Kindness Has No Face

In times of crisis, the first response from the government becomes a lifeline for survival. However, it is also during these times that politicians create a platform for themselves to be seen. This practice of printing their faces on relief goods must be called out for what it is: exploitative and unethical.

Yesterday, October 21, was a grueling 24-hour ordeal for Bicolanos, especially for displaced families and far-flung areas that are in critical condition. After several hours, daylight uncovered the traces of horror Kristine left behind. Grieving hearts and damages that are beyond repair were the first to touch the light of day. As Bicolanos came to terms with the scale of devastation, the need for urgent relief was undeniable.

However, some aid came with faces. Efforts seemingly made in broad daylight, targeted the dismantled, fragile and deeply needy hearts of affected residents. Assistance that could have been employed at the peak of danger make Kristine's aftermath a cannon fodder for political campaigns. Perhaps daylight was the right time to amplify chants without clashing with the enraged gushes of heavy winds. Their first order of business for the day was not to help the people in need but placing themselves at the center of this disaster.

The immediate need for supplies should never be politicized. Yet, it has become a norm for canned goods, rice packets and even bottles of water to be wrapped with names and faces. These items, often supplied from public funds or donations, are given to those who have suffered but instead of genuine care and compassion, what lies behind them is political conditioning.

And even if these were funded by their own pockets, the moment they plaster their names and faces on relief efforts, the gesture shifts from altruism to self-promotion. During these moments, the people need hope, not a reminder of who they “owe” for the assistance they receive. Genuine public service, especially in the face of disaster, should be fueled by compassion and call of duty, not by the desire for recognition and political advancement.

What makes this even worse is that these actions take advantage and exploit the vulnerable. People in crisis have no other choice but to accept what is given to them and gratitude is the only thing they can offer back. And that gratitude is used for political manipulation. This creates a moral debt among disaster victims and risks turning the act of receiving aid into a form of political currency.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭..

Compassion has no form; it is offered at times when nothing is visible. Lending hands just extend to you, out of the dark, without the need for introduction. In moments of desperation, genuine kindness is felt, not seen. From last night’s ordeal, one thing is certain: true kindness has no face, no name, and requires no recognition.