Shattered
        On November 30, 2006, Bicol, particularly the Camarines Sur and Albay Provinces was struck by a super typhoon “Reming”. “Reming” caused an extensive damage to the entire Bicolandia, leaving bicolanos badly shaken and brokenhearted.

        What is tagged as the country’s ‘Maogmang Lugar’ surely almost lost its smile when the storm passed entirely over Naga, leaving the usually bright place with gloom, shattered homes and broken dreams. The typhoon did not only smash up the physical façade of the city but more depressingly, the morale of the dwellers in it. Same thing with what happened to most areas of Camarines Sur and Albay. Albay particularly, wasn’t only covered with darkness. Literally, it was covered with mud that drowned and burried hundreds of bodies; huge rocks that destroyed homes; a sea of sand that buried Albay’s terrain and the incessant pouring of rain that swept the livelihood of most Albayanos.

        After decades since a super typhoon last hit the region, it was a big struggle for the Bicolanos to eventually rise up once again and face the coming days, specially these times when living gets even harder day after day. What used to be a matter of worrying for the ‘children’s future and education’ was ironically, heightened to “what will be served on the table for dinner”, or “where are going to sleep tomorrow?” There is a pull of uncertainly having severed bicolanos.

        For a few days, rising up wasn’t easy and moving on was simply impossible, specially for some who did not only lost their homes or livelihood, but the deeper torment lies from the fact that the tragedy took a love one or a family member away. Add to it the more disheartening fact that the tragedy happened a few days before the supposed-to-be happiest season of the year, Christmas.

The Mission
        It was a dreaded time of enormous agony. A time when everyone seemed to stop living. It was the time when the best thing needed was a brother that would offer encouraging words, a sister with a tender smile, and a friend with a little something to give.

        Those are the driving force why Lisam came up with the idea of organizing an outreach event. The need to help those who were hurt and crushed, the yearning to be in solidarity with other victims, the desire to reach out to the needy. The dream to help is embedded on the understanding that all hardships, though impossible to conquer, can be alleviated through joining of hands and helping each other. This is the very essence of what is stated under one of the Mission Statements of Lisam Enterprises, Inc., - to support and initiate outreach programs that will benefit members of the community where LISAM operates. But this time, Lisam wouldn’t want it to be just a statement; Lisam wants it materialized.

        In line with one of the missions of Lisam – which is to support and initiate outreach programs that will help take away or at least lessen the sufferings of the Bicolanos, the management thought that the tragedy brought by Reming was the best time to help. However, serving others wasn’t that easy, since Lisam was itself a victim of the said disaster. In order to help out efficiently, Lisam also needed some help as well.

        It is also declared under the mission statement of Lisam to provide members of the LISAM family with the best possible opportunities for professional and personal growth. This is one thing that the management did not fail to remember, especially because Naga was also badly hit by the typhoon. Truth is, Lisam itself was wounded, but what greatly mattered were the needs of the Lisam employees, the Lisam family.

        During the Goodyear Philippines Dealers’ Conference on December 5, 2006, Lisam’s Chief Executive Officer Leah Andrea S. Soriano thought that it was a great oppurtunity to air the plan of holding a relief-giving program that shall benefit her fellow Bicolanos. She also came up with the idea of asking for the support and financial assistance of the Goodyear Philippines community, since Lisam’s capability of funding the event would be fairly limited. With that in mind, Ms. Soriano then, took the courage to speak with Mr. David Joseph Morin, current president of Goodyear Philippines, who was kind and sympathetic enough to make the matter known to all attendees of the conference.

        Luckily, the Super Typhoon Reming was the first thing that was discussed during the conference, achieving support and back -up from everyone present at the conference.

        Soon enough, it was not only Lisam and Goodyear Philippines who emerged eager to help. Some institutions and private individuals such as HH Astro Sales Corp., FL Suns Corporation; Hot Peppers Auto Club (Naga and Legaspi Chapter) headed by its founder and one of Lisam owners Leo Andre Soriano and HPAC Legaspi Chapter President John Emil Marquez and Naga Chapter President Mark Mustera; Mr. Norman Agojo; Suzuki Philippines; Mr. & Mrs. Ramon Uy of Manzihing Enterprises; Ms. Linette Cu of Peñafrancia Tours; Caleb Motors and some of Ms. Soriano’s personal friends commit to help in the best way they could.

Preparations

        The plan was immediately implemented, through the initiative of by Ms. Soriano and supported by friends, participating institutions and the entire LISAM family. Once again, the different departments of Lisam Naga, from the Administration and Finance, Sales and Service Department, Nissan Naga and Lisam Goodyear Servitek seemed to move as one, to meet the demands of the preparations for an outreach program. With the needed support received, the next consideration was to come up with relief items that shall best respond to the most immediate needs of the typhoon victims. The fund gathered were used to purchase canned goods, rice, instant noodles, bar soaps, bath necessities, biscuits and many other things that were stuffed in a large pail.

        The dates and venues chosen were Del Rosario, Naga City on December 15; Guinaban and Gatbo, Ocampo, Camarines Sur on December 16; Sto. Niño, Calayucay, Sto. Domingo and Legazpi City, Albay on December 17. The plan was coordinated with the Local Government Units of each municipality, making the whole preparation easier. The task of selecting the beneficiaries were also given to the government council since it is them who knows more about the people and the damages caused by Reming.

        The packing of the relief items was done on December 11 – 14 at the Lisam Naga Office, and was participated by the Lisam family, FL Suns Corporation, Ms. Roxy and Margie - representatives from Goodyear Philippines. In two days, everything was packed and all was set for the actual relief giving.

Gift Giving

        Del Rosario, Naga City. In cooperation with the Barangay Officials of Del Rosario, headed by Bgy. Captain Jose Peñas, 150 families from del Rosario, Naga City were the beneficiaries of the relief-giving program. The Barangay Council selected the beneficiaries according to which families need greater help.

        On the afternoon of December 15, the Lisam Team, along with Roxy and Margie of Goodyear Philippines, went to the Barangay Hall of Del Rosario, Naga City to meet the chosen beneficiaries and distribute the goods.

        It was one moment when everyone present at the activity once again saw the smiles that makes Naga the rightful owner of the title “An Maogmang Lugar”.

        Gatbo and Guinaban, Ocampo, Camarines Sur. The second day of the Bangon Bicolano Outreach Program was held at Gatbo and Guinaban of Ocampo, Camarines Sur. On this day, another institution - Caleb Motors, joined Lisam. A total of 643 families from Ocampo were given the relief goods. The whole activity went fine, with the recipients thankful for what they have received and the givers even more thankful that they were able to give.

        Albay. The third and final day of the outreach programs was spent in Sto. Domongo, Calayucay, and Legaspi, Albay. 591 families from the three towns were the beneficiaries of the relief goods. Albay is proven to have felt the worst from the wrath of Reming. It was due to the fact that on the first quarter of last year, Mayon Volcano was on the brink of eruption. A few months later, typhoon Milenyo came to the Bicol Region, bringing great disaster to Albay. Last November 30, at the height of Reming, Albay suffered not only from the strong winds and heavy rain. What came very quickly along with the typhoon was the Mt. Mayon mudflow that cost the lives of hundreds of Albayanos.

        The road going to Albay and Albay itself was a disheartening view to see. Indeed it wasn’t the same Albay that we Bicolanos and the whole world has known. The usually clean streets and lusciously green and beautiful nature was drastically replaced with tons of sand, enormous rocks and loads of garbage. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the chaos Reming wrought because the remnant of the tragedy is an efficient reminder of it.

Worthwhile
        The three-day activity was certainly a very exhausting experience for the people who worked behind it. The business operation of Lisam was somehow sacrificed and was given lesser priority to give way to the outreach program that required people to facilitate the event. The actual distribution of relief items was energy draining. Going to the field and getting in-touch with the recipients was not easy, with all the hassles of traveling, the unsecured roads of the still not yet recovered towns and the risk of acquiring health infections from the vagaries of the weather and the calamity stricken places.

        But if we think about it, the money and the objects given were all material things. The priceless thing, though, was the simple satisfaction of receiving every smile from the recipients and the elated feeling of having to hear ‘Salamat Po’ or ‘Merry Christmas’ was more than enough to make the facilitators sigh, smile and realize that everything was worth, the risks and the effort.

Bouncing Back

        The tragedy of Reming was something that is not easy to forget. The properties and especially the lives that were lost will be a reminder that life and an possessions are fluting, and can be lost anytime. But we Filipinos are survivors. Living in a country like ours is like living in a reality show like the Survivor Series, with all the danger, the tests and instabilities that surrounds us. We have suffered from the worst, and yet we are still here – alive, geared up and in a fighting mood.

        If there’s one thing that we Filipinos can be proud of, it is our ability to smile despite the pain, to laugh off the hardships, and to bounce back from every tragedy. Most importantly, we Filipinos, no matter how badly hurt and , will not hesitate to lend a helping, Yes, we never get tired of sharing.

        If we think about it, maybe that’s the reason why despite the odds, we are still here.