Helping people in need does not always have to be costly or come from a place of fame, luxury or power.
Sometimes, all it takes is a heart that humbly listens, eyes that see beyond the present and hands that are always ready to help.
Director Edwin Morata of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Protective Services Bureau (PSB) has dedicated his 20 years to public service and has lived by these values.
Growing up in the coastal town of Bulan in Sorsogon, the young Edwin witnessed early on how her mother moved through the community with quiet, but unyielding compassion.
As a government worker, his mother was always on the ground, especially in times of disasters, Director Morata recollected.
At that time, Director Morata was probably too young to understand the complexity of public service, but he already felt what it meant to people in dire need.
The early spark in helping the needy made Director Morata to pursue a degree in Social Work.
“Nagkaroon ako ng idea bakit ganun, so na-interes ako. Di ko alam na may science pala in helping. That’s when I tried to apply sa Bicol University kung saan ako nagkaroon ng Bachelor’s Degree. Nalaman ko na may social work pala,” Director Morata told Director Lara Duran of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) who hosts the DSWD online program Kwentong Angels in Red Vests.
After graduating from college, Director Morata worked in a non-government organization (NGO), where he braved the daily dangers lurking in the streets to be of help to children who had little or no support system at all.
At the time, the newly-minted social worker thought that non-government work would be his forever home. Eventually, he found himself drawn to the wider scope of service being offered in government.
When he entered the DSWD, he started at the very bottom as a training specialist and planning officer and later became a center social worker. In time, he was given the opportunity to have a hands-on experience in interacting with the daily clients of the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
There were no shortcuts for Director Morata. But his big heart for the poor brought him to where he is needed the most.
“Half of my career ay more on AICS talaga. So, di ko alam bakit, kung anong meron sakin pero dun talaga nalinya ang exposure ko for almost 10 years as head of the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) ng National Capital Region (NCR),” Director Morata said.
At present, Director Morata holds not just one but two positions — the officer-in-charge for the CIU of the DSWD’s Central Office and as the assistant director for the Protective Services Bureau (PSB).
For Director Morata, it sure was a long journey to go up to this position. But along the way, gains have far outweighed the losses. He is beyond happy and fulfilled to offer hope to people in need through the most difficult times in their lives.
“So, basically ang pinaka-wisdom na masasabi ko talaga is hindi mo kailangan ng posisyon to help. To be honest, all you need to do is to have that heart of desire to really help saka papasok na ‘yun don sa pagtingin mo beyond dun sa need ng isang tao,” Director Morata said.
Sometimes, clients thank him. At times, they don’t. But that has never been the concern of social workers like him.
“Okay na ’ko dun kahit hindi na magpasalamat. Kasi kung iisipin ito talaga ‘yung ginawa nating serbisyo. It’s a given task for us to deliver. ‘Yung pasasalamat bonus na lang ‘yun pero yung makita mo lang silang ngumiti at magpasalamat, additional inspiration for us na tama ‘yung ginagawa natin everyday,” Director Morata explained
As someone who has been doing social work for two decades, Director Morata could barely count how many times he had been asked how he managed to last this long in the practice.
His answer to these questions, however, is the same through the years.
“Para sa akin ‘wag magdalawang-isip tumulong. Panatilihing malinis ang puso sa pagbibigay-serbisyo. Kasi again, at lagi kong uulitin, when your heart is full, everything will flow accordingly,” Director Morata said, emphasizing that beyond knowledge, compassion must guide a social worker every step of the way.
Through it all, Director Morata’s story conveys that even in humble places and beginnings, kindness always completes the narrative.
“Hindi kailangan maging boss, o director sa pagtulong as long as nakikita mo na you have the opportunity to help, you have all the resources to assist— let’s maximize it to become a better person not only for yourself but, of course, sa mata ng lahat ng taong pinagsisilbihan mo,” Director Morata said.
The life Director Morata has led, so far, shows that angels are not as far as we have always imagined. Sometimes, they wear red, walk in the same ground, do not have wings but carry an abundance of hope on their shoulders.
The Kwentong ARV airs every other Monday on the DSWD Facebook page. It features stories of social workers and agency personnel dedicated to serving poor Filipinos with extra love and extra care.(LSJ)
