Mothers are like Superheroes: Bayanihan Para sa Mag- ina
November 24, 2013Advocacy, Child Care, Events and Workshops, Nanay Bayanihan, Typhoon Yolanda,
I remember this painful and unforgettable moment 14 years ago, when my parents separated. It was a very bad ending. The only things that my mother, brother, and I had were few pieces of clothing, a little amount of money, small bag of crafting materials, good education, and the strength that our mother taught us since we were kids. We left everything. I guessed it was okay as long as we were free from abusive people and we stood on our own keeping what's left of our own dignity.
We were confident that we would surpass that trial because our mother taught us to live a simple life, be street smart, be results-oriented, and never give up when trials come our way.
I remember the day when my mom called my brother and I for a heart-to-heart talk. She said, "Mga anak, magsisimula ulit tayo. Pag-usapan natin kung ano ang gagawin natin."
It was a rocky and stormy journey but we were able to surpass all the obstacles to stand up and pick up the pieces. We started our new life by making a living though crafting. My brother was very young then, and I was thankful that he didn't give-up. He finished his studies as a college scholar and had a chance to work as a nurse abroad. We were strong because our mom taught as well.
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| Courtesy: etsy.com |
Our mother's love and strength kept us moving forward. We never looked back and lived in the past. We started to live a quieter life, a life full of love amidst all odds. I appreciated all the things that our mother did for us when I became a mom.
I am sharing this because IT IS POSSIBLE TO START FROM SCRATCH. I am thankful that God gave me a supermom!
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| Courtesy: fun-gallery.com |
But for moms who lost not just material possessions but their loved-ones too was a different story like what happened to the the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.
It's not easy for them to recover. It would take time to forget what happened and grieve for their lost neighbors, friends, relatives, and family members. They would not forget the trauma and pain they've been through.
It is still in the news. We could see heartbreaking stories of mothers who would do everything in the best of their ability for the love of their children.
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| Courtesy: creativetryals.blogspot.com |
But God moves in mysterious ways. He sends people who could help ease their pain and burden unexpectedly like what happened to us during our tough times. It is nice to know that there are mothers and medical workers who give their time, resources, and their own breastmilk to help mothers and kids who are in need. They are busy rearing their own children and taking care of their families but they still manage to serve their brethren. Knowing this makes me proud to be a mom! Mothers are indeed superheroes in their own special way.
I am inspired with the group Bayanihan Para sa Mag-ina. This is a project aimed at supporting mothers and protecting infants and young children during disaster situations. Bayanihan Para sa Mag-ina is a Unified Action for Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies.
It is a group of Filipino medical volunteers (Kalusugan ng Mag-Ina, Inc.), public and private hospitals, and mother support groups (L.A.T.C.H., Mommy Sense, Mommy Bright Start, Breastfeeding Pinays, Kaya and Arugaan) initiated support to the Philippine government to:
1) promote the IYCF-E strategy based on expert recommendations and previous experiences from Typhoon Ondoy, Sendong and Pablo
2) unite and mobilize the existing mother support groups across the country
3) ensure the cold chain transfer of pasteurized human milk to populations at risk
4) inform the public of the risks of not breastfeeding babies in low-resource crisis settings
5) inform the public about the dangers of formula milk donations as stipulated by the Milk Code
6) gather valuable data to guide IYCF-E policies in the country.
Yolanda (international name Haiyan) is the strongest typhoon that hit
the Philippines. The magnitude and urgency of needs overwhelm the
country’s emergency response system. In order to protect the lives of
vulnerable infants and young children, it is imperative to abide by the
Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) strategy recommended by the WHO. Because of this, the group is currently accepting donations in kind and volunteers aside from the National Breastmilk Donation that they are pushing through. Non-moms are also welcome to volunteer. Click this link to volunteer http://bit.ly/NanayBayanihan and read the posters below for details.
Hats-off to Nanay Bayanihan! To know more about Bayanihan Para sa Ina, go to https://www.facebook.com/bayanihanIFE. You'll surely be amazed on how they help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda all over the Philippines.
Information and photos about Nanay Bayanihan (Bayanihan Para sa Mag-ina) courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/bayanihanIFE.
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