Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society Inc. (FICWSI) President Manjinder “James” Kumar, through the non-government organization’s filindihelpline outreach program, led a collaborative response when actor-comedian Long Mejia called out for help in behalf of his fellow residents in Brgy. Pungo in Calumpit, Bulacan.
FICWSI board of directors Mandip Singh, Gumz Singh, and Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple Manila head Jhatedhar Chainchal Singh, alongside Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple Manila President Paramjit Singh, accompanied Kumar in the relief operations.
Kumar is Chairman Emeritus of Khalsa Diwan Indian Sikh Temple Manila.
Malasakit Movement, headed by Asec. Celine Pialago who is the spokesperson of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Philippine National Police Provincial Office of Bulacan, joined Kumar’s filindihelpline effort dubbed “REKTANG MALASAKIT HELPLINE.”
The trio bayanihan, alongside Long Mejia, did a walkathon relief distribution across different sitios in Brgy. Pungo, giving out food packs to over 3,000 family beneficiaries. Kilometers’ long queue of chairs and tables placed in front of residences were set up in observance of social distancing as help was farmed out.
Residents expressed joy and sentiments of thanks as the walkathon relief distribution went by.
FICWSI’s filindihelpline has been very active in extending assistance and help right from the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. It started with the “HELPLINE FOR THE FRONTLINE” as Kumar distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to various hospitals and police units. Then as the lockdown lingered on, “HELPLINE FOR THE HUNGRY” was activated to distribute relief food packs to different communities across cities and provinces.
Consistent with filindihelpline’s slogan “Together For A Cause,” Kumar believes that collaborations intensify and make more efficient the capability of extending help. This paved the way for FICWSI’s partnership with various entities, first of which was with The Philippine National Police (PNP), in the organization’s Adopt-A-Family Program and the Rektang Bayanihan of BGen. Sermonia of Police Regional Office 3; with Pialago’s Malasakit Movement; and other concerned organizations.
“I’ve stared at faces of desperation; every single one of these faces enflames in my heart the yearning to find ways to be of help. A smile of gratitude inspires me to continue the quest we’ve started. I’m happy that Malasakit Movement, Rektang Bayanihan, and other entities share this passion that I have. Together, we fill in the need,” Kumar shared.
After hours and kilometers of reaching out to the indigent residents, the triumvirate bayanihan team proceeded to the office of Calumpit, Bulacan Mayor Jessie P. de Jesus, for a courtesy visit and the maiden donation in relation to filindihelpline’s latest endeavor to “fill in the need” that is “HELPLINE FOR ONLINE SCHOOLING.”
Kumar, inspired by some local government unit executives, veers his attention to responding to the need to equip students from marginalized families with tools for online learning—a growing demand as the pandemic continues.
During the courtesy visit, REKTANG MALASAKIT HELPLINE turned-over to Mayor de Jesus five laptops that would help in the mayor’s efforts to assist the online learning of indigent students in his community.
As of press time, Kumar, through FICWSI’s filindihelpline, is busy preparing to respond to the predicament of some students—abandoned children living in an orphanage in Laguna who are in danger of not being able to study this school year due to the lack of access to online schooling tools.
Know more about FICWSI’s efforts on Facebook. Follow @FICWSI.
1 comment