Helping hands club

My father is a busy man. He always keeps his hands busy with work. At home, he was the whole yard as his station – there are the seedlings that need trimming, there is trash that needs disposing, there are LPs that need cleaning, there is a VW bug that needs washing, there are test booklets that need checking, there is an article that needs writing, and so forth and so on. Because of his activities, and he is not ashamed to say this to Doctor Jorgen Lim, he’s had his hands overworked (which required therapy sessions.)

Hands are one of the dirtiest body parts because it is the most used. That is why my father thoroughly cleans his hands after working in his garden, farm, garage, or home office. I have always been told by my sister-in-law, Doc/Ate En, to open my

small hands so that I can receive many blessings, too. Other than the usual business of the day which I am sure includes typing documents, cooking meals, taking care of needs of loved ones, what do you use your hands for?

Lately, I have been involved with a group of people who have had their hands stretched out to Persons With Disabilities. That the logo of the organization uses two hands is not to be missed, it is deliberate; that the group is composed of a lean staff composed of the Deaf, Deaf second- and third-line advocates, blind, wheel-chair users, and foreign volunteers give it the appeal of a non-profit, volunteer organization that opens its doors to inclusion. The language of help knows no race, nationality, ability, or for that matter, disability. When we help, we make our hands do the talking.

Janice, for one, is a Deaf relay interpreter. She has lent her services most especially to the court rooms to voice out the testimonies of witnesses who can only use natural sign language. Kary, Emma, Dan, and Bon Jovi, who are Deaf second-line advocates, go to schools to conduct child sexual abuse prevention and gender sensitivity workshops and training. Katherine, who is a sign language interpreter and project chair, trains the speakers and creates programs for the “Deafies.” Enrique and Daisy, who have mobility issues, show that their crutches are not a crutch to their sport – dragon boat, both being part of a cross-disability dragon boat team in the Philippines. Rob and Karen, who are foreign volunteers, display an unquestionable desire to lift the plight of PWDs in the Philippines. JP and Rey, who lead the group of

volunteers, work tirelessly to empower PWDs through education, information, and sports inclusion. (I can go on and on to introduce you to them but I have space limitations.)

It took a volunteer who flew miles from home to be in the Philippines to make me realize why volunteering matters. “It matters because by volunteering you are becoming part of something much bigger. You connect with an area of life where you have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the community. And if you go deep enough into the role and show your worth, you get entrusted with responsibilities you would not get in other roles.” If that does not show hands that help, I do not know what else does.

To the eyes of the public, this group of PWDs are disadvantaged in all aspects. Having worked with them, I can say that they are the most empowered PWDs – because they are Persons With Displays of Open Hands and Open Hearts.

These guys I have come to respect and hold with such high esteem are the members of Cebu’s Helping Hands Club. If you want to know more about the club, look us up using our other name – Philippine Accessible Disability Services, Inc.

I do not want to ask my father, because I know that to rest his hands, he just holds mom’s hand in his. But I want to ask you this question. Other than the usual business of the day which I am sure includes typing documents, cooking meals, taking care of needs of loved ones, what do you use your hands for? If you find yourself looking for something to busy your hands with, come to us and volunteer.