Gerwin finds meaningful life in 'Sawsaw'

Gerwin Yudelmo: 'Don't despair---things will improve.'

A meal is not complete without a delicious dip.  

That is what Gerwin Yudelmo, a former call center agent in Cebu City, thought to venture while he quarantined for more than a month.

The dip--Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo-- is now a well-loved blended spiced coconut sap vinegar. 

Gerwin, 30, said his dip is simple. The vinegar dipping sauce is made from a vinegar of organic coconut fragmented sap also known as “tuba” blended with garlic, ginger, chilli and other spices.

He said once the ingredients have been selected and chopped,  the next step is to mix them all together with vinegar. 

"Combine ingredients vigorously. It will be stored or fermented for two months," he said. 

But behind the delicious sauce is the  life story of Gerwin who lost his job in Cebu City due to the pandemic. 

He also founded the #ProjectHope with other volunteers to help fellow locally stranded individuals or LSIs in Cebu City .

He went home to Inabanga to rest and take new adventure in life.

"Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo" (Spiced Vinegar) is a perfect dipping sauce for grilled, fried and dried meats. Photo: Leo Udtohan

"At the quarantine facility, I thought of starting a business. But the big question is what business should I do? While we were eating with my colleagues there, I thought that the sauce is a big thing to make the food delicious," said Gerwin. 

The municipal government provided food for locals stranded at the quarantine facility. 

"So to make our food more satisfying, we put some sauce on it. So, I suddenly thought that the sauce would be my business after the quarantine was over," he added. 

His new business also helps farmer Rodel Punay, a tuba gatherer, who is also affected by the pandemic. 

"I lost my income because no one is buying  my tuba. I thank Sir Gerwin who buys my vinegar. Now, I can buy food for my family," Rodel said. 

Gerwin's "Sawsaw" became a hit in Inabanga, some parts of Bohol and Cebu.

It is a perfect dipping sauce for grilled, fried and dried meats. 

"The Sawsaw has become part of our meals everyday. It's our new favorite with my barkada and my family," said Simon Lastimoso. 

He said "Sawsaw" is really different from spiced vinegar. 

"It has the right flavor, right 'spiciness' , right 'sourness' , right 'sweetness' . It's just right," said Lastimoso. 

Simon Lastimoso says "Sawsaw Bojol Sukang Binaryo" has the right flavor and blend. Photo: Leo Udtohan

And for every purchase of "Sawsaw,"  one peso will go to #ProjectHope to help LSIs in Cebu and other parts of the Philippines.

Although Gerwin takes a different road in life, far from his job, Gerwin enjoys what he is doing right now.

What lessons he learned from this pandemic? 

 "First, don't despair---things will improve. Someone will always help us. I have witnessed it not only for myself but to all the Boholanos who have been stranded in Cebu. Second, we need to save something from our salary because we do not know what tomorrow brings," advised Gerwin. 

We rise by lifting each other.

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Jeycelle, Gerwin and friends spread love and kindness during COVID-19

Jeycelle Espejo: 'No one is invincible no matter how rich or powerful you may be.'

As the COVID-19 death toll continues to rise daily, and an increasing number of provinces extend lockdowns, it can be easy to feel discouraged, depressed, and uncertain of what the future holds.

But in the face of this crisis, people have come together to help other people and spread love and kindness.

Home-quarantined like the rest of the world, teacher and cultural worker Jeycelle Espejo has been preoccupied with packing rice, noodles and sardines which she distributes among the frontliners that include street sweepers, garbage collectors and security guards and, as she put it, “for those who need it the most."

Jeycelle and friends pooled resources to help fellow Tagbilaranons who are affected by the pandemic. Now, the beneficiaries cover those in need in other areas.

In her "libot pasalamat," another 15 relief packs were distributed to the most affected families yesterday, April 25, in the villages of Booy and Cogon.  Slippers were also given to the frontliners.

At home, Jeycelle is also helping friends selling avocado, calamansi, mango, dried fish and chicken at a very affordable price.

Asked what she had learned from this month-long quarantine, Jeycelle was direct to the point. "No one is invincible no matter how rich or powerful you may be. People get killed not because of this virus but because of people's stupidity and stubbornness. In the Philippines setting, the difficulties faced by our government and it's frontliners in controlling people is just a mirror of how damaged is the moral values of the people nowadays- blatant disregard of rules and disrespect for authority."

On the other hand, she said the crisis is a blessing in disguise for Mother Earth as she heals and recovers.

When quarantine is over, Jeycelle wants to go to church.

"A thanksgiving that G-d keep me healthy in this time of pandemic considering that I am among those who are highly susceptible to infection due to weak lungs and immune system. Pasalamat kay I have been given the opportunity to be of help to other, to be of service," she said.

In Cebu, Gerwin Yudelmo is busy organizing relief goods for stranded Boholanos who are appealing to be brought back home after Cebu and Bohol provinces have implemented lockdowns to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Gerwin, who works as a call center agent in Cebu City, volunteered to list down the names of the stranded passengers in a group chat on Facebook that they created to make it easier for officials to track down in case help would come.

Most of them did not have food, water, and place to stay since they had lost their jobs after the enhanced community quarantine was implemented.

"I just can't ignore. It's a time for listening and caring," Gerwin said.

He and his friends organized "Project HOPE" campaign to help fellow Boholanos stranded in Cebu. They have distributed cash, relief packs, canned goods and even a wheelchair.

"Usahay mahadlok nalang ko mag-open sa akoa filtered messages kay magsakit gyud akoa dughan ug makahilak sa mga nagka-lain lain storya sa kinabuhi diri sa mga stranded sa Cebu," he said.

"Diyos ko tagai pakog dugang kusog para daghan pa ta matabangan na mga stranded nga grabe gyud nagkinahanglan ug tabang," he added.

Gerwin Yudelmo: ' I just can't ignore. It's a time for listening and caring.'

Gerwin, a former youth leader, shared that he felt how to be helpless away from family.

"It was never easy when I started my life here in Cebu 10 years ago, I won't forget gyud katong I only have 5 pesos left in my pocket ug ang akoa gihuwat na mo help nako wala mopatim-aw. I ended up buying 1 peso candy and the rest is tubig na. Helpless kaayo ko and galuya gyud ko," he shared. 

Incidentally, he shared this article he read on Twitter. He said he didn't know the author but it’s very timely and meaningful.

“We’ve all been exposed.
Not necessarily to the virus.
We’ve all been exposed BY the virus.

"Corona is exposing us.
Exposing our weak sides.
Exposing our dark sides.
Exposing what normally lays far beneath the surface of our souls hidden by the invisible masks we wear.
Now exposed by the paper masks we can’t hide far enough behind.

"Corona is exposing our addiction to comfort.
Our obsession with control.
Our compulsion to hoard.
Our protection of self.

"Corona is peeling back our layers. 
Tearing down our walls.
Revealing our illusions.
Leveling our best-laid plans.

"Corona is exposing the Gods we worship:
Our health
Our hurry
Our sense of security
Our favorite lies
Our secret lusts
Our misplaced trusts.

"Corona is calling everything into question?
What is the church without a building?
What is my worth without an income?
How do we plan without certainty?
How do we love despite  risk?

"Corona is exposing me.
My mindless numbing
My endless scrolling
My careless words
My fragile nerves.

"We’ve all been exposed.
Our junk laid bare.
Our fears made known.
The band-aid torn.
The masquerade done.

"So what now?  What’s left?
Clean hands
Clear eyes
Tender hearts

What corona reveals, G-d can heal.
Come Lord Jesus.
Have mercy on us."

Spread love. Spread kindness. 

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohanINQ at Twitter /Facebook.