ONE of the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increase in unemployment rate worldwide. As social distancing and community lockdowns have been strictly enforced to limit the spread of the virus, businesses had to either contend with a diminished customer base, suspend operations for a couple of months, or close shop altogether.
The results were staggering. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment rate increased to 17.7 percent in April, the highest in 15 years, as the lockdown forced the closure of thousands of businesses. This is equivalent to an estimated 7.3 million Filipinos losing jobs.
For those who lost their jobs, their next thought process is understandably how to fend for themselves and their families. But there are those who still found the time and grit to care for others, their own troubles notwithstanding. Such was the case with Ms. Feby Baguisa. She used to work in ARY Speedremit, a former remittance tie-up of BDO, and who now lives in Muraqqabat Deira, United Arab Emirates. Like thousands others, Baguisa was an economic casualty of the pandemic, rendering her unemployed.
Despite her predicament, Baguisa still took the initiative of distributing daily meals to her fellow overseas Filipinos (OFs) who likewise lost their jobs because of the effects of the COVID-19.
Her efforts started at the onset of the pandemic-induced lockdown. Initially, she relied on the income from her husband for the preparation and distribution of meals which many unemployed OFs had come to expect as they queue up for the relief aid. The food donation became such a hit that even other nationalities lined up and became recipients of the free daily meals.
“These individuals are displaced, laid-off or even on a ‘no work no pay’ arrangement,” she said. “The meals somehow alleviate the plight of the day-to-day subsistence of our Kabayan in UAE.”
Eventually, outside help came in.
BDO Unibank took notice of her humanitarian efforts—dubbed as Project Ayuda—and supported her cause, as well as encouraged BDO Remit representatives in UAE to participate in the distribution of food packs to overseas Filipinos. Even non-Filipino companies joined the campaign and provided donation, including Alansari Group, Emirates Lotto, Khaled Alameri and West Zone Supermarket.
Baguisa’s food donation has already benefited some 400 individuals, composed mostly of OFs who were either laid-off, out of work or on a “no work, no pay” status.
“They are still trying and persisting to somehow find jobs and maximize all the opportunities available that would come their way,” she said. “The success of the campaign has exceeded our expectations.”
Baguisa also expressed gratitude to BDO’s participation in the campaign.
BDO is now encouraging its representatives from other regions to replicate Project Ayuda.
“Despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, we still want our Kabayans to enjoy Christmas. We hope to achieve that through the continuation and extension of Project Ayuda,” said BDO senior vice president and head of Remittance Geneva T. Gloria.
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Erica Sosing
September 14, 2020 at 7:27 pmWow! Ang galing po neto mamu wla po tlagang Ibang magtutulungan at magdadamayan kundi kapwa Pilipino din po.😊 As this trying times of our life we need to spread love, hope and happiness to everyone. Always be kind and ready to help especially those who are much affected by Covid19. 😊 God bless to all those generous people na wlang sawang tumutulong. BDO really find ways in helping. 🙏😊❤️
Lyka (mitra) Baqueros
September 14, 2020 at 8:33 pmKaya ang sarap po talagang maging pilipino kase natural na po sa atin ang tumulong kahit na tinamaan din hirap dahil sa pandemya.. ❤ at nakikita ito ng ibang private company kaya sinusuportahan ang mabuting ginagawa ng ating kababayan.. 🖒 salute po sa inyo.. ❤
Joyangelique Balleta
September 14, 2020 at 8:40 pmSa panahon ngayon kahit napakahirap ng buhay marami pa ring mga tao ang handang tumulong sa iba. Yan ang kailangan natinngayon ang pagtutulungan, kaya naman bilib na bilib ako sa mga taong katulad nila. Salamat din sa BDO at bumubuo ng campaign na ito. Marami po kayong natutulungan at sana marami pa po.
Antoniette Sanchez David
September 14, 2020 at 9:39 pmAng galing talaga ni bdo ww find ways talaga para tumulong sa mga kababayan natin malaking ang naiaambag nila sa panahon natin ngayon
Bessie Ramos
September 14, 2020 at 10:37 pmSana po ndi kayo magsaaa tumulong sa mga nangangailangan pa napabait niyo po godbless po sa inyo
Karen
September 15, 2020 at 1:19 pmSalute BDO dami nyo po ntutulungan lalo n sa panahon ng pandemic… find ways talaga lalo n sa mga nangangailangan
Arlyn billones
September 15, 2020 at 2:15 pmWow ANG galing talaga Ng BDO , 😘🥰
Sana Marami pa po kayong matulungan . God bless po sainyo 🙏😘☺️
Ceejay Rash Flores
September 15, 2020 at 2:17 pmIndeed the bayanihan spirit parin ang mananaig,kudos to all the people who helped,and to BDO thet always find ways to help our kababayan’s.God bless to all.
Reniella Virgoro Libot
September 15, 2020 at 2:18 pmAng galing niyo po wag po kayong magsawang tumulong sa mga nangangailangan po
Angelica Fulo
September 15, 2020 at 2:18 pmVery natural talaga sa mga pilipino ang pagiging isang matulungin. Kaya happy ako na naging pilipino ako. Sana mas iblessed pa ni lord ang mga ganyang tao. Saludo po ako sa inyo!
Laica Dealagdon Cailo
September 15, 2020 at 2:20 pmSana Po Isa ako SA matulungan niyo Po para SA anak ko pambili Ng gatas at diapers pati na din Po pagkain namin.. God bless you po and to your family and keep safe always ❤️❣️❣️🙏
Ayiisha Nares Quiddam
September 15, 2020 at 2:21 pmIt is better to give than to receive talaga, sa mga gantong pagkakataon lumalabas ang pagka matulungin nating mga Pinoy sa mga kapwa natin. Kudos! ❤️
Meng Sunga
September 15, 2020 at 2:21 pmSalute BDO! ❤️ BDO REALLY FIND WAYS INDEED! 🥰 GODBLESS! 😇
anna oroy
September 15, 2020 at 2:24 pmsuper thankful sa mga taong katulad nyo na handang tumilong sa iba at naway di po kayo mag sawang tumulong. napaka gandang inspiration ang mga taong matulungin lalo na sa panahon ng kahirapan.
KC B. Recto
September 15, 2020 at 2:26 pmSalute po! Sana mas marami pa kayong matulongan. More blessings guys.
Bernalyn Restrivera
September 15, 2020 at 2:27 pmGodbless BDO! Sana wag kayong magsawa tumulong sa mga nangangailangan 💟😇
Ana Mae Carmona
September 15, 2020 at 2:28 pmGod Bless po and Keep safe always, Sana dipo kau mag sawang tumulong sa ating kapwa gabayan nawa kau lagi ng ating mahal na panginoon🙏🙏
MA D EL
September 15, 2020 at 2:29 pmA good role model,marami Pong salanat sa psgtulong sa kapwa nating mga pinoy.Salute to Bdo and Ms. Baguisa.
Nelvi
September 15, 2020 at 2:30 pmNice . Good job maam godbless maa.
Myca
September 15, 2020 at 2:31 pmmaraming salamat sa mga talagang hero lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya..maraming salamat sa nag papa abot ng mga tulong, sanay pagpalain kayo at marami pa kayong matulungan.🙏🙏🙏
Naome Orellosa Daligdig
September 15, 2020 at 2:31 pmSa gitna ng kahirapan may mga tao pa rin talagang handang tumulong. Salamat sa mga taong handang magbigay.
Yan palad quisol
September 15, 2020 at 2:40 pmNakakatuwa at nakakaproud talaga maging Filipino kahit saan man mapadpad nagtutulungan ❤️❤️❤️
Salute po… God bless you more 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Jonna Cielo
September 15, 2020 at 2:45 pmKaya nakakaproud maging pilipino dahil sa mga ganito na may mabubusilak ang puso. 🖤
Jane Pisco
September 15, 2020 at 2:46 pmSa panahong kailangan na mag tulungan may roon talagang mga kapwa pilipino na nagbibigay ng tulong . God bless po sa inyo
Mary joy layan
September 15, 2020 at 2:46 pmAng sarap naman sa pakiramdam na makabasa ng ganitong article. Na kahit di natin sila mga kadugo andyan pa den ung malasakit nila sa ating mga kababayang pilipino . We salute po sa inyu sana maraming filipino overseas pa kayung matulungan .
Anarose Lucero
September 15, 2020 at 2:46 pmang dami pa din talagang mabubuti sa mundo kaya ang pagsaludo ko ky Ms. Baguisa at sa mga tumulong para magawa ang project ayuda kasama ang BDO..sa kabila ng katotohanan na pare parehong nawalan ng hanapbuhay pero ito sila gumagawa ng paraan na makatulong sa ating mga kababayan overseas,nakaka proud maging pilipino kapag nakakabasa ng mga ganitong kabayanihan..thank u so much BDO sa pagsisikap nyu na maipagpatuloy ang campaign na ito para sa ating mga kababayan.
marlyn miranda
September 15, 2020 at 2:51 pmnakaka proud nman ang ganitong mga pag uugali, si god na ang bahala sa mga kabutihan nyo,god bless you more …
Jane coleen reyes
September 15, 2020 at 2:56 pmWoow godbless po
Emily Ubal
September 15, 2020 at 3:03 pmAwesome naman very helpful tlaga , Ang generous tlga ng BDO .. Sana marami pa po kayong maitulong sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemic
Criselda Benin Alarcon
September 15, 2020 at 3:03 pmMaraming naapektuhan ang pandemic na Ito, pero mas maraming Pilipino ang mas madiskarte at mas gusto tumulong sa kapwa nila💯❤️ BDO we find ways 💯❤️ maraming salamat sa mga taong nagtutulungan para sa kapwa nila sanay pagpalain nawa kayo❤️💯
Emily ubal
September 15, 2020 at 3:07 pmThe best Tlaga Ang BDO we find Ways.. Maraming matutuwa at masisiyahan dhil sa munting kalooban na ibinigay po ninyo sa mga OFW na kelangan ng Nila ito laking tulong po ito.. Sanay patuloy pa ang inyong serbisyo para sa mga pilipino na kinakailangan ng tulong ..
Weiwei Ang
September 15, 2020 at 3:07 pmHappy to see our OFW kababayan na tumutulong sa Kapwa nila OFW. Alam ko yung paghihirap nila ngayong pandemic, lalo na yung mga Seaman na hawak ko. Akala ng ibang tao kapag Seaman eh marami ng pera. Mahirap ang Crew Change ngayong may Pandemya dahil karamihan ng Port eh mahigpit at hindi nagpapapasok ng tao. They have Financial problems too, and maliban sa gastos sa Pamilya eh kailangan rin nila ng panggastos sa mga requirements para makasakay ulit. Dole helps them for financial needs pero hindi sapat yun sa pang araw-araw na buhay lalo na kung may pinag-aaral silang mga anak.
Thank you BDO for helping our OFW na nawalan ng trabaho. Hindi ako nagkamali sa napili kong bank para makaipon. 😊
JayAnn
September 15, 2020 at 3:13 pmWow thankyou buti mya mga ganto pa talagang tao handang tumulong sa na ngangailangn may give back naman yan kay Lord 🙏👆
Maricar Villar
September 15, 2020 at 3:14 pmGodbless po sa inyo. Sana hindi kayo mag sawang tumulong sa mga taong nangangailangan. More powers BDO..
Rosebel De Vera
September 15, 2020 at 3:19 pmGod bless po. More blessings to come para mas madamii pa kau matulungan
Aileen A. Cruz
September 15, 2020 at 3:21 pmBDO find ways to help people mas lalo na ang mga nangangailangan…
Marites Co
September 15, 2020 at 3:39 pmSalute to all Filipinos helping Fellow Filipinos 👍👍 BDO is aĺways a big help to encouraging its representatives from other regions to replicate Project Ayuda. ❤❤❤
Ellaine Parame
September 15, 2020 at 3:41 pmSalamat naman sa campaign na ito ,marami po kaung natutulungan lalo na ang mga kababayan nating OFW na nawalan ng trabaho..More power sa inyu
Ezra Roviel Pusing
September 15, 2020 at 3:51 pmSana hindi po kayo mapagod tumulong 🙏🏻🙏🏻
May God bless you more
Ezra Roviel Pusing
September 15, 2020 at 3:55 pmNapakabuti niyo po talaga 🙏🏻 hindi pinapabayaan ang ating kapwa filipino. I salute you all po, i hope God always find his way to help people 😂🙏🏻
Hazel Mary Ruiz
September 15, 2020 at 5:50 pmSobrang generous pa rin tlga nating mga pinoy kahit wlang wla na tayo. ❤️
Arlyn Macapinlac Escoto
September 15, 2020 at 6:08 pmBDO really find ways para makatulong sa mga taong naapektuhan ng Pandemic lalo na ang ating mga OFW napaka laking tulong nito sa kanila para hndi sila at sa kanilang pamilya..
Mary Joy Echavez
September 15, 2020 at 8:48 pmAng galing talaga ng BDO. Tayo rin namang kapwa pilipino ang mag tutulungan. God bless
Jen Guita
September 15, 2020 at 10:14 pmthank you for being a blessing to those who are in need. may God bless you even more. lahat ng pagtulong nio ay nakikita ng Panginoon. kaya sana hindi po kayo magsawa sa pagtulong. thank you momsh!
Myrna
September 16, 2020 at 7:55 amSalamat sa mga tao na naging instrumento ni God. Mga taong my dakilang puso sa kapwa. Sana dumami pa ang katulad ni Ma’am Baguisa. Sobrang hirap ang mga tao ngayon financially at emotionaly lalo na ang mga ofw natin tapos di pa sila makauwe, sana magtulungan tayong kahit sa maliit lang na paraan. salamat sa bdo na marunong lumingon sa mga empleyado nila.
Marlyn Loveranes
September 16, 2020 at 3:30 pmGod bless ..truely BDO find ways..😊
Reniella Virgoro Libot
September 16, 2020 at 4:20 pmAng galing po tumutulong kayo sa mga nanga ngailangan. Ipagpatuloy niyo po iyan at Wag magsawang tumulong po