MANILA, Philippines – If All Saints’ Day meant a day away from work for some, to others it was a chance to do a different, more fulfilling kind of work—giving help to those who need it without expecting anything in return.
At the Manila South Cemetery, four individuals became the picture of volunteerism—giving medical aid, helping authorities respond to fire and extending a hand to the elderly and persons with disability by carrying them in wheelchairs.
Allen Ortigosa. (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales/INQUIRER.net)
Allen Ortigosa: ‘It is hard but fulfilling’
Allen Ortigosa is a 27-year-old graduate of maritime studies and currently waiting for a job that matches his educational background. While at that, though, he found fulfillment volunteering for the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as an instructor and medic.
He said he initially joined friends for a day of training at PRC because he was “intrigued.”
The curiosity grew into a sense of purpose. A day of training was followed by two, three and more days.
“Until the time when we no longer come home because what we do is tough and fulfilling,” said Ortigosa. “It’s really fulfilling,” he told INQUIRER.net.
He now volunteers at PRC for “humanitarian services”. This year was his second to volunteer for duty on All Saints’ Day.
“When you see something in the news or social media, you sometimes say “I wanna help, I wanna help,” but in the time of need, you don’t actually do anything,” he said in Filipino.
He recalled the time he helped send a child to hospital then got a tap on the shoulder from a doctor who praised him for doing a good job.
“I was a new volunteer and being told I did a good job was something different,” said Ortigosa.
By the time INQUIRER.net found him, Ortigosa was chatting with other volunteers and PRC personnel. He said his fellow volunteers were good companions.
Louie Sangalang. (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales/INQUIRER.net)
Louie Sangalang: ‘It feels good to help. It’s unpaid’
Louie Sangalang, 48, landed a job as a human resource administrator at a private company, but he said he still gets a different high from being a volunteer.
He is one of the founders of the SEAL Technical Rescue Team in 1992, just after graduating from college. SEAL is a nongovernment organization specializing in firefighting, rescue operations and providing medical assistance.
Sangalang said volunteering for SEAL had been a passion of his even before he entered the police force and obtained a rank of police officer 3, equivalent to corporal in the current police rank system.
For personal reasons, however, he quit the Philippine National Police and is currently officer-in-charge of the SEAL firefighting team.
The fulfillment of being a volunteer is beyond words, Sangalang said. “Fulfillment? I can’t describe it but we’re happy here,” he said in Filipino.
Sangalang temporarily left the group in 2000 when he got married, but after several years found himself returning to what he said was his “first love.”
“It feels good to help. No payment,” he said.
Louis Ricafort (left) and Jeff Baccay. (Photo by Cathrine Gonzales/INQUIRER.net)
Louis Ricafort and Jeff Baccay: ‘It’s fun as long as we can help’
Louis Ricafort and Jeff Baccay are technically not volunteers, since they work for the Makati Action Center of the Makati City government.
They, however, did not hesitate to go the extra mile when they saw an elderly woman who had to be in a wheelchair because she was undergoing dialysis. Ricafort and Baccay patiently helped the woman in her wheelchair reach the spot near a relative’s tomb.
Ricafort and Baccay had been working for the city government of Makati for three and two years. They said ever since they joined the Makati Action Center, they had been doing chores for the elderly and persons with disabilities during All Saints’ Day.
“We’re enjoying it, having fun,” they said in Filipino. “Just go on. It’s fun as long as we can help.”/TSB