A ray of kindness amid the gloom of ill-health

He spends around five hours every day helping patients before going to work at 3pm. He devotes his weekends to them and also takes time off work even without pay to help repatriate patients who have no one to call family here.

To some, he is ‘Mang’ Rey or ‘Kuya’ Rey, a Filipino term for an older brother. But to the many patients at Dubai hospitals, Rey Angulo, 65, is more than that.

To them, he is family.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to know who I am,” M.C., a Filipina patient from Abu Dhabi, told Gulf News. “I was in coma for five days and by the time I woke up, I had no recollection of who I was. He patiently guided me to recall my past bit by bit every day and that led us to trace my family.”

Rey is a volunteer social worker who mainly assists patients and their families in Dubai’s public hospitals, mainly Rashid Hospital

For a man who has helped repatriate more than 100 patients of different nationalities and human remains for the past seven years, long before the Year of Giving initiative was announced, being in the spotlight is the least of his concern. In fact, he agreed to do an interview during his hospital rounds “only if it would inspire people.”

Rey starts his day doing paperwork for patient repatriations, booking air tickets and helping families link up with consulates and hospitals. He would pick up a few things patients request him to get for them or those he thinks patients need, like the two bottles of lotion he bought for an elderly stroke patient that day.

The Filipino expatriate accredited by the Dubai Health Authority and the Philippine-Consulate General calls what he does his “mission”. He uses his personal time, resources, and even takes leaves without pay to escort patients being repatriated on an urgent basis.

“If I wait for someone to volunteer, it will take time. But if I can decide to go immediately and sacrifice a few hundred dirhams, at least we can help the patient right away,” Rey, who works in a consultancy firm, says.

“For me, money isn’t everything. It’s that sense of fulfilment and satisfaction that I get when I am able to help solve other people’s problems, that’s all that matters to me. No amount of money can top that.”

Philippine Consul-General Paul Raymund Cortes considers Rey an effective partner of the consulate because of his service.

“He has assisted wholeheartedly the medical and administrative needs of our compatriots who have no one else to turn to and who badly need assistance. He is a kind soul who refuses to be glorified and chooses to remain anonymous, basking in the simple recognition that only our Creator is omnipotent of all the good we do,” Cortes told Gulf News.

Now a father of three grown adults based in the Philippines, Rey never refuses to take on a case and never rests until it is resolved even if that means doing back-to-back work.

Four women have now become volunteers after being inspired by Rey’s service. They help him and also devote their Fridays to assist patients.

“I tell them that when you’re doing volunteer work, you can’t say you’re tired. You can’t or must not complain,” Rey says. “You must thank God for the opportunity he gave you to help others.”

Asked why he does it, Rey says: “If I don’t do it, who would? We have accountability to others.”

Ray learned compassion from his mum, a former policewoman. Every Sunday, his mum would accompany him to prison cells where she used to write letters for inmates to send to their families.

“Many of them can’t write, so my mum was their bridge to the outside world.”

Rey says he never feels burdened by the load because the hospital has been on his side every step of the way.

“I call Rashid Hospital a hospital with a heart. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. In terms of hospital care and more, they are really concerned about their patients. I feel that I’m not alone in what I do because they’re there to support me and the patients all throughout.”

Despite his age, Rey said he has no plans to stop his social service.

“To be honest, I’m in heaven; I have no complaints. As long as I’m alive, I’ll do it. This is a gift that is given to me and, to return this gift to God, I have to do the best. What I do with my mission is my gift to him

source : gulfnews