This is becoming a habit – and a good one at that. For the third time in as many months, a bunch of gritty Ilocano catalysts managed to pull off another successful pow-wow with fellow tribesmen and guests alike. Simply dubbed EB3, this event included no less than the Philippine Ambassador herself, Minda Calaguian Cruz.
 
The numbers speak volumes – about 130 attendees in all. Not bad for a simple and informal meet-up that was originally hatched online in an unassuming PinoySG forum. Cool.

For most attendees like myself, this particular afternoon was all about of sharing, enjoying, and taking pride in a common ethnicity. We all had fun. The staples were there: food, drinks, a few stories to tell, and lots of smiles to spare. Stuffs like these are always comforting in an adopted country as culturally diverse and sometimes emotionally cold as Singapore.
 
For the core group of organizers however, it’s more than that. This was the culmination of a month-long hard work. All the sleepless nights and buckets of sweat had finally paid off. Hats off to you fellas. Personally, it was really touching to witness how these guys unconditionally sacrificed their time and personal resources for the benefit of total strangers. Nice. Totally unselfish.

Ayun. That’s the whole point of this writing.
 
If there was one thing that has been grossly understated if not completely overlooked during these past EBs – it’s our own capacity to be selfless. Marami pala sa atin ang sadyang mapagkawang-gawa.
 
Ikaw na gumising ng maaga para makapaghanda ng venue.
Ikaw na nagdala ng pagkabigat-bigat na kanin o tubig.
Ikaw na napuyat sa pag-research ng recipe sa Internet.
Ikaw na namanhid ang daliri sa kahihiwa para sa dinak-dakan.
Ikaw na may pasok ng Sabado ngunit nakpaghanda pa ng lechon-kawali.
Ikaw na halos ma-nosebleed sa kakaisip ng games.
Ikaw na takbuhan ng banner, logo, at kung anu pang mga design.
Ikaw na nagmula pa ngYishun para maipag-ihaw kami ng pulutan.
Ikaw na manipis na’ng pitaka pero masayang nakapagdala ng beer.
Sika nga naglukat ti Sheng Siong tapnu maikamat ti sida .
Ikaw na nagbaon ng kahit ano – desert, prizes, vouchers, maituno – o kahit kwento man lang na nakapagpangiti ng kapwa.

 
All of these little things that often go unnoticed are testaments that we are indeed capable of thinking beyond our personal gains.

The ambassador was adept enough to recognize this. In her short but meaningful message, she was quick to acknowledge the efforts that were put into this event, and alongside, she posted a challenge to all of us: level up our game and do more to support our kababayans not only within our own little circle.
 
Community involvement ba? Sure! Charity works? Pwede. EB4? ‘Onaman. Manang Gina gets this. And so do a few of our fellow Pinoys. I hope one day we all will.

Many of us are fortunate enough to be embraced by Singapore and benefit from her bounty. It’s but fitting to give a little something back to the community – regardless of ethnicity, race, creed, or nationality. Kasi naman, it’s one World, one Tribe, debah?
 
Who knows, through a little forum in a little EB in a little barbeque pit in the Little Red Dot, we could probably achieve World Peace™. Is that too much to ask?