BAYANIHAN SPIRIT

You might be wondering if you go to a place and see a house brought to another place, lifted by people, are they angry at the owner of the house or they were stealing it? You are wrong. This is what we call BAYANIHAN SPIRIT.
BAYANIHAN SPIRIT is manifested in helping one another during crisis. This s born out of camaraderie, friendship, neighborliness, or plain fellow feeling attitude. Damayan operates on the same basic of mutual help.
Let me share you a story about this BAYANIHAN.
Donna invited Embroy for a vacation to her Family’s farm in Antique. Without hesitation, Embroy prepared his clothes, bought his air ticket, and winged his way to the island of Panay.
Lush valleys, tree-covered mountains, and golden farmlands welcomed him to the province as the bus winded its way to the airport to Donna’s hometown. As soon as the bus stopped, Embroy got off gleefully then he took the hand of Donna’s mother and placed it gently on his forehead.
Tired from travel, Embroy slept early that night, watched by the stars and lulled by the cool breeze. So deep was his slumber that it was already midmorning when he awoke. A breakfast of dinorado, fried bangus, chicken adobo, vegetables, and fruits freshly picked from nearby trees awaited him in the dining table. After atching Embroy gulp his sarasara, Donna took him in the nearby stream where they took a dip.
The water was clear, and if not for his fear of leeches, Embroy could have spent the rest of the day there. Later, they went to town to buy food. On the way home, he was surprised to see a gathering of people. Men in their working clothes seemed to be pulling a house. Women-some of them sitting, others standing-were cheering the men.
Embroy became agitated, especially when he saw children running around. Some of them played with their pet dogs and frolicked with the older people He could not understand what was going on. Did these people get mad at the owner of the house and then decided to destroy it? But their faces, although sweaty and dusty, seemed to contradict his fear.
Reading his dilemma, Donaa explained that the people were doing a bayanihan.
“Bayanihan. I think I heard that word before,” Embroy said, his eyes narrowing as if digging deep into the recesses of his brain.
“For sure you know it.” Donna’s eyes brightened. “It is one of the virtues unique among Filipinos. It is helping a common cause without being paid. Maybe you get some nsacks afterward, but what is important is you join forces and finish the task. Sad to say, such virtue is endangered as the Philippine Eagle .”
“Now I remember. We had been taught about that in our elementary years. And you are right. Today we scarcely see Filipino helping one another. What we often hear on radio, read on newspapers, and see on TV nowadays are Pinoys trying to take advantage over each other-sometimes through nefarious means. Poor Pinoys,” he sighed.
“I will hold these for you.” Donna took the bundles from Embroy’s hands.” You better go and sweat it out with our kababayans.”
“That’s a good idea. But don’t laugh at me if I mistake a brawny leg for a house post,” Embroy smiled, knowing that a rewarding vacation awaited him at Donna’s place.
If we were just like the people, cooperating and united, we could lead this nation to a better future.