By LPJ
It appalled me. Watching videos and pictures of paraplegic and sick children lying on the beach, seated on the sand to build sand castles, splashing water from the foamy waves with squeaks of delight, negotiating the gentle motion of the ocean close to shore, volunteers carrying physically challenged children in their arms to touch the waves, the lame breast stroking the currents as they sat in shallow water — all these accompanied by and under careful watch of Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) Brothers in Naga City, Philippines. While I teared up, my heart filled with joy and gratitude that my family charity called JMP (Jacob-Manuel-Pandes) could help make this happen with its modest contribution.
Photo and video shared by Bro. John of MOP
JMP Team after the food distribution event — Photo by Melodee (Karen) Pandes Isaguirre)
A humble donation made a whole world of difference to these abandoned children brought under the care of a facility run by foreign and local Catholic Brothers whose mission is to serve God by helping and caring for the abandoned and homeless elderly and sick children.
This rare excursion for MOP residents, coordinated by MOP administrator Bro. John under the guidance of MOP Superior Bro. Phillip, happened the weekend after Easter, after our JMP sponsored food distribution of rice, canned goods, noodles and vegetable to 80 poor families from the poorest barangays (barrios) of Naga on the Saturday before Easter, and in celebration of Jesus’ glorious resurrection, an Easter Joy Lunch for MOP residents and Brothers after Mass the day after (Easter Day). Both events were held at the MOP facility in Cararayan, Naga, a compound that houses 85 elderly men and women, paraplegic and mentally ill children.
Missionaries of the Poor is an international religious order founded in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung, the son of Chinese immigrants in Jamaica. This international order serves the poorest of the poor in nine missions around the world. In the Philippines, it maintains two facilities, in Cebu and Naga City. As in their other established missions, besides caring for the abandoned elderly and children, they also visit indigent families in the poorest localities, bring them food and medicine, and offer them pastoral care and teachings. Their work and care rely heavily on donations from families, the community and businesses.
I cannot say enough of the immense joy our JMP charities bring, to the recipients as much as to our JMP Team. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am to my family members/relatives who make sacrifices to travel from their far-away provinces or cities to participate in these heartwarming events; or relatives in Naga who give up their core family celebrations to join in the charities. I cannot say enough of how I feel as I watch all the proceedings of these events through my nephew Chito Pandes’ roving camera, mesmerized by the cheerful faces of my Team members as they go about helping to serve the elderly, the children and the poor families. I cannot say enough of how moved I am to see the little kids in our families eagerly holding food or lunch or drink in their tiny hands and bring them to the waiting elderly and sick children. I cannot say enough of how I long to be there myself, as I sit in front of my computer in California, observing the overwhelming love and kindness shared by good hearts with God’s beloved ones, the poor, sick and disadvantaged. I cannot say enough of how much I thank God for allowing us the opportunity to serve Him by helping and serving His beloved ones.
Sometimes, we do good deeds because we seek rewards. Sometimes, we do them just because we love and have the compassion and desire to share the blessings we have been so generously given. Sometimes we do them because we ourselves need back the blessings, perhaps equal to spiritual rewards. Maybe we do them because we see others do them (as might be the case with little kids). Sometimes we do them simply to please God.
This year (our second year of JMP), we had more family members/relatives travel to Naga for our charity events. As I often say to my relatives, the bonus gifts from God are the cheerful moments of bonding among kins most of whom have not seen each other in a year or, at the most, seen each other only once a year. There is so much joy in these gatherings that somehow makes the occasion like a happy reunion. While this might be secondary to our JMP mission – it is the strengthening of this bond that gives impetus to the intent and efforts to pursue the prime goal of our family charity. I thank the good hearts of our JMP Team.
Special thanks to Joseph San Diego Manuel for handling our finances and performing tasks so necessary to our events in Naga — to our Manuel matriarch Auntie Rosie Manuel Cruz for her constant support and advice — to Chito Pandes (with wife Benita’s help) for being a strong initiator and motivator in the pursuit of our JMP goals — to my siblings Tzetzu Pandes (and wife Rorie) and Chichi Pandes Gordoncillo (and husband Dodong) for their strong participation at charity events — to Hazel Pandes Gile (and husband Larry), Karen Pandes Isaguirre (with Bobit’s help), Monette Cruz Valencia (and husband Bong), Siegfrid Pandes (and wife Gerlyn), Maab Manuel Mabalot and all their families — Victor Manuel, and the many cousins, nieces, nephews and grand kids who bring their smiles and helping hands to our charity events — and of course, to my son John Stanley Jacob (and wife Natasha), my daughter Joy Jacob Rosenburg (and husband Matt), and my grandson Eliott Nathaniel Jacob, for allowing and supporting me in my passion for charity work in humble ways.
Praise God, too, for the devotion and selfless work of the Missionaries of the Poor.
In God’s grace, all that we do is for His glorification.
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