong, ngayon tayo na po ang nagbibigay suporta sa mga kapwa Pilipino natin,” Calimlim said.–Johanne R. Macob and Eva Visperas
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