The COVID-19 Pandemic that is happening to the whole world right now brings us fears and suffering.

At this point, many habitual things are being sacrificed, like going to church, malls, market, workplace, and even going to schools. We are prohibited to touch each other, get physically socialized with friends, colleagues, and loved ones. These are only some effects caused to us by this Pandemic. On a positive note, this situation made us realized the essence of each individual in the family during the Lock-Down. We get to spend more time with them, unlock some of our special skills, and most of all, we get more time to draw ourselves closer to Lord.

The government especially Social Security System lend their support to all employees who are affected by this Pandemic. They launched a program called Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) last May 15, 2020, for the first wave and June 5, 2020, for the second wave. This program aims to support the employees whose source of income temporarily stopped during the nationwide lockdown.

One of the values that our company valued most is Family – “we are all connected through the heart”. The majority of the employees willingly shared their blessings from the SBWS to less fortunate people and we called it “PLEDGE”.

All of us whole-heartedly gave our “Pledge” for the first and second wave. We chose an orphanage which has been taking care of 16 children as beneficiaries of our Pledge. The usual support from their donators got low. We felt heartbroken for those children that are in need of our little help. Instead of giving them cash, we bought them necessities like milk, diapers, clothes, personal hygiene, coloring books, art materials. Seeing them happy brought us fulfillment in life.

In this case of a pandemic, it is our nature to help one another. “Anne Frank said that NO ONE HAS EVER BECOME POOR BY GIVING.”

#AljayPlanting Dreams

Writer: Joan Suyom-Gacias (Recruitment and  Staffing)