this is my first time EVER to join repacking operations in a larger scale!! And i moved like a soldier (i think so)!! Woohoo! i hadn't warmed up. i hadn't brought any extra shirt, yet i pushed through till i get tired!
i wen inside a very large warehouse where thousands of rice sacks were piled up. it is indeed amazing how different individuals united to donate food, especially rice. Filipinos, generally, could't live without rice.
i saw piles of boxes of canned goods all neatly arranged. i actually thought that there was nothing left to do. When i entered the warehouse, many goods were already repacked into sando bags. So i thought that there were not much work to do.
But i actually found lots to do and also learned something new!
STATION 1A
Rice is divided into smaller amounts, about five kilos each, and placed into a sando bag.
They are then tied and sent to Station 2.
rice from sacks to be repacked into smaller amounts
STATION 1B
Canned goods, coffee, noodles and others are grouped according to the desired contents.
They are placed into one sando bag.
The sando bag is then tied and sent to station 2.
STATION 2
The rice sando bag and the goods sando bag are packed together in one sando bag.
They are then sent to Station 3
STATION 3
The packaged items are place in sacks.
The sacks are properly tied and they are sent to the truck.
The truck would deliver to where the barges are, and the barges would deliver the sacks to Leyte
or to wherever the victims are.
Done! one package composes of canned goods, noodles, coffee, rice and others
i grabbed the opportunity to interview volunteers in the area. Some went there representing their school, some representing their offices, others representing their country (like the Koreans). Like me, a lot of volunteers came there for the first time. But there were also a number of them who kept coming back there since the start of repacking operations. There were military members, DSWD (Departments of Social Welfare and Development) facilitators, and individuals from the different barangays in Panacan area. i asked one barangay member if she doesn't mind leaving her chores and worries at home to help in the repacking for free, and she answered that she can't help it cause it's what needs to be done.
i met some students who, in spite of being uncomfortable with the task, moved and cooperated with others to do more. i felt like i actually was in a team building activity. You are surrounded with strangers but you need to deal with them in the most systematic way to achieve a goal as effortlessly as possible. Well, as for me, i didn't grasp the whole concept of repacking immediately. It took me some time. And it wasn't effortless. i felt so tired and sweaty. my hands were hurt and it was really such a hot Sunday. Yet, i wanted to send my love to Filipinos in need. i need to send them hope and concern. Sometimes, you really ought to see things in another perspective. i kept asking, "what can i do to reach out to them? How do i help them? i could never help them financially!" these questions led me to an examination of myself. Why did i come here to repack goods? Was is simply to fulfill the dictate of my conscience? i thought about that, but i knew deep in my heart, and deep in other volunteers' sacrifices that all these are not superficial show offs. If not everyone, a lot were sincere in their desire to help. Although, i admit, that i'm not sure if this is the best way to help the typhoon victims.
Anyhow, i met one energetic, clever, generous and artistic lady - ate Adora! She looks really young, yet she's already in her 30s. She was so trustful to me in sharing a bit of herself. She was a computer science graduate and she had a lot of experience in industrial work. She is good in creating concepts for designs and stuffs like that. She even gave me the names of companies that might probably allow students to conduct plant visits. She guided me during the time we were helping out other volunteers. She also taught me the value of every grain of rice. i actually gave her the title of a "rice advocate" (and yes, it was such a lame title). She told me that every grain should be valued because all these grains were intended to help out the victims and not just to be scattered on the floor.
Nevertheless, there are several criticisms on repacking:
1. there are lots of sacks of rice and lots of boxes of canned goods, why is there a need to repack? Why don't we give one sack and one box for one family?
2. Repacking rice is a sensitive task to carry out. Rice would be exposed to the repackers and they might contaminate the rice.
3. Due to repacking, lots and lots of sando bags are needed. When these thousands of sando bags reaches the victims, they would eventually have to throw it away. Thus, repacking may further lead to increase in solid wastes.
But there are also advantages in repacking:
1. Repackers create a sense of unity and humility in doing the task. The activity actually fans the flame of the Filipino spirit.
2. Repacked goods are sent into the site with a touch of love.
3. Upon receiving the packed goods, people would need not carry very heavy loads (like one sack of rice) to deliver it to their homes.
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