On 19 November 2024, at 7:30 a.m., officers of the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) headed to Brgy. San Isidro, Rodriguez (former Montalban), Rizal to conduct its ‘Operation Brotherhood’ in benefit of indigent citizens. In total, 200 pieces of new blankets, 200 pairs of slippers, and 200 pairs of rain boots were distributed to residents, most of which are in the business of rummaging through junk shops and sanitary landfill sites for discarded items they can recycle or sell.
Early in the morning, CFBCI officers, namely: Executive Vice President Gerald Uy Chan, Director/Treasurer Richard Alviar, Vice Chairman Henry Tiu, Vice Chairman Ramon Uy, Vice Chairman Ramon Cheng, and Vice Chairman Linda Lao, traveled to the Province of Rizal to conduct the operation. At around 9:30 a.m., the group reached the barangay of San Isidro which is perched at the top of Rodriguez, Rizal overlooking the nearby Metro Manila.
The group was greeted by the residents who were already waiting at the warehouse of International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist (I-SWIMS) Inc., one of the companies in the area. CFBCI is deeply overwhelmed by the warm welcome given by the residents and the barangay personnel. The group was assisted by Mr. Michael Del Rosario and Mr. Lito Cay, Officer-in-Charge of I-SWIMS Inc. Before proceeding with the distribution, English Secretary Mexica Bausa introduced the attending CFBCI officers and ensured the residents that all of them would receive the items brought by the organization.
Then, EVP Chan delivered a short message to greet the residents and introduce the efforts of CFBCI to assist grassroots communities. “We may be Chinese in blood, but we are Filipino by heart; we would always give our best to help our disadvantaged brothers and sisters,” he said. Afterwards, Director Alviar also greeted the residents and requested them to line up in an orderly fashion. In all smiles, each of the residents received new blankets, pairs of slippers, and pairs of rain boots which they can use in their homes and daily livelihood activities.
Looking back, on January 17, 2002, Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. announced that the garbage dumpsite in Rodriguez will be fully operational. He was pertaining to the dumpsite located in Brgy. San Isidro which will host 2,000 tons of garbage daily from Metro Manila in the next seven years. Fourteen years have passed, and this barangay still serves as a dumpsite for garbage produced by various cities and municipalities in Metro Manila.
As a result, most of the people here work in junk shops and sanitary landfills. Therefore, people in urban cities owe it to these individuals who ensure that residual waste can be recycled and disposed properly. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that this form of livelihood is only enough to sustain their daily needs and afford to send their kids to public schools. Thus, community outreach activities like this are highly significant in order to extend necessary assistance to poor residents.
Overall, the distribution process took place smoothly and all the residents went home with happy faces and new items. They even said that they are very grateful for such “an early Christmas present” from the organization.
菲華工商總會訊：本會領導同仁於十一月十九日（星期二）上午，前往位於黎剎省羅德里格斯市（Rodriguez, Rizal）的描籠涯聖依西多（Barangay San Isidro）垃圾掩埋場，贈送一批棉被、拖鞋及防滑雨鞋予當地二百多位靠撿拾資源回收物資維生的居民，以實際行動關懷弱勢族群。
黎剎省羅德里格斯市描籠涯聖依西多的垃圾掩埋場，係於二零零二年開始營運，每天可處理約二千噸來自大岷區的乾垃圾，附近居民幾乎都是靠在垃圾掩埋場撿拾資源回收物變賣維生。
本會執行副理事長曾國強，董事曾煥眉，常務理事顏漢龍、許有福、莊南文、留牡丹及西文秘書梅西卡等，於清晨一大早集合後驅車前往黎剎省羅德里格斯市；當一行人抵達目的地時，受到國際固體廢棄物綜合管理專家公司負責人Michael Del Rosario、Lito Cay及當地居民的熱烈歡迎。
活動首先由本會西文秘書梅西卡向大家介紹本會出席的領導同仁。接著由執行副理事長曾國強致詞，他代表本會向當地居民們表達最誠摯的問候，闡述了本會長期協助基層社區的各項活動，並強調，雖然我們身上流著華人的血，但是我們有一顆菲律濱人的心。我們將始終竭盡全力幫助我們的弱勢兄弟姐妹。
待一切準備就緒後，本會出席領導同仁在描籠涯多位工作人員的協助下開始分發愛心物資予當地居民，每位領完物品的民眾都笑顏逐開地感謝來自本會的愛心，並且表示這是他們今年收到的第一份聖誕節禮品。
圖片說明：
上圖：（左起）許有福，Michael Del Rosario，莊南文，留牡丹，曾國強，曾煥眉，顏漢龍，梅西卡與受惠居民合影。
中左圖：執行副理事長曾國強向當地居民致問候詞。
中右圖：分發愛心物資。
下圖：本會領導同仁與國際固體廢棄物綜合管理專家公司負責人Michael Del Rosario、Lito Cay和當地描籠涯工作人員及受惠居民合影。
