SO YOUNG, SO COMPASSIONATE

Can you believe that my 6-lyear-old grandson solicited donations for the typhoon victims of Quinta, Rolly and Ulysses in the Philippines?  

Yes!   He did just that!  My grandson lives in Singapore but due to frequent visits to Manila, he can relate. 

During dinner this week, my grandson and his parents were talking about the sad and unfortunate plight of these typhoon victims. 

"Consider yourself lucky",  my son, his Dad told him.   "They lost their homes, they nearly drowned due to flooding and they only have clothes they had on", my son continued. 

After dinner, my grandson left the table and they later found him in his room sorting clothes, toys and books he intend to 

donate to the typhoon victims.  

The next morning he asked his teacher if he could solicit donations from his classmates.  His Mom was surprised when his teacher called to confirm his intention.  His Mom was happy for this gesture and readily agreed if it were possible. 

That afternoon after school, my grandson made a poster with the help of his Mom depicting three pictures of the flood, the devastated homes and  rescue activities by the Red Cross.  

The next morning, he presented the poster in class and requested for donations of clothes, toys, books, etc from his classmates. 

Then donations came pouring in!  

Now, they have quite a heap neatly arranged in their living room.  They are waiting for more donations after this weekend to give time for the Moms to go through their stuff at home.  A parent or two even went out of their way to bring their donations in their Condo.  

Then he remembered two former classmates who became friends, that maybe able to donate as well.  But his Dad cautioned him not to stretch his efforts too much and to better concentrate on his classmates. 

His Mom will ship the donations to a former household help of his other grandparents who now resides in Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines; one of the provinces hardly hit by the three typhoons.  She has a son as old as he is thus making the effort more relevant knowing where the donations will go. 

Now I\"m wondering what gave my grandson the idea of soliciting donations.  Maybe he remembers that his Mom occasionally ships his outgrown clothes, toys and some personal and household effects to Manila for donation to charity.  Sometimes when we visit, we see balikbayan boxes waiting for pick up.

In retrospect, I realized that my grandson is his parents\" child after all; they being sensitive and compassionate to the need of others.  They can never turn a deaf ear but instead they always want to alleviate the hardship of others in whatever manner they are capable of doing.

Once again, we can never underestimate what children can do to help our unfortunate brothers.   If only others, especially adults would think and act in similar ways, then this would surely be a better world for everyone. 

COVID 19 GAVE ME THE GREATEST SCARE OF MY LIFE

We just received a NEGATIVE RT-PCR COVID 19 test result today!  To say that it was a great relief is saying it mildly. 

Why did we need the test? 

Last week a household help applicant was referred to us by a reliable person after our two maids of more than a year suddenly went home. 

Our part time driver fetched the applicant at the village gate around noon and at 2:30, she underwent the RT-PCR COVID Test here in our premises.  Imagine our anxiety to have her here when her test came back positive the next morning!  

She beg to go home but my husband felt that we should follow the protocol to report this to our Barangay office.  She was picked up and brought to a quarantine facility on same day.

Wait! How about us?  We are now tagged to have been "exposed" even though she stayed in the maid\"s quarters  which is detached from our house.  For the entire 24 hours she was in the premises, she was wearing a mask.  

I was so worried and scared, I immediately started the 9-hour prayer to The Infant Jesus of Prague for protection, the prayer I resort to for serious circumstances such as this. 

"Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you".  So I "knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted". 

Thereafter, everyday,  every hour, on the hour, my cell phone  alerted me to say the prayer while I worked around the house.  Ive been so worried, sometimes I even panicked.   I also cried thinking about the possibility of getting sick and being isolated from my family indefinitely.  I thought of lost time being with them because I felt I don\"t have much at my age. 

Nonetheless, I willed a positive thought that I will be spared.  I embraced with patience every little  inconvenience hoping that they will help give me.good health. I offered all my worries and fears to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Upon waking up every morning at 3 or 4, I start my hourly novena and say the rosary as many times as I can.

My husband kept checking our temperature.  I couldn\"t sleep some nights. There were times that I didn\"t feel like eating but I  ate just the same so that my husband won\"t think that I lost my sense of taste; mid-week I had upset stomach but I did not tell my husband, he may think I developed symptoms.  

But first things first.  We consigned a private agency to disinfect and sanitize the premises. They were thorough, they sanitized the ceiling, walls and floor and after spraying disinfectant, they wiped everything, literally everything.  From the maid\"s room, I had them take away all items: two mattresses, bed covers and sheets, pillows and cosmetics leaving only a pail and dipper in the connecting bathroom and the bed and a stool thoroughly sanitized. 

After  a week of home quarantine, we didn\"t experience any symptoms.  Our Doctor, felt that we do not need to undergo the COVID test after learning the circumstances. "If you like, for your own peace of mind, it is okay to be tested", he said. 

However we felt we needed proof that we are "clean". After consultation with our Doctor as well as my friend who is an experienced nurse and our children, we chose the drive thru RT-PCR TEST  at the Asian hospital, it proved to be the safest  due to minimal exposure. 

Some say that the swab is painful but I found the procedure irritating and only lasted a few seconds.  To me I was prepared to suffer any pain, if only I could be spared of the virus. 

We should be celebrating after getting the  negative result,  but  to me it didn\"t feel right.  It was enough that we are free of the virus.  As I think of the families who lost their loved ones as well as all those fighting for their lives right now due to COVID 19, I feel that we are so blessed of being spared.   

I pledged that  I will do nine days of the 9-hour prayer to The Infant Jesus of Prague.  For the remaining two days, I will continue to ask for continued protection and thank The Lord for keeping us safe. 

Lesson learned: I won\"t get a household help until this pandemic is over.  I\"ll wait for the vaccine or the time when this virus will disappear, whichever will come first.