TO HELP MY PEOPLE, IT’S THE GREATEST GIFT I COULD EVER HAVE
And what most of you don’t know - is that Rosario’s only inheritance from her late husband was all of this land - that’s it. Despite living and working with dear Norman for me in the UK they do not live lavish lives and as you know, like many Philippine people, sends her earnings back home to her motherland. Such is the heart of the Filipino. May I just say - that heart, the heart of the Filipino and really the heart of humanity - I have never felt stronger than right here. I witnessed this first hand this summer, when we invoked “bayaneehan” on an emergency trip out here with our Foundation team and our very own local girl, our GSF Ambassador and former Miss Earth, Ms Angelia Ong, and the very talented and ever giving Conservative parliamentary candidate, artist and business genius Dean Russell. We came out in response to an urgent appeal to assist Raymond, a blind beneficiary of the village whose home was washed away in recent floods. For those of you not aware of bayaneehan - it means community
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES
supporting each other. I learned a lot that day. In the western world, I see wealthy Londoners sat in fancy restaurants with their families glued to their smart phones, reading about places like this and pitying people like you - but my learning is that, it is you that in some way should be pitying them - for here I have witnessed a sense of community, kindness and love for each other - that has gotten discarded and lost on the path of desperately trying to validate ourselves by the acquisition of material wealth. Here’s what I know - Material wealth diminishes the moment after you get it - Heart wealth grows daily. We are all supposed to live by “bayaneehan”, and whilst I can use my wealth to make a difference out here - you have all given me a gift of a different kind - that reminder, that a life worth living, is a life in service to each other. Anyway back to Rosario....So I asked her “are you in?” “Will you do whatever it takes?” She said “of course boss, anything, anything you want boss” ▶
Visiting the Philippines being in these people’s environment and seeing their day to day living was amazing. They are so happy with life and what they have they don’t care about what I don’t have. It makes me happy and sad at the same time as life has taken over so much that we can’t enjoy the small stuff anymore and sad because they haven’t experience anything more than that what is in the Village. It broke my heart to hear that the majority of the people in the Village has seen fireworks for the first time in their lives, It made me open my eyes to be more grateful in life and appreciate the small things more. There is need all around us and if we all just open our eyes, hearts and hands more we also can make a big difference in the world. Will never forget this trip was extremely humbling KARIEN VANDERMERWE
THE GREG SECKER FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER / FEBRUARY 2018
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