Following a Basic Life Support (BLS) course, the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers has recently started its Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) training under the tutelage of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The WASAR follows rigid modules of instruction on water rescue over a period of eight weekends consisting of technical water rescue and boatmanship (rubber boat operation).The theoretical trainings are conducted at the PCG Headquarters in Manila while practical applications will be conducted either in Anilao, Batangas or Infanta, Quezon where live simulation of WASAR principles are applied.
The WASAR training of MCFRVI is in preparation for any exigencies that may arise in the expected La Nina months and in response to lessons learned from typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009.
After the WASAR, MCFRVI will immediately commence training on Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue in preparation for the expected “Big One”.
July 13, 2010NewsComments OffYesterday was the sixth month of the devastating earthquake that killed at least 230,000 people in Haiti and still, the country is yet to fully recover.
Living among the rubbles, the citizens of Haiti are still digging out remains of people who were trapped on that fateful day.Millions are still homeless, making the country appear as if the earthquake happened just yesterday.They are until now, clearing the rubble to live once again…
We can only hope that the Philippines do not suffer as much when the expected Big One hits.
MCFRVI, in conjunction with the Philippine National Red Cross and National disaster agencies, is participating together with other volunteer rescue groups in a preparedness training that spans three months.The training capacitates and ensures inter-operability of various organizations like the MCFRVI into forming a Metro-wide Disaster response network that would respond to exigencies, particularly earthquakes and flash floods.
The training include Basic Life Support, Water Rescue and Safety, Enclosed-space Rescue, Collapsed Structure Search and Recovery procedures and other relevant instructions.
Though we pray that the Big One does not come and that we do not get a repeat of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy), the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers is funding itself in the said trainings, now running into tens of thousands of Pesos, with the firmly belief that in failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail…
Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, ‘I love you, and I wish you enough.’
The daughter replied, ‘Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.’
They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, ‘Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?’
‘Yes, I have,’ I replied. ’Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?’..
‘I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,’ he said.
‘When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?’
He began to smile. ’That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone…’ He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. ‘When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.’ Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
He then began to cry and walked away.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.
TAKE TIME TO LIVE….Take time to love…
To all our friends and loved ones, WE WISH YOU ENOUGH.
The Officers and members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers, Inc (MCFRVI) join the nation in looking forward to a new era of Philippine Governance with the inauguration of the new President, His Excellency Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III.
May the new President be provided with Divine Guidance in governing the country in a just and sincere manner and may he have the strength and the will to implement and carry into fruition his noble intentions for the benefit of the common good.
May the Philippines continue to be blessed by the Almighty under the firm but fair governance of the new administration.
The Officers and Members of the Metropolitan Composite Fire and Rescue Volunteers, Inc. (MCFRVI) join the nation in celebrating our Independence Day today, 12 June 2010.
This Independence Day, may we be reminded of the lessons learned from our history - that whatever we have achieved as a country thus far resulted from the Unity and Patriotism of our forebears. We wouldn’t be where we are now had they faltered.
