The faces of Santa Claus

BENCHWARMER
Ramon S. Dacawi

A Samaritan who declined to identify himself appeared last Monday morning at the Benguet Renal Center in La Trinidad, Benguet. He asked the costs and then deposited P17,600. He said it was for end-stage kidney patient Genevieve Gano.

So the girl could have her twice-a-week hemodialysis treatment, at least until the year’s end or start of the new year.

“He’s about 30 to 40 years old, sported a black leather jacket, cowboy buckle and pointed boots; ‘maporma’ (smart-looking),’parangrakista’ (like a band musician),” recalled hemodialysis nurse Cherry Palsic. “He introduced himself as Manuel and that was it.”

Manuel, or whoever he is, returned the following morning while Genevieve was attached to the blood-cleansing tubes for her four-hour treatment. He handed the 21-year old girl P10,000, saying it’s for her daily needs.

The dialysis session last Tuesday was courtesy of a bank manager who, out of habit, would now and then whip out P3,000 as support “to whoever needs it most” , and then quickly advise that he be not identified.

Genevieve, a farmer-couple’s daughter from Hungduan, Ifugao, began using Manuel’s fund last Friday. At P2,200 per session, it was good for eight treatments, with the fund having run through on Jan. 3 under the twice-a-week (Tuesday and Friday) schedule at the renal center behind the Baguio General Hospital.

The regular cost is P2,600 per session, but Palsic explained the center applied the discount for persons with disabilities. “Genevieve’s case is chronic and, as such,she’s considered a PWD and therefore entitled to the discount.”

Until the other week, Genevieve was surviving almost on empty, having reduced her treatment to once-a-week. And to survive, she transferred last December to Bayombong, Nueva Ecija, to be near a renal center in Solano city which allowed 50 percent down payment. The shift in location also brought her closer to her parents’ place, but had to bear the burden of daily survival by her lonesome in a hut.

She made her initial pitch for support in June last year, a year after she was diagnosed for total kidney failure, a year after she began twice-a-week dialysis treatment. By then, her parents and relatives had exhausted their resources to keep her alive.

The diagnosis ended her dream of finishing a degree in commerce at the Benguet State University where she was in junior year when the medical findings came.

Among those who responded to her plea then were expatriate Baguio boy Freddie de Guzman in Canada, Jody Pimentel, Mila Espino, lawyer Rodrigo Kito and ShoshinKinderhilfe, a foundation built by former world traditional karate champion Julian Chees and his students in Germany.

A man who also requested anonymity and she referred to as “Lolo” met her at a pizza shop inside the SM mall in Baguio and handed P3,000.

Last week, Manuel and the bank executive were joined by a police team led by officer Magantino who delivered P1,000 to the renal center. Young journalist RubyloidaBitog also reported that a woman donor also coursed P1,000 last Wednesday through ABS-CBN Television.

While her treatment fund lasts this Christmas, Genevieve stays with Bitog in the latter’s boarding house here.

Those who would like to flesh out the spirit of the season can ring up the girl at 09129632162, or, as Manuel, the Santa in black leather did, deliver their support to the Benguet Renal Center.

As this was being written, Genevieve texted, saying lawyer AmadeoDegay deposited P3,000 at the center.

And so, yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He or she (to be gender sensitive, although I’m gender neutral and see not kindness or virtue according to gender) comes in many forms and sizes. (e-mail:mondaxbench@yahoo.com for comments).