Poverty is the load of some, and wealth is the load of others

It has been said that God tests everyone: one with wealth, the other with poverty. For a rich man, it is a question whether he will extend his arm to help those in need; as for the poor man, whether he will endure his sufferings with no discontentment and filled with obedience.

How am I faring in this test? It is quite a hard one for I am neither too wealthy nor too poor. Okay, I don't belong to the impoverished lot; so, my task in this life is to help in whatever way I can. One doesn't need to be filthy rich to help, and here is one project that lends a hand to the needy in our country (Philippines) that I totally believe in: Gawad Kalinga. In this endeavour, the poorest of the poor are given chances for a better way of living and of giving back their own dignity. The slums are transformed into beautiful communities, and the poor people into productive and self-sufficient citizens.

Most overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) all left our country to help alleviate the direness of the plight of our families. No matter how long we have stayed out of our country, we will always be Filipinos and "home" is one place we can never abandon. I call for you to partake in this undertaking to build a better country to go back to.

Bear the load of thy neighbor's poverty, and let him bear with thee the load of thy wealth. Thou lightenest thy load by lightening his. - St. Aurelius Augustine