The story of Ozamiz is begins with a long, rough ferry ride to reach our desitnation. We arrived early Tuesday morning, May 13, 2008, and met with our delightful host Dr. Leo Tago of HCDI. We were promptly transported to our hotel and then after a brief rest taken to the headquarters to begin assembling wheelchairs with the family member that would accompany the receipient. The plan was to assemble 30 chairs, fifteen in the morning and afternoon. Upon arrival we found the HCDI volunteers working feverishly on the chairs without hesitation or difficulty. This was a relief as we had just finished assembling over fifty the night before in Cebu city. After the normal introductions we began to pair off with recipient's companions when they arrived.
I watched as a young mother peered through the window of our office along with three young girls in tow. I opened the door and invited her to join me. She admonished the girls to remain outside and I respected her authority in that regard. Conversation was minimal but we both understood why she was there. The level of respect the Filipino people show Americans is heart warming. Her daughters were overcome with curiosity and she finally relented and allowed them inside to watch the excitement. As we were finishing up she explained to me that she had 13 daughters and that this chair was for her 14th child, her only son Joseph M. Alad-ad.
Our last day in Ozamis was spent visiting Barangays and some recipients of wheelchairs. At each of the six barangays we visited we had a formal ceremony with the community leaders, social workers, health workers and CHEs. To state it very simply, these people had very little. Unemployment was typically between 80 to 90 percent. Homes were built on poles to keep them above high tide or floods. Walkways were narrow and elevated, made of either concrete or wood planks on poles. Most were not passable with a wheelchair and some we were asked not to walk on for fear of them collapsing and us falling to whatever was below. Ugh. You don’t want to know where their waste went. Thank goodness for high tide or floods. Fresh water was piped to a central location with an old fashion hand pump. Here they bathed, did laundry (sometimes combined) and took water back to their homes.
In the mist of all of this these people were happy. Those who received the wheelchairs and their families were grateful. Their homes usually had a separate “bedroom” for the disabled person and a larger room (size is relative) which is where the family found some rest or relief and ate meals. One comment from many recipients was that now they could go to the toilet by themselves, giving back some of their dignity.
These people lived transparent lives and were not afraid to
ask for something they felt they had a need of. Unfortunately they saw us
Americans as having come with deep pockets and ready to meet whatever need they
had. One request we had was for a garbage truck, another was for digging
equipment and people to put in drainage in flooded areas. In both of these
instances we offered simple inexpensive solutions that they could do
themselves. You would have thought we were asking them to build the
The one thing that we could all agree on was the value of having wheelchairs. They continually thanked us and you could see the gratitude and joy on their faces. If I ask myself would I do this again, the answer is YES.
The last event of the day was the 12 hour boat ride back to
