A show of gratitude

When one of our utility at the office was hit by typhoon 'Ondoy', we rallied to help him and his family. We passed the hat around and forgot it soon afterwards...until we all received this email:

Dear my family:

Ako po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat dahil sa tulong at suportang binigay po ninyo sa akin. Dapat po pala noon ko pa po ito ginawa. Akala ko po kasi sapat na ang magpasalamat ng personal. Yun pala hindi kasi po iba rin yung gumagawa ka ng isang liham para maipadama ko po sa inyo kung papaano po ninyo natutulungan at napasaya ang katulad ko.



Humahanga po ako sa kadakilaan ng inyong loob. Ika ngay parang isang bayanihan dahil kung ano ang bilis ng dating ng bagyo ay sya ring bilis ang dating ng tulong mula po sa inyo.

Maraming salamat at di po ninyo ako pinabayaan kahit noon pa man ramdam ko po ang mga taos puso ninyong pagtulong sa akin. Pagtulong na walang kapalit, walang kapantay ika nga kung one to ten, 10-10-10 perfect score.

Sir, Mam ang tanging maiipangako lang po ay ang Tiwala at Sipag na paglingkuran kayo na walang hinihinging kapalit ng sa ganitong paraan makabawi man lang po sa lahat ng naitulong po ninyo. Maraming salamat po at sana'y bigyan pa kayo ng pagpapala ng Diyos bawat isa sa inyo at sa ganun at marami pa kayong matulungan na katulad ko. Maraming salamat po.

To say that we were surprised was an understatement. We were touched by his appreciation. With the help of his wife, he had drafted the email and sent it via her yahoo account, probably via an Internet cafe. The email had been the first thing that most of us had read that day. You can bet that it set us off to a good start.

To think that most of us had given only what we could spare, not really thinking about the difference it makes to those who are really in need. This reminds me never to forget to count my blessings and to remember that despite the difficulties that I encounter, that I am probably better off than most of my countrymen.

And so I thank God. :-)