Lopez Group retireesThe Lopez Group’s kapamilya spirit goes beyond retirement.

This is what retirees Domingo Magaling of Lopez Memorial Museum, Braulio Alfonso of Lopez Holdings Corporation and Andres de Jesus of Lopez Inc. experienced firsthand when they received help from their former companies and officemates after Pedring flooded their homes in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

The homes of the three gentlemen were submerged in 10 to 14 feet of water, forcing them, their families and their livestock to sleep on the street on wooden beds that were also half sunk in the flood.

Lopez Holdings employees passed the hat for donations and raised P24,200 from 20 employees to buy water, rice, medicines, antifungal cream and ready-to-eat food supplies for the three victims. They also gave a little cash to Alfonso, their former messenger, said Lopez Holdings administrative officer Emely Constantino.

Constantino and Lopez Holdings senior assistant vice president-Financial Controls Ma. Victoria Marcelino visited Alfonso, Magaling and De Jesus on October 8. The residence of De Jesus suffered the most damage because it was located in a lower- level barangay.

Lopez Inc. provided financial assistance to the three victims. De Jesus and Magaling are both former utility persons who served Lopez Inc. and Eugenio Lopez Foundation, administrator of the Lopez Memorial Museum. Alfonso also worked in Lopez Inc. prior to his employment by Lopez Holdings.

Lopez Inc. vice president for Administration Mabelle Ramos said the company intended their cash donation for the victims to be able to repair and rehabilitate their homes, and prioritize their purchases accordingly.

De Jesus, Magaling and Alfonso subsequently visited their kapamilya in Lopez Holdings, Eugenio Lopez Foundation and Lopez Inc. to acknowledge their help.

“Salamat ng marami. Talagang kailangang-kailangan po namin ng tulong, hindi lang kami, pati mga kapitbahay namin. Dahil sa tulong niyo, nakatulong din kami sa aming mga kapitbahay (Thank you very much. We really needed help, not only us, but also our neighbors. Because of your help, we were able to help our neighbors),” said Magaling. He added that they feel such deep gratitude toward the Lopez Group and hope to pay the favor forward.

“Hindi namin akalaing maalala niyo pa kami kasi retired na kami (We didn’t expect you to remember us because we are already retired,” he said.