One Group, One Letter, One Afternoon of Friendship

Two months ago, I posted an appeal to all my reader guests to please pray for my friend and former colleague, Rob, who was rushed to the hospital because of pneumonia and complications from kidney problems.

He survived that. But not without a price: exorbitant medical expenses, an urgent need for a kidney transplant, and the daily risk of infections and complications.

Like a tap turned on full blast, and not likely to be turned off anytime soon, the price is getting steeper as Rob fights for his life.

Aside from continuous prayers, his former colleagues—who rarely see each other except in blogs and e-mail photo attachments—have decided to be shakers and movers to help make Rob’s (and his family’s) load a bit lighter. Through emails and text messages, plus one or two meetings attended by a motley group of organizers, the move was on—beginning with a letter.

If you are a part of the Philippine Advertising Industry, chances are, you already have a copy of this letter. But if you don’t, please read it though and help us make it happen for Rob.

***

Dear (someone),

Once there was an Advertising Agency named Dentsu, Young & Rubicam-Alcantara (DYR, for short). You might remember it a little or a lot. It's gone now, but the force that drove it (the many people who came and went) is alive.

Now in competing agencies or focused on individual persuasions, we have somehow remained bonded, naming ourselves XDYR.

Cut the bull, you say. What’s the point?

The point is – urgent. We badly need your help. One of our colleagues, Robbie David, has been confined at the Makati Medical Center for sometime now, undergoing dialysis and expensive, painful medical procedures. Doctors recommend a kidney transplant soonest.

We’ve joined hands in mounting XDYR ROBingo! A bingo event by friends of Robbie for Robbie. It will be held at the San Lorenzo Gym on April 15, from 1 to 5 PM.

We appeal to your generous heart to choose from any of the following:

- Donate Bingo Prize(s) for the said occasion;

- Buy tickets;

- Commit to come and support the ROBingo plus other activities during the bingo.

The ROI is way beyond what we can see. As one of us used to say before client meetings, “May a thousand angels light your path.” It is our very same prayer for you.

For and on behalf of XDYR

(Signed, Organizing Committee)

***

I wish I could name names and let you know who did this or who spent for that. But the names are many and irrelevant—as everyone has done something in his own way. Let me then just use indefinite pronouns and identify this group simply as XDYR.

Please take note of the backdrop streamer, which was done by someone, and will be printed by another someone, and as of this writing, yet another someone in the XDYR e-groups shows us updates and status reports of what is happening from different ends. Prizes, pledges, and other forms of help are coming in. It feels as though an event is being mounted by everyone and no one.  

Tomorrow, someone will man an Ukay-Ukay (a flea market of sorts that will vend wares at reasonable prizes) while others will prepare snacks for sale in a food booth. Someone has persuaded professional talents to emcee the affair, and then someone is using his/her networks to solicit whatever there is to solicit.

ROBingo is not until tomorrow but nothing is ever too early to give of ourselves. As early as now, please say a little prayer for its success. Any other kind of assistance will likewise be appreciated.

And if you come, you will see and feel what friendship is all about. I like to think it’s God’s grace shining through all those nameless someone(s)—including you—who have held each other’s hand to make it happen for Robbie.