Grateful for Sotto’s medical assistance

This is to take exception to the letter sent by Rodolfo Datuin. (“Elderly names senators ‘insensitive’ to the plight of the poor,” Inquirer, 3/1/12) I commiserate with his travails in securing medical assistance from the offices of the senators. Like Datuin, I was, at one time, among the hundreds who trooped to the Senate to seek medical assistance.

Datuin mentioned Sen. Tito Sotto as among the senators who had disappointed him. I had a contrary experience. I am relating this to be fair to the senator and his staff.

I was lucky enough to get hold of a letter guarantee from Senator Sotto. Mind you, in some of the senators’ offices, there is a sign posted on the door which says, “No solicitations.”

I had high hopes that my request for medical assistance would be granted. After all, Senator Sotto is one of the few senators who are approachable. His staff, already used to the hundreds of needy people visiting his office, welcomed me, without any air of arrogance.

Datuin should appreciate the fact that our senators try to help whenever possible, within the limits of their capacity. While there may be some who are disgruntled like him, there are those, the silent majority, who have become beneficiaries of the generosity of their hearts. Who would not want to help someone in need? Such is a basic human trait. But then, one cannot please everybody.

Still, one should not easily pass judgment on others. Yes, it is easy to criticize when we find ourselves at the short end of the stick, but we find it hard to even appreciate the small things done for us.

I would like to think that Senator Sotto is not one who flaunts what he has done for others. Thus I took this opportunity to speak on his behalf.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Senator Sotto and his staff for helping me the first time I went to his office. I never got to thank them. More power to you, Sir.

—ELENA CASTRO,

16 Santol St., Barangay Anos,

Los Baños, Laguna