The Pampanga Project

“We never know how far reaching something we may think, say, or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow.”  Those were the words B.J. Palmer (1882-1961), known as the “developer” of chiropractic and the son of its founder, D.D. Palmer.

But, who B.J. Palmer was is not nearly as important as the relevancy his words have for the incredible story you are about to discover.  This story brings that powerful statement to life and demonstrates exactly how powerful the seemingly insignificant things you do each and every day can change the lives of countless people in the future.  It’s amazing how much power and impact the actions of a single human being can have on thousands or even millions of people.

Here is the story…

The scene is almost surreal.  A young man is kneeling down cutting the hair of a woman in the middle of the sidewalk in Manhattan.  At first glance, this seems strange.  Upon closer examination, things are even more odd than expected.

You see, the man doing the hair cutting is Mark Bustos.  Mark is a 30-year-old hair stylist who works in New York City.  Mark is quite talented, and his hair cuts start at $150.  But who would pay $150 or more to get their hair cut in the middle of the sidewalk?

Probably no one.  On this day, Mark is cutting the hair of a homeless woman for free.  And this is not an unusual day.  Mark does this all the time, and his selfless actions have started an international movement.

Most pass right by the homeless without even looking at them or try to scurry by them as quickly as possible.  To the contrary, Mark seeks out homeless people and asks them if he can do something nice for them, if he can give them a great hair cut and make them feel awesome.

What’s incredible is that Mark’s acts of kindness started in a small town in his parent’s homeland of the Philippines.  In 2012, Mark and his girlfriend (a hair color specialist) rented a small barber shop in Magalang, Pampanga to start his project by giving away free haircuts to children who could not afford them.

This was the birth of the Pampanga project, and since that time, Mark has given free haircuts in New York City, Los Angeles, California, Jamaica, and Cost Rica.

Here’s what Mark said when interviewed in The Philippine Star, “The experience is always different, yet very similar. No matter what part of the world you are in, everybody loves the feeling of having a haircut. It is a universally known luxury that every demographic and walk of life can appreciate.”

The real story here is not the haircut itself.  The real story here is that Mark cares.  In a sea of people rushing by the homeless and not so much as giving them a glance, Mark stops and shows them some humanity.  He shows them compassion.  He gives them hope and love no haircut alone could ever give.  Mark happens to be a very skilled hair stylist, but the magic is in the act itself and the kind words he shares.

The real lesson is that you do not need Mark’s hair cutting skills to make a difference in the world.  In fact, you do not need any special skills at all.  The only thing you need is empathy and the willingness to show people you care.

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better! We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger!

Don’t be a stranger. You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!