Luncehon Party....Dinner Dance

All these theme-parties were strange to me. Back home we hold such parties in the real sense of the word, just partying. However, in Zambia these theme-parties seemed to be regular events for fund-raising. August 8th, Saturday, I attended a luncheon party which a local nutrition NGO in Chipata sponsored to raise funds for their program on malnourished children. It was the 2nd one I attended; the first one was diocese-organized to raise funds for seminarians.

The diocese sponsored was well-organized however, I was not so keen in attending it but eventually decided to go, even the ticket costs ZK100,000 (US$20) which was quite an amount for a volunteer like me, primarily because it was a noble cause. It would be a shame not to heed to the invite with all the pampering I get from the diocese. However, we went there (with the company of a priest) much later. Going there late was a good strategy because the speeches were finished so I did not experience the agony of listening to them. However, I was not spared from dropping something in the hat during the “passing of the hat”. What surprised me actually was this part wherein “very important people” were called on the stage to pledge any amount and it was therefore embarrassing if your name was called and you don’t pledge anything. Fortunately, I was seated among a group of priests and it was evening so, I was spared from being called (or maybe I won’t be called anyways!). In the end, the diocese was able to raise a good amount of money which I think would go a long way in helping future priests in the diocese.

There was another invitation from fellow volunteers, another dinner dance party which the local Rotarians have organized but knowing how the event moves, I refused. Apart from this, I did not find it a noble cause although the ticket cost fifty percent cheaper than the Diocesan one.

The 3rd invite which was the 2nd event I attended was somehow different because it was lunch. Besides, the ticket was free from VSO because the organizing NGO sold tickets to them. I attended the luncheon party together with 3 other volunteers. According to the ‘master of ceremonies’, when the lunch party opened, there will be no long speeches because in the morning a press conference was held; however, the guest of honor will be making a speech and an officer from one of the ministers in charge of nutrition programme in the province. This was the highlight of this blog because the luncheon party although well-meant has full of embarrassment. The so-called MC who happened to receive us at the entrance, was proudly carrying a mineral water bottle with whiskey or rum, sipping it while waiting for people to arrive. So by the time the program started, he was drunk. There was even an instance wherein he was talking over the phone infront of the microphone so his conversation was broadcasted around the venue. His position was not also steady while doing his job as MC and from time to time he would falter. He called on “VIPs” to pledge and one of the volunteers was not spared. She went onstage and pledged on behalf of VSO volunteers in Chipata--- our time and skills that can be shared to the organizing NGO. Of course, we were all laughing but realistically, this is what we can afford.

True enough, there were only two people who gave speeches. The first speech went well. However, when it was the turn of the “guest of honor”, it was really embarrassing but later on I felt pity to her. As introduced, she is the wife of one of the provincial ministers in the Eastern Province who was representing the first lady of Zambia. The First Lady of Zambia was the guest of honor but she delegated due to another engagement. I have observed that this seem to be a trend in such social events, wherein the first lady was always indicated in the tickets as the guest of honor, probably to encourage attendance or maybe there are other reasons that I still have to discover. Going back to the speech of the guest of honor, I would say it was embarrassing because she was put on spotlight unprepared. She read the speech on behalf of the first lady but she had a hard time reading some words, faltering, shaking lips and some words were not even pronounced properly. During the first few minutes, people did not react; however, successive and consistent mispronunciation and faltering made the audience laugh. However, our group did not find it funny anymore but what we felt was sympathy to the lady because we thought that probably she did not rehearse or did not read the speech before coming to the event. Looking at the reaction of the audience, they looked dismayed and disappointed and until now I still feel sorry for the lady. I have no idea who was to blame for putting her in an embarrassing situation; however, it would have been better if she rehearsed, reviewed so that difficult words can be practiced. Also, delegating is not only about asking people to do it on behalf someone, there should be careful selection in terms of the capacity of the person.

In the end, it was another good cultural experience in Zambia and I found the event worth replicating for fund-raising.

Cory's Death

Saturday morning, I got a call from my Director who was in Lusaka, which was quite early for a weekend. Apart from updating about work, he broke a very important news to me. He said that your former-president passed away today. Upon hearing it, i already guessed that it must be Cory Aquino. My initial reaction was shock of course, and after gathering my composure, i told my director proudly: She is a big loss to the Philippines and the Filipino people. She is the fist lady president of Asia and she symbolizes democracy for she restored our democracy. I paused for some time and uttered a prayer for Corry Aquino. Afterwards, i spent few minutes remembering twenty years back. I was supposed to take entrance examinations for Philippine Science High School in Metro Manila that year, but because of People Power my parents canceled the plan. I did not bother myself so much why, but then i realized later on that our democracy was threatened and a civil strife might break out any time. Being in the peak of my teen-age years, I did not bother so much about what happened in EDSA although in my young mind, i knew it was a very important event to the Filipino people. Filipinos were proud for toppling the current President, then Ferdinand Marcos through a non-violent protest. I knew that Filipinos were one and united in the street urging Marcos to leave the Malacanang.

Years after, i realized that it was the right thing to do after being under dictatorship, Philippines deserve better leaders and the Filipino people deserve freedom. I was one of the so-called Martial Law babies, being born during the years when Philippines was under Martial Law. Counting the years since birth and the EDSA People's Power, it was indeed a long period of dictatorship. If you will add the beginning of Marcos regime, it was a momentous event for the Filipino people to topple the dictator in Malacanang. I did not imagine that such eventful year would become very important in the history of Philippine democracy. President Corazon Aquino restored the Philippine democracy and it was during her time that Philippine NGOs flourished with the democratic space the new government has provided. NGOs played a vital role in development during Aquino's administration, it assisted in providing services to the people. Until now, NGOs play a crucial role in guarding the democracy of the Philippines which her successor-presidents tried and still trying to curtail and suppress. I am proud and still proud of that part of history.

People's support shows how her legacy made an impact to the lives of the Filipino people. Filipinos all over the world are mourning over her death and i am grateful to the technology because despite my distance, i am able to watch live Cory Aquino's wake. I am one and with the Filipinos in mourning over the death of Cory Aquino. You will be forever remembered for restoring back the Philippine democracy and for bringing gender concerns into being.