I am not talking about what is happening in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but rather on a more personal level.

Bayanihan is a filipino word for people in a community helping one another. It has been so engrained to us filipinos that this is a very palpable trait in our culture and something to be proud of. Some would go as far as to say that bayanihan is lacking in other countries especially in the predominantly individualistic society of prosperous western nations. 

From my experience I have to say that this is a misconception.

I looped a Rosary given by my uncle Luing on our car's rearview mirror for protection and guidance in our travels. I got this idea from my sister.

We had a minor car mishap during our mini-vacation to Door County. On our drive back to Liberty Lodge after dinner we had a lot of road hazzards coming at us. It was raining, dark, not sufficient street lighting, some pedestrians on one side of the narrow road, the route was unfamilliar, to make it worst the lodging house is situated on a sharp bend with 2 roads leading to it, one a small footpath, the other a driveway. Tom mistakenly took the first thus the car ending up in a ditch.

If this happened in the Philippines, solving this problem would be a walk in the park. Just holler at the nearest sari-sari store where the "tambays" (bystanders) usually are drinking their beer. A situation like this would be a welcome break from a nightly routine and even fun for these guys. There'd be a lot of kidding around and some sage advice as to the best way to get the car out. One concerted heaveho from willing and abled bodies, mission will be accomplished easily. Buying them a round of San Miguels (at P10 per bottle?), a more than enough treat.

But out there in the middle in America, there were no tambays. The road was isolated with cars whizzing pass by at 40-50mph. For a few seconds Tom and I stood outside looking at our problem helplessly. Before getting out Tom tried to drive in reverse but there wasn't any traction in the right wheel because it was hanging over a ditch (the left wheel was on an elevated footpath). So calling AAA or a tow truck were our only options. Or so we thought. 

Slowly people drifted in one by one. A young father, also a hotel guest, crossed the street to see if we needed help. He said had he almost had the same accident a few hours ago. Then the hotel caretaker. Some cars slowed down, drivers poking out their heads asking if we were alright and if we needed help. Before long there were a group of people volunteering to help us. Even a senior man in his late 70s.

One guy solved the problem of the non-existent but much needed traction by stacking under the car's right wheel a pile of firewoods (he and his wife were camping I suppose) he got from his truck. As the men were ready to push the car as Tom backed up, the guy's wife without any qualms stood in the middle of the road signalling the oncoming traffic to stop. And stop they did.

I couldn't know how to begin thanking these kind people for their help, there were no neighbourhood sari-sari store where I can get them beer. When I was profusely expressing my gratitude to mr. firewoods' guy and his wife (Tom later told me that he was from Brazil), he waved an oh-no-it's-nothing hand and told me, "hey, it could've been us," before he and the others rushed to their destinations.

To the good samaritans at Door County that night, kinasingkasing na salamat sa inyo (my heartfelt gratitude to you).

Hurricane Katrina Bayanihan

2 weeks ago our company of 400 employees was able to raise close to $15,000 for the gulf coast victims. Our boss matched it per dollar. That would be a total of almost $30,000.

Currently listening to: Gwen Stefani's "Cool"
Currently reading: Audrey Niffeneger's The Time Traveller's Wife
Currently watching: Documentary of Ernest Hemingway