November 28, 2013 — THERE could never be such a touching moment this year when Kapampangans joined the world in reaching out to the devastated people in Visayas, crying for help in the November 8 onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Starting with the Archdiocese of San Fernando’s plea to forego Christmas parties and instead donate merry-making funds to the survivors in Eastern Samar, Leyte, Palawan and parts of Bohol, Pampanga’s various sectors –from business, religious, socio-civic, youth groups and students to the common Kapampangan — mustered all resources at hand to lend a helping hand in relief and rehabilitation efforts, proclaiming “it’s payback time” and loudly: “Pampanga loves Visayas! You are not alone…”

The provincial government was at the forefront, immediately creating the Pampanga Team of 130 volunteers, among them doctors, nurses, engineers and well-trained rescuers. The 26-convoy led by Acting Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda brought with it thousands of relief packs, medicines, tents, clothing, a water tanker and other essentials, aside from the P3-million aid, during a two-week mission that saw Kapampangans caring and sharing in Leyte’s severely affected far-flung villages.

While the Pampanga delegation extended aid to thousands of brothers and sisters in the Visayas, the private sector spearheaded by the Pampanga Chamber and Commerce and Industry Inc. and the Laus Group-run CLTV 36 took on the week-long “Lingap ng Central Luzon Para sa mga Biktima ng Yolanda” telethon, which generated more than P2 million in cash aid and several 20-foot container vans loaded with water, canned goods, blankets, medicines and clothing.

The Archdiocese of San Fernando, through its Social Action Center of Pampanga, launched the “Pampanga for Visayas/Palawan” or “Pampanga Multisectoral Partnership for Generation of Aid for Visayas/Palawan” movement, in a bid to muster massive short-term aid and long-term rehabilitation programs for the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Leyte, Samar and Coron in Palawan.

Together with the aid, the Church also held a day of prayer and solidarity last November 24 as a sign that the Kapampangan faithful are one in prayers and hope with the storm surge survivors.

Local government units like Sto. Tomas and Angeles City, among others, donated their Yuletide celebration budgets of P200,000 and P1 million respectively, for the rehabilitation programs in the ravaged Visayan areas. The Clark Development Corporation took the early initiative, extending its P1-million fund for help in the Visayas campaigns, as employees from various government agencies pitched in their share to help Visayas. Employees of the Laus Group of Companies generated some P240,000 from their own pockets for folks in the region. The police, army and air force in Pampanga also pitched in with their own “Lingap Visayas” drives. Even inmates at the provincial jail got in the act, skipping breakfasts for three days and pouring the equivalent amount to the Visayas campaign.

The three SM Malls in Pampanga — SM City Pampanga, SM City Clark and SM City San Fernando Downtown — are on with their own efforts to reach out via SM Cares and the SM Foundation.

SM City Pampanga has the “Adopt A Parol,” which aims to put up at least P3 million for housing units for the displaced in Visayas, while SM City Clark will aim to raise additional cash aid through its “Tree of Life” drive. Similarly, SM City San Fernando Downtown’s “Gives Back” campaign is ongoing to help Visayas get back on its feet.

“It is really time to give back, payback for what our brothers and sisters in Visayas and Palawan, like they helped us in our time of need during the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. We could all make this Christmas more meaningful, not only through the help we give but through prayers.

Truly, Pampanga loves Visayas. Let us all show them and make them feel they are not alone in this time,” shared Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Pampanga for Visayas/Palawan.