WOMAN OF THE HOUR

                        WOMAN OF THE HOUR                   
(BACK-TO-BACK WITH KAAKIBAT’S FOUNDING)

by Bradford A. Villamar
Contributor – Madrid, Spain

The story begins here.

Left unschooled. Shattered clothes. Empty stomachs. Sluggish, frail and weak. Innocent ones fleeting around like butterflies along the streets.

What future awaits them? Who can help make their ends meet? Who can bring their dreams into reality?

She had seen all these before she left. Leaving her country with such scenarios like children living on their own was really painful for her. She wished to help but she couldn’t give them all. She wanted to share but it’s not all enough. She wanted to change their lives but how could she possibly realize this if she’s only one wing and empty hands?

Now that she’s in Madrid, she remembers these innocent kids in our own native land. In her heart and mind, all she wants to do is to help out these kids alleviate from their sufferings, from being left unschooled, and from having hungry stomachs. Before, she had wanted to sponsor even just one child.

One fateful night came. In her dream, these children were whispering into her ears that they need her help. Her heart was moved and her mind thought that it’s time to help out these children. She finally realized that since she had a circle of friends here in Madrid, the efforts and resources could be multiplied in order to realize her passion to help and reach out for others and eventually change their lives.

She is blessed with many good friends here in Madrid. With this simple step, she was able to win her friends to help these children in the Philippines. From there, she was able to form KAAKIBAT Madrid Chapter with a noble cause to bring unschooled children and experience the benefit of learning and mingling with other children in schools. She believed that the little amount shared by each member could change lives of children in our own country, and eventually change the lives of the whole family and the country at large.

The group was able to sponsor one student last year given by ANCOP, another noble group here in Madrid which aims to help out others, too, particularly in our own country. And this year, Kaakibat can extend help to more children. Since members have been so willing to help, the group decided to bring their unused garments and personal effects for a cause. Everyone participated in the Garage Sale in order to come up with more funds in order to sponsor more and more Filipino children who can’t afford to go to schools due to poverty. 

Kaakibat International Compass

The passion to help emanated from what she had seen before she left our country.

Founded last year, Kaakibat is a noble organization, with its plight to help the less fortunate Filipino children. The strength of the communal drive for the common good of the less privileged young ones lies the foundation of this organization. Its cause, goals and dedication are based on shared values.

It also presents how the organization functions to raise funds for the maintenance and propagation of its mission by providing for the education of the less fortunate Filipino kids.

Kaakibat is not a sectoral organization. In fact, it is an open group that invites anyone with volunteerism to awaken the weakening hope of these children by creating a bright future for them through education.

Goals

By 2015, Kaakibat Madrid has already sponsored 100 less fortunate Filipino students. It has transformed the lives of the Filipino youth by ways of honing and inspiring them to pass on to others the opportunity given them as they also share their acquired education, knowledge and skills in the future. It also has reached out worldwide to any individual with the same belief that every individual has the right to education. It has touched the lives of both the beneficiaries and benefactors of the organization in an optimistic and heart-warming experience.

The woman of the hour

This is a sure step for a woman likeLindsay Grajo Gatdula to bring change in the heart of these Filipino children. With the strong support of multitude friends benefactors, men and women here in Madrid, her mission and passion to reach out for others continues.

This woman of the hour finally shared, “It’s such a great feeling to help others in dire need. For me, when I help, I feel the seventh heaven!”

ONCE IN A LIFETIME LOVE

Lyrics: BAV

Melody & Vocals: BOV

I

A flicker of hope

A star that brightens

A light that shines

A love that grows in my heart

When our eyes met alas!

II

Each day grows a seed

Of love deep within my heart

Your voice makes me enliven

Your shadows captivate me

You take my breath away!

CHORUS:

This love we have

A once in a life time love

I keep on living

Battling with the world

This once in a life time love

Will never cease until the very end. 

III

In this perfect time we’ve met

Loving unconditionally

You are my forever

I never ask for more

‘Coz this is a once in a life time love.

BRIDGE:

This once in a life time love

Be there till the end...be there till the end...

"No Te Vayas, Por Favor"

Please, don't leave!

Every time this line captures my mind, it makes my heart melt and feel that they are crying in pain. Much as I would like to stay but here comes an opportunity I have to face, a battle I have to win.

Please, don´t leave!

It’s been so many countless days and nights thinking about the offer. The lure of working in a strange land knocked my door. The opportunity came unexpectedly. “Shall I grab it now or something better awaits me here?” I was so perplexed that time but thinking of leaving them made me so undecided to accept the offer. But everytime I see them in my dreams sighing, “Please, stay and don’t leave us” made me outspoken for a moment.

Please, don´t leave!

How could I leave my family whom I call my own? My two lovely kids Godley and Dyreen who are always my source of joy, strength and inspiration? My friends who have always been there through my ups and down, through my most desperate moments and triumphs? 

Please, don´t leave!

How could I bid goodbye to my beloved profession? I had a good job at Saint Louis University (Baguio City). Every day was a happy day at SLU LES. Dealing with brilliant and bubbly kids really made my day. They learned and I also learned. Knowledge didn’t only come from me as their mentor but they, too, had a lot to share during our daily engaging discussions. 

Please, don´t leave!

How could I say farewell to my well-loved journalism club? I always loved teaching my writers how to craft beautiful stories that reflect life and beauty... stories that could melt the hearts and transform the world for a better change. I would never forget the heart-pounding and nerve-wrecking scenarios waiting for the results of winners in the writing competitions from the local to the national level we had participated in with my brilliant scribblers. We won some. We lost some. But the lesson learned was more important than the laurels reaped for I had instilled in them the power of the pen that could bring positive influence to the readers. Winning is just a plus factor and their experience counts even more. 

Please, don’t leave! 

My conscience spoke not to leave. But to face new experience and opportunity challenged me to accept the offer. It’s something to prove how I could fare in another field, in a foreign land. And most importantly, my desire to give the best for my family hinted me to grab this opportunity.

Please, don´t leave!

While counting days before leaving the country, so many questions flooded my mind. Is this really the best option? Will I succeed in a strange land? Will I ever survive despite differences among people? What happens when I leave them?

Here I am in this strange land, braving new opportunities and battling day-to-day challenges in a strange place like Madrid. Its fluctuating economy is something that depresses a newcomer like me but this doesn’t hinder my plight as an OFW. The difficulty of searching for a new employment after losing the promised job was really frustrating and even came to the vantage point of quitting. But I am not quitting. Instead, these are just add-on to my experience. These would eventually make me a better person... a stronger person in a place which I don’t call my own. A brave soldier doesn’t lose hope. Beyond these complexities come greater and better opportunities when you surpass them, so they say. 

It was too difficult at first. New job, new challenges. Lost one, then found one. I am so thankful that BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) here in Madrid embraced me and answered my whispers to God during the many sleepness nights I had gone through. 

Yes, I have left my own home, my teaching job, my true friends but it doesn’t mean that I have forgotten what they have taught me. I would continue striving just as what they have instilled in me.

I have left my family but they’re always in me... in my heart and in my mind. I have left my kids, who until now, keep longing for my presence, but I promise, through prayers that we will be together soon by God’s grace.

I left. 

“But, you will always be my home and my own.”