HOPE: A Journey of a Lifetime Begins

Hope is both simple and profound. It provides inspiration, gives strength to get us through challenging times, and bridges sorrow to bliss. Hope is what Beta Sigma gives back to the citizens of the Bicol Region affected by Bagyong Reming.

Humanitarian aid did not stop after the immediate disaster relief. Beta Sigma continues to support those who were displaced by this devastating typhoon. On April 2, 2007, Tulong Bicol Operation Big Brother ensured that the people temporarily relocated in Taysan, Legaspi City receive the much-needed medical attention.

For some of us, we draw energy from hope as we move forward in carrying out our commitments to help the needy. For some of us, making our world a better place has become a quest. For Betans, Tulong Bicol is a noble goal and indeed, a journey of a lifetime.
 

The journey as seen through the lens of Oca Escudero AUL'84A & JAQ Quinonez AUL'97A

"Mga Kapatid,

Una sa lahat, nais ko kayong pasalamatan sa inyong napakalaking tulong sa mga kapatid nating nasalanta ng Bagyong Reming sa Bicol. Ngunit higit sa aking pasasalamat para sa ating mga natulungan, nais ko din na ipagpugay ang tagumpay na ito bilang tagumpay ng ating kapatiran. Mabuhay ang KAPATIRANG BETA SIGMA!

Sa pagkakataong ito, nais ko na pong tuldukan ang proyektong ito bilang proyekto ng kapatiran. Maaari pong ituloy ang pagtulong sa pamamagitan ng Beta Sigma pero hindi na po ibig sabihin na ang tulong ay para sa Bicol lamang dahil tapos na po ang Tabang Bicol Project. Ngunit kahit na po na ito ay ating tutuldukan, kami po dito ay patuloy na uusad sa proyekto hanggang sa maubos ang mga natitira pa sa mga ipinadala nyong donasyon.

Sa ngayon po, naubos na natin ang mga relief goods na ating ipinamahagi noon pong Phase 1 pa lang ng proyekto. Ngunit ang mga gamot na atin pong nakalap mula sa paghingi ng tulong sa mga kumpanya ng gamot dito sa Pilipinas, pati na rin po yung mga gamot na nabili natin mula sa ipinadala nyong pera ay di pa po ubos (sa dami) at patuloy nating isasagawa ang mga tulong medikal hanggang sa ito ay ating maubos at maipamahagi sa mga nangangailangan. Balak ng ating mga kapatid sa kabikolan na ituloy ang Medical Missions doon kahit na tapos na at nakaraos na kahit papano ang mga Bicolano... hanggang may gamot pang magagamit at maipapamahagi.

Sa darating na linggo ay mag-uusap usap kaming mga kapatid dito na nagpatakbo sa proyektong ito upang isaayos ang lahat-lahat sa pagtatapos ng "Tulong Bicol"

Narito po ang ilang mga larawan sa Medical Mission na isinagawa noon pong a-dos ng Abril sa Brgy. Taysan sa Lungsod ng Legazpi. Ang lugar po ng Medical Mission ay isang "Tent City" kung saan inilikas ang mga nakaligtas sa Brgy. Padang (halos nabura po sa mapa ang barangay na ito dahil sa putik at baha).

DIOS MABALOS SAINDO GABOS!!!" --Brod JAQ M. QUIÑONES, Aquinas University of Legazpi 97-A, Chairman, Operation Big Brother - Tabang Bicol

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TYPHOON REMING: IMAGES OF BICOL DEVASTATION & BETAN HUMANITARIAN DEVOTION

Message from JAQ

First of, allow me to extend my apologies for the long pause in the updates on Operation Big Brother II. This is because I went home to Bicol for the holidays and also to see for myself the situation that gripped my beloved province. Of course, there are no internet connections yet in Albay then, as the power was just restored (only in major towns and cities, not the barangays and other worst hit municipalities) around 2-3 days before Christmas. This is not to mention the internet connection woes in Asia around the later part of December through the 1st week of January.

Anyhow, good that Brod Gene Villareal has already posted a report of the distribution as well as some first hand account of the devastation (copy of such report is herein attached). The Distribution of the relief goods and other donations in the affected areas was the culmination of Phase 1 of the "Tabang Bicol Project" (Tulong Bagyong Reming) of the Operation Big Brother II. We are now well on the way for Phase II which will now concentrate on rehabilitation programs and medical missions. At present, we soliciting for donations of medicines from among the different medical and pharmaceutical companies in the country (through my wife, a doctor, who is very much active in the project). I, therefore, come to you once more and seek help in coming up -- only if it is possible -- with donations of medicines such as antibiotics, antihistamines, multivitamins, antispasmodics, milk preparations, cough and cold preparations, and the like... Or maybe you can suggest means towards this objective or refer us to those who can donate medicines in the country. Rehabilitation programs will be concentrated to the brods and sis who were themselves victims of the calamity.

Brods and Sis were given first privilege to dig in and take whatever they need and want from among the donations. All of the brods and sis in the Bicol leg of the operation are all typhoon victims themselves. However, most of them took only a few as the rest totally gave up their privilege... everyone opted to help those who needed more.

Sainyong lahat, Dios mabalos saindo gabos asin maogmang bagong taon na pano ki pagasa...

BROD JAQ M. QUIÑONES, AUL'97A

(09198222637)

01/15/07

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