DUBAI: A school teacher from the hinterlands of Paluan in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, who has joined the Filipino diaspora, has come up with her own little way of helping the Mangyan indigenous community in her place – and it’s worth emulating.
“Namimili po ako ng piso piso hanggang Dhs5 dirhams kada-Biyernes at kapag naka-ipon na po ako ay ipinapadala ko sa Paluan,” said Corazon Tarcena, office worker in Dubai.
“Masaya po akong madaming ngiti ang aking naibibigay sa pamamagaitan ng munting initiative ko,” she said, having just recently sent four care boxes of used clothes that will go to students of the school she had taught in and their relatives.
(I buy used clothes from Dh1 to D5 and when I already have enough I ship them to Palauan. I am happy to be able to bring smiles to faces through my initiative.)
Tarcena, who is barely making Dh2,000 and renting a space in Satwa, said Mangyan farmers are now able to tend to the land because of the long-sleeved polo shirts she has sent.
“Tuwang tuwa po sila at may mga request pa na sa susunod ay kung pwede may kumot,” she said. (They were so happy and even requesting if it is possible to also send blankets next time.)
