Over the years we have become accustomed to seeing relief goods given in times of calamity plastered with stickers announcing which national or local politician was so generous. Perhaps, that is just a part of our human nature.
Some 2,000 years ago, the author of the biblical Book of Matthew wrote recounting the Sermon on the Mount: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.”
Ordinary people do the same thing as the politicians. However, there is a line—although sometimes confusing—between a person saying “Get off your comfortable chair and do something to help” and “Look at how generous I am.” But we should give everyone—except maybe some politicians—the benefit of the doubt.
The news reports have been both depressing and uplifting. “‘We’ve Lost Everything:’ Fleeing Volcano Means Losing Livelihoods.” “More than 20,000 children evacuated from the ‘danger zone.’” “Twelve towns, two cities in Batangas under mandatory evacuation.” “SM holding medical mission in Taal evacuation centers.” “Groups saving stranded animals near Taal Volcano.” “Over 2,000 volunteers sign up for Taal Volcano relief work.”
Each year the United Kingdom-based Charities Aid Foundation publishes its World Giving Index using data gathered by Gallup, and ranks over 140 countries in the world according to how charitable they are. The results for its 2018 survey might be surprising.
The index measures the answers to these questions: “Which of the following three charitable acts have you done in the past month—Helped a stranger who needed help, donated money to a charity or volunteered your time to a charitable organization.”
Indonesia ranked first in 2018 because of the willingness of its people to donate money and time. Australia came in second primarily because its people give money but not time. The United States—usually at first or second—came in fourth. However, the US is a strong leader in the category of “Helping a stranger.”
In 2018, the Philippines ranked number 89, alongside Pakistan and Bolivia. Our ranking in the category Helping a stranger came in at 102, “Donating money” at 117, but for “Donating time” at number 39.
We would like to think that the low score for helping strangers is that most everyone in the Philippines is not a “stranger” being connected by blood, marriage, affinity, or geography. The low score for money might be because we do not donate on a regular basis.
However, the survey might miss an important Filipino characteristic that in times of trouble we do pull together. “Philippine grandma sews face masks for Taal Volcano evacuees.” “Santo Tomas, Batangas: Street vendors give up a day of their income to feed the evacuees at the PUP.” “Man in GMA, Cavite, handing out free masks to Caviteños affected by volcanic ashfall.”
The Philippines may not rank as high as other nations on the World Giving Index. Nonetheless, during times of calamity—despite all of our missteps—our bayanihan spirit is still alive and well.