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MANILA, Republic of the Philippines -- The idea behind the word "goodwill" is to offer positive thoughts or actions toward another. In many countries around the world where the basic needs of survival are hard to come by -- like clothes, clean water, and even food -- goodwill and hope are words that take on a different meaning. In a country where living is a struggle in some places, Goodwill can create hope.
Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force are delivering tons of toys, clothes, baby items and essentials to different locations here and in Angeles City, Philippines, this week during Operation Goodwill 2009.
Operation Goodwill began in 2003 after Okinawa-based service members participating in a training exercise with the Philippine Armed Forces decided to bring holiday cheer to the children and families they had seen while here. By that year's end, they and their families had collected toys and donations for the first of what is now seven holiday deliveries. Since then, more than 130,000 tons of clothes and toys have been donated, boxed and delivered either directly to children or through the supporting staff at orphanages and hospitals throughout the Philippines. This year, 530 boxes containing everything from toys to shoes and baby items are being hand-delivered by American and Philippine Marines and sailors.
The location Operation Goodwill visited today was the Sandiwaan Center for Learning in the Smoky Mountain Permanent Housing area. With 200 children inside the learning center and many more milling outside, American and Philippine service members opened the cardboard boxes marked "Toys" that had been shipped from Marine Corps bases in Okinawa, Japan, to assist Santa Claus played by Master Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Haggins, in passing them out.
The Sandiwaan Center for Learning was established in the mid-90s to fill the urgent educational needs of scavenger families in Smoky Mountain and surrounding squatter areas. Today, the Sandiwaan Learning Center serves around 600 young children and manages learning groups for out-of-school youth and adults.
On this special day, however, with the Philippine Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and a five-man detachment from the III MEF Band playing seasonal tunes, it turned into Santa's workshop.
"The real thing that you cannot pay for is the psychological lift," said Father Benigno P. Beltran, director of the Sandiwaan Center for Learning. "The things the Marines have done, collecting and boxing these things up for the children, it takes a lot work, I know. God will bless them."
This isn't the first time this year that Marines have visited here on a mission of good will.
Tropical Storm Ketsana, Typhoons Ondoy and Parma hit the Philippines in September, and October causing widespread damage and flooding. In a matter of days, Marines and sailors from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade arrived here by ship to provide humanitarian relief and post-storm recovery operations. During today's event, U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney spoke about those Marines in attendance.
"I'm thrilled to see them back. They came here a few months ago to provide assistance during the storms and when they got back to Okinawa, they remembered what they had seen," she said. "It's been a tough year, with the storms, but love and compassion has gotten us through."
One of the parents at the Sandiwaan event, Ronalynn Flores, who attended with her daughter, explained how life is not always happy in Smoky Mountain, but just seeing the children receiving Christmas gifts from Santa was rewarding.
"Their smile is big," she said about the children while making an ear-to-ear gesture. "My daughter was very excited."
She also said the residents of Smoky Mountain often don't have simple necessities, like clothes or even food. So, having toys, linens, and hygeine items donated to the community as a gift means a lot to them.
"The Philippines is a very poor country. In Smoky Mountain, the children have no food, no clothes and no toys -- only at Christmas," she explained. "The rich families have ham, spaghetti and other things for Christmas dinner. The poor families have no food for their table."
Since Father Beltran began working here 30 years ago, he has seen the area turn from what he calls "a garbage dump with people living in hovels" to a community living in ramshackle homes and in some cases rooms in built up apartment-like buildings. Clean water comes from one water purification location attached to the learning center, and the barefoot or sandle-wearing children play in the streets and alleys.
It's a very hard reality for these people, and to know that others care about them though they have never met or may not even be aware of their plight, offers hope.
"They are so happy," said Philippine Marine Sgt. Brigido Enriquez standing outside in the 90 degree afternoon heat and tropical humidity. "They want every day to be like this."
And like many young, proud military service members, regardless of nationality, he followed it up with, "We're Marines. We can go anywhere. We can do anything."
The truth in that statement was loud and clear in the excited shouts and laughter from every boy and girl smiling at the green camouflage-wearing Filipinos and Americans.
Tomorrow, Operation Goodwill travels to Angeles City for two events, one at the Holy Trinity Education Foundation in the morning and Children's Home of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the afternoon. One final event at Mary's Cradle Orphanage will take place Friday morning before the 26 Marines and sailors fly back to Okinawa, Japan.
| Date Taken: | 12.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2009 06:28 |
| Story ID: | 42826 |
| Location: | MANILA, PH |
| Web Views: | 784 |
| Downloads: | 419 |
This work, Operation Goodwill gives hope to children, families in the Philippines, by MSgt Chris W. Cox, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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