BISAYA KAMI

Many of you have heard the story of the dying starfish. For those of you who might have missed it; it goes something like this.
There was a horrific typhoon. Millions of starfish were tossed upon the beach where they were dying in the hot sun. Amid the carnage a lone figure was picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. A man came up to the starfish rescuer and said, " You are wasting your time. You can not possibly save all these dying starfish. Look at them. There are millions of them !" The young man just continued to toss starfish into the water saying, "I saved that one, I saved that one, I saved that one."
That is sort of the spirit of the "Bisaya Kami" organization. They are a small group of Filipinos and Americans based in Pittsburg California. Lead by Princesita "Percy" Fiscus and a dedicated circle of friends they take on almost Herculean tasks. This thriving little Filipino community club has held fund raiing events all year long. Then when a disaster strikes here in the islands they are there trying to help. During the terrible typoon and mudslide that devestated Lyte in 2006 they donated their clubs entire treasury. Early this year, they made another donation to a local orphanage( Casa Miani-Arvedi in Talay; see the photo). Admittedly their struggling little club does not have much to give, but in true Christian spirit they give all they have. If you would like to join Percy and Richard and their friends William and Tessie drop them an email at princesitaf@yahoo.com.
Bisaya Kami carries a lesson for all of us. No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. We can all do something. To borrow from my friends Diane Pool and her husband, "Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" The Christmas season is here. Save one "starfish"; sponsor a child in school, better yet sponsor an entire school or orphanage.
Be an Everyday Hero and give back a little