Mabuhay ang JRI ORION BATCH 1963

Taus-pusong pagbati at pasasalamat sa inyo riyan sa Orion, na namuno sa pagsasakatuparan ng isang magandang adhikain - ang makapagbigay ng isang tirahan sa nangangailangan (sa pamamagitan ng Gawad Kalinga), Ito rin ang ipinaaabot ko sa lahat at bawat isang naghandog ng tulong - panalangin, bisig, oras at pananalapi, upang maging katotohanan ang isang pangarap.

MABUHAY ANG JRI ORION BATCH 1963!!!

Kumpisal

I must confess that the primary reason for my absence in our blog is the deep feeling of frustration/depression that haunted me for so many weeks. I felt so inadequate and very helpless that nothing came out of our effort to give some color to NORBERTO'S life. I never mentioned this to President-for-life Mike during our last phone conversation, nor did I write about it in my last blog and in my recent email to Pilar and Azon.

I am writing this on impulse. Got the feeling that I have to get it out of my chest somehow. WISH KO LANG didn't even acknowledge my lengthy letter about NORBERTO. I understand that only a few will merit their help. That they have to choose the most needy from all the letter-senders. It was a long wait. I waited patiently and watched every episode on tv, hoping against hope that NORBERTO'S plight would be next. But it never came.

I am at a loss on what to do next for him. What do you think?

Norberto updates

Corazon's write-up on Norberto saw publication on June 12. That started the ball rolling. This author emailed Terry and Luz. Ernesto DR sent his to Rollie, who in turn went to Norberto's place to assess his priorities. I blogged on Norberto's plight in my personal blog, from where my son, Marc, picked it up and then shared it with Gail. As planned earlier, I wrote to Ms. Vicky Morales of Wish Ko Lang on GMA-7, and sent it twice. On the third time, I sent her a list of the sites carrying Norberto's story. We have yet to hear from WKL.

Pilar, Nelia and Edita started praying for our mission: Norberto. We also forwarded emails to our friends and relatives. A friend from way back when, Tess del Rosario, responded and offered to contact her high school chum and classmate who was with the Human Resources Department of GMA-7 before. She said that maybe he could pull some strings so our letter could be picked out from the thousands that they receive daily. Told her that we will wait for another week or two before we ask for her friend's favor.

Emails from some of our batchmates started pouring in. There were conference/single chats with Corazon, Luz, Pilar, Armando, Ernie, Tio Eddie. Ernesto K called me up by long distance to inquire how he can possibly be of help. Lest I forget, our President-for-Life, Mike, called up too, performing his duties as president of Batch '63, via long distance calls from the U.S. Wow! Can you beat that?

If and when nothing comes out yet from what we have done so far, there are other avenues to try. Let's not lose hope. We know that we can do it! BATCH'63 CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Let's work on this as one big, happy family. We will never go wrong.
Please send us feedbacks, opinions, etc. on how we should move about. Suggestions on what source of income would suit Norberto best. Doctor's opinion on whether it is still possible to fit a prosthesis on his blind eye. Offers of help/donations for his cause. Please call Luz or Rollie and let them know. They can email for you.

Thanks to all. We will be waiting...

Love and compassion for NORBERTO

While we were having fun that rainy night at Violet Cordero's place, Azon hardly ate dinner, for she was so busy interviewing Norberto Roxas, digging into his story. She was so overcome with compassion for him when she saw him that afternoon in their place. Blind, his foot injured, skinny, dark and all-wrinkled(probably because of too much sun exposure and poor nutrition). He was also a bit shy, and had to be fetched and cajoled to ensure his attendance that night.

Azon and I chatted ,made plans, sent emails to Ernie, Mike, Tio Eddie, Terri,Luz, Rolando, Larpi, etc.-all for Norberto's case. We did not want to put his life in danger again, so we opted to withhold the publication of Azon's article on his sad life. But the time came when we couldn't hold anymore. At this point, we agreed that time is of the essence. He's already old, like the rest of us. We have to help give some meaning and a bit of happiness to his life. I salute Ernie for saying this in his last email to me,"At this stage of our life when many of us have received so much blessings, it may be repayment period." What a lovely thought!

An artificial eye would do him good, so he can regain his self confidence. A source of income, not the dole-out type, would restore his human dignity, and would ease a bit his difficult life along with his old mother.

All these show of love and concern from us, his batchmates, would make him feel a fraction of the love that he could have gotten if only he had the chance to have a wife and children of his own.

I've written an appeal to Ms. Vicky Morales of Wish Ko Lang on Channel 7 on behalf of JRI Batch 1963. I guess it would be a great help if majority of us send letters to her asking for help for Norberto. She will take notice if she receives numerous letters, pleading for the same person.

To quote Pilar, "God made us instruments to find a way to help Norberto." How lucky we are for having been chosen as His instruments! My parents' words reverberate in my mind at this point. "Mas mapalad ang nagbibigay, kaysa sa binibigyan."

We are one in this, aren't we? ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL!