‘Bayanihan’ is still very much alive

When news broke out that a 35-year-old Filipino worker diagnosed with a debilitating disease is seeking the community’s help so she could return home, members of the Filipino community heeded the call. Within days, Filipino civic leaders took the initiative of collecting thousands of dollars on behalf of Geraldine P. Amor, as well as her two minor sons.

The patient finally returned to the Philippines about two weeks after she was confined in the intensive care unit of the Commonwealth Health Center. Two days after returning home, she passed away at the Manila Doctors Hospital due to complications from lupus, an auto-immune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, and brain.

But even after Amor’s passing, Filipinos on Saipan—as well as their friends in the U.S. mainland—continued to donate money for Amor’s sons—a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old.

Helping others like Amor in their times of greatest need is just one of the many facets of “bayanihan” which continues to hold strong among Filipinos on Saipan, despite the economic difficulties they themselves face and amid the uncertainties brought by the federal takeover of CNMI immigration by June 1.

“Bayanihan” is a Filipino term for a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. “Bayanihan” is taken from the root word “bayani,” meaning “hero.” Thus, “bayanihan” also means being a hero to one another.

Carlito Marquez, one of the first individuals to volunteer his time and effort to help Amor by rallying others to donate whatever they can for the patient, said “bayanihan” is very much alive among Filipinos “even if we are experiencing difficulties.”

“I believe in the spirit of bayanihan, like cleanup drives, the Pistang Pinoy. And just recently, during the donation campaign for Geraldine Amor…the result was overwhelming. We gathered around $4,800 in cash donation,” said Marquez, chairman of the welfare committee of the Overseas Filipino Worker Support Group and one of the officers of the Marianas Association of Filipino Architects and Engineers.

The origin of the term “bayanihan” can be traced to a common tradition in Philippine towns where community members volunteer to help a family move to a new place. The process involves literally carrying the entire house to a new location. This is done by forming a strong frame of bamboo poles to lift the house’s stilts from the ground and carrying the whole house on the shoulders of men positioned at the ends of each pole.

Filipinos on Saipan—even those who are earning only minimum wage—donate money and goods to victims of natural disasters in the Philippines, from floods to typhoons, fires and earthquakes.

Melvin Malvar, president of the Marianas Institute of Filipino CPAs, said “bayanihan” is about sharing one’s time and skills without expecting something in return. MIFICPA members, he said, exemplify “bayanihan” by taking part in beach cleanups, conducting professional skills training programs, helping fellow OFWs prepare their tax returns free of charge, and fundraising activities to help others who are in need of financial support.

Malvar’s other organization, the Bayani Association, recently held a song and dance show that not only showcased Filipino culture but also helped raise funds for Karidat/Guma Esperansa to help victims of human trafficking and domestic violence. Malvar said the group also continues to raise funds to build classrooms in the Philippines and fund the education of children of former overseas Filipino workers who are now having financial difficulties.

Bong De Guzman, who has been a civil engineer on Saipan for 20 years and the current president of the Marianas Association of Filipino Engineers and Architects, said a true blooded Filipino always has the desire to be of help to others.

“Every time we hear or read any tragic accident or serious illness afflicting a kababayan, we are saddened and want to extend help to the victim and his family,” he said. “Even though we do not know personally the victim, solicitation for monetary contributions are done right away and even prayers are offered during Masses.”

Minda Castro of the United Filipino Organization and The Shepherds Choir, commends groups that continue to work with the Philippine government in offering skills upgrading classes, help clean up beaches and other tourist sites, and sponsor cultural events.

Jun S. Lapeceros, of Mover, said “bayanihan” is about helping others who need financial help, and volunteering one’s time for worthy causes such as religious activities and health screening.

“In my 20 years here on Saipan as a foreign worker, I still believe in, and practice ‘bayanihan’. These are the activities also that contributed to my selection as one of the 10 outstanding OFWs here in the CNMI,” he said.