When living not too distant from the victims, the minimum of attention and help uplift the needy economically, psychologically, spiritually. The desire to help.

Romina Diaz did just that.

Young Romina delights at what she sees at the other end of the camera. Around the corner from the Diazes' Galleria Duemila on Loring Street in Pasay are overlooked, ignored young girls. Girls living in squalor, forced to serve as full-time mothers to their younger siblings, trying to survive in the huddled mass of shanties they call home. These girls find their friend Romina's outer driveway their haven from overcrowding.

Romina saved, and bought these girls cameras so they can share her joy in photography. She did for the Girls of Loring a 10-week intensive photography workshop.

Last Saturday, we were invited to an extraordinary art and entertainment program. Loring was closed to traffic for a photo-exhibit by the budding girl-photographers showing glimpses of their lives in their shanties. The eyes of the Girls of Loring were sparkling with joy; they wore identical halter blouses from beautiful materials, gifts from Romina. They did dance numbers on the improvised stage during the program. Donors brought plenty to eat and drink. The budding photographers got lots of compliments for their photographs and artwork, including doll houses with used balikbayan boxes - doll houses which were representations of their lives, their homes, their dreams.

Saturday will long be remembered and talked about by the Girls of Loring, and their friend Romina, and all who helped bring about the day (Ann Wizer, Angel Velasco Shaw, Romina's parents Silvana Ancelloti and Ramon Aspillera Diaz, plus supporters Chromograph, Digi-Ads, Kameraworld, Luneta Ad, LBC, Signmedia).

Anyone can do it. Good at adding and subtracting tutor-disadvantaged young pupils. Those who can sew can share this ability with textile. Lawyers can spend two hours weekly as counsel. Artists can help polish diamonds-in-the-rough to shine, as the Girls of Loring are shining today.

When I was in high school, I learned that pupils missed, quit school because the only slippers she owned broke, or his only good shirt was stolen from the clothesline during the night. Or he can't find his only pencil.

Many wealthy foreigners came to study at my mother's language institute. I set up an informal Foster Parents Plan. P12 (that was a lot in the '50s) at the beginning of the school year, and P5 monthly. This provided a pupil with a new umbrella, shirt, slippers, crayons, bullpen that made him happy to be going to school.

Sponsors sent the money straight to the guidance counselor who helped buy the items. The money never went to the home. The child sent a thank-you letter specifying what was bought. My very little role was to write the case histories after interviewing the family: "Four young children, mother is sick, father works part time in junk yard, family lives for days on stale bread sold cheaply by bakeries.."

At one point, I had 182 desperately needy children with foster parents sending money year after year to one, and sometimes several kids. Foster Parent's help encouraged the pupils to stay in school. This program was written up in the Philippine Free Press.

No skill or talent or money needed to help a bit; just the interest.