IT WAS my good friend Steve Katigbak who gave me an SOS call to help in what ever way I could at the relief center at Pasong Tamo Extension in Makati, knowing I live a few houses away from 2314 White Space Bldg., where relief goods were being sent.

I immediately texted my friends. At the center, I helped pack canned goods, rice, instant soup, blankets, cookies, matches, water in plastic bags. Ninety percent of those I texted showed up and helped.

I was in the company of my southern friend Treena Cueva-Tecson, owner of Tambokikoys whole chicken inasal, who was our group leader, telling us what to put into the plastic bags as more relief goods poured in.

Families, teenagers, kids, achievers, students, many of Manila?s namedroppable women and men sat on the concrete floor while sorting out relief goods that even included mosquito sprays.

When I took a break, I saw a young boy who lives in Forbes Park. He helped load not one but three sacks of relief goods, which he carried on his back to a truck outside the center. I volunteered to help him but he said, ?Thank you, sir, but I?ll manage.? And he did. Wow!

That really melted my heart and got me teary eyed as I went back inside the center.

Dedicated and working for hours were the organizers of this instant relief center such as Monique Villongco, Margarita, and Cris Bonoan in behalf of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas.

Some of my friends who were unable to go to the center sent relief goods through their family representatives, but there were others who did not even bother to answer. Oh well, I guess they got stuck on treetops.

Dasmariñas relief center

There was also a relief center in Ecology Village, Dasmariñas. At the unit of Carmiña Carceller Monticon, shoes and clothes were sent which her group distributed to the needy. Anton Mendoza and I sent tons of shoes and clothes, so did the other unit owners in the village.

Lizette Cojuangco, Ina Ayala, Lizzie Zobel, Sharmila Hiranand (whose young son was at the center even before his mom arrived), Dr. Liaa Cojuangco Bautista, Carla and Al Tengco sent sacks of rice. The Tengco children, Amanda and Sandro, volunteered to help at the center for more than 14 hours. Business magnate Bonito Singson was also there with his cutie son Iñigo (?mini me? Bonito calls him) carrying plastic bags of relief goods. Also present were Lexi Berrenger, the Puyat girls, Cris and Butch Albert, Fe Rodriguez and her daughter Stacy.

At one point Monique Villongco needed more trucks or vans to deliver the goods. Fe immediately sent her vans to help in different evacuation centers.

Baby Cruz, Marisa and Choy Cojuangco, Maripi Muscat, Conkoy and Doody Tuason (whose jewelry shop near the center was like an ?aquarium?), Maricris Zobel, Karen Santos, Menchu and Bito Mantecon, Anton Mendoza sent sacks of rice and canned goods plus P20,000 for the next five days to Crickette Tantoco, who will use it for relief goods from Shopwise. It will then be distributed to Balay Center in Cubao, where Bledes Fores Legarda and her group took care of everything. Tessie Oca Prieto, Nini and Abe Licaros (whose son Sandro was at the Pasong Tamo White Space center to bring goods from his parents and help in the packing), Amado Fores, Renna Hechanova Angeles, Nimfa Bito, Maricris and Nando Vazquez Prada did a great job taking charge of the relief goods Maricris sent.

Liza Marcos and Governor Bongbong Marcos sent goods to White Space and a center in Quezon City, where Liza Marcos personally helped Mayor Sonny Belmonte and tons of people in distributing goods. Conchita Toda, Abba Napa (who just came from the airport and helped in the distribution of relief goods), Frances Lim, Nena Tantoco, Anton Huang, Menchu Tantoco Lopez, Kitkat Zobel, Pepito Albert, Pilar Martinez Miranda plus Lizzy Razon, and Vicki and Cristalle Belo donated goods, food and money.

Thank you so much for truly caring for the thousands of flood victims who lost everything, including members of their families.

It really showed that when it comes to helping those who are truly in need, there is no such thing as rich, middle class or poor. We are all one.

God bless the Filipinos, palanggas.