“I was buying medical stuff in Bambang, Manila, for a friend in Tacloban. As I was waiting for the stuff to be packed, the owner of the store, Triple S, started talking to us about the sad state of Tacloban.

 

When I was about to leave, she called me and handed me P2,000.

 

I asked, “Para saan po ito?” She answered, “Ibili mo ng biskwit at ipadala mo sabay ng mga gamot.”

 

It was so kind and trusting of her to do that. I asked for her name but she said, “’Di bale na.”

 

The store owner didn’t give me her name. To me, iyan ang totoong tulong. Giving and not wanting anything in return, not even recognition.

 

After I wrote about her on Facebook, someone messaged me her name: Ms Shirley Chen of Triple S Medical and Dental Distributor.

 

Ginggay Pajaro is a businesswoman.