Woman 1

I was hospitalized for more than a month in a public hospital. Several tests were done on me to determine what caused my severe weight loss and difficulty breathing. Our pockets were drained and so my eldest daughter also sought financial help from different LGUs, especially when I was about to be discharged from the hospital. She also went here(to the mayor's office) and was given 3 thousand pesos.

After two months, I was discharged. My eldest daughter got involved in a road accident and died on the spot. And so here I am, seeking financial help for her burial.

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Middle-aged Man

I was a driver for a delivery company. I was involved in a road accident, and due to the impact of the accident, the doctor had to amputate my left leg. I am a father of three and a solo parent. Now that I have become disabled, I don't know how I will be able to support my children.

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Woman 2

I came here for my son. He was confined to the hospital for almost one month due to kidney failure. He needs to have a kidney transplant. I have been to different social welfare and LGU offices and some of them won't accommodate me because they said that they had already given me financial help, which is true because I had no one else to ask for help but them, so I went there not just once but many times over. I have four more children, and my husband works for a construction company. Now I am here hoping that they will consider my case and give me help with my son's medication.

These are just a few of the stories I've heard from people I've met while going back and forth seeking financial assistance. My heart ached as I listened to their stories. I couldn't think of anything to say to comfort them, so I just nodded and said, "Laban lang, pagsubok lang yan."

It also made me realize that, despite my circumstances, I am still fortunate. Despite my financial and emotional difficulties, my body is complete. I wasn't amputated or anything. My family is healthy because I always pray to God for it. As long as my family is healthy, I don't mind getting sick. It is excruciatingly painful to lose a family member. So my heart goes out to the mother who tragically lost her daughter in an accident. She is a strong woman because she managed to move on for her other children despite her condition. No parent wants their child to be buried 6 feet underground. For a parent, this is the most heartbreaking moment.

So I keep reminding myself that I have no right to question God about why I am in this situation because there are others who are suffering far worse than I am. I have no right to be upset or complain because I know that I am not alone, that He will always be there for me.

Life may be difficult for me now, but I know that this too shall pass. All I have to do is to enjoy life while I still can.

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Date Published: July 14, 2022

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