Hail to unsung heroes

My heroes are the nameless, faceless unknowns who go out of their way everyday to help others, serve the less fortunate or those in need without seeking fame, fortune or even worldly recognition. There are two women in particular who come to mind when I think of heroes – they are both nuns, Sister Tere and Sister Carmeli. 

Sister Tere is the administrator of the White Cross Children’s Home in San Juan. I have worked with a number of charitable institutions and it was because of Sister Tere that I fell in love with the White Cross Orphanage. In other places where misbehaving special children might be harshly scolded or their cries ignored, under the care of Sister Tere, these children have received unconditional love from the Daughters of Charity and other volunteers from White Cross.

Sister Tere has inspired me to open my heart and find the strength to help others in need. As result, I have experienced the priceless feeling of knowing I have made a difference, even if only in my own special way.

For the last eight years, I have made it my tradition to celebrate my birthday by throwing a party for orphans, asking my friends and family to come participate by being an older brother or older sister for the day and to give gifts to the children instead of to me as I consider myself so blessed already.

I look back at my own childhood and treasure happy memories, and I have made it my mission, through the help of Sister Tere, to help create some happy childhood memories for these little angels. We have taken the children to the Museo Pambata, Nayong Pilipino, a PAWS Animal Shelter, Manila Zoo and amusement parks. Each year the event draws more support, sometimes even from friends of friends as our circle of goodwill grows larger. This never fails to make my natal date special. Last August, during my last party, one child came up to me and slipped a note in my hand before running off to join the other games, it said "Happy Birthday Ate Cris. Maraming Salamat. Sana huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa na tumulong." I was so moved that I almost cried.

I throw these birthday parties with the orphanage and I know these children will grow up with most likely a vague memory of who I am – if they actually remember me at all. But they will remember the fun we had, the love they were given by others at the time, even the small gifts I give to them instead of buying for myself. They don’t have families and parents to give gifts to them, while I have too much for myself.

So I share with them hoping I have given them even just one really good laugh or smile they will look back on fondly when they become adults.

Sister Carmeli, a dear friend, has made it her selfless life mission to reach out and serve the less fortunate. She puts prayer and with faith before any of her own needs; she never tires of converting those whose faith has grown weak. She never fails to humble me and put my feet back on the ground and calm my heart whatever is happening in my life. Here I am, a newscaster who has made my whole career out of trying to gain credibility and recognition to make me a worthy source of information. I have been trained to dissect and analyze everything that comes my way and to try to make sense of it all – and many times I find myself more than disappointed.

I have had my share of heartaches. I have become jaded, angry and hurt so many times over numerous reasons that our crazy world exposes us to. But just a few moments with Sister Carmeli, listening to her wise words and seeing her sincerity in her eyes, and she reminds me there is a God much bigger than all of these passing things.

She teaches me, "If you try to understand everything that happens to you, surely you will be misled, for our human understanding is sometimes limited. But if you look at things with the eyes of your faith, you will believe God is watching and will help you in the darkest moments of your life."

Sister Carmeli gives me hope, and inspires me to believe in everyday miracles. She is selfless and will continue to be so until the end of her days. I consider myself so blessed to have crossed paths with someone like her and to have learned from her through our friendship.

Sister Carmeli has taught me that you can never go wrong if you look at the bright side because there will always be a silver lining to every dark cloud.

Sisters Tere and Carmeli have inspired me to live a simpler, honest and more humble life. I have a greater appreciation for the smaller things that are still gifts in this life that I might have overlooked when I was "living life on the fast lane." Particularly in my business, it is so easy to lose oneself. I know now that it doesn’t matter if anyone remembers my name or if I have made enough money to buy something – what matters is whether or not I have made a mark in this world before it is my time to move on. You can’t bring fame or fortune with you. But having helped make another person’s life a little brighter – even in the smallest of ways – will always count.

I used to be quick to anger and I would question why things would go wrong. Now I try to calm myself down and try to listen to what God is telling me when something seems to have gone wrong. I’m only human; I can’t do everything on my own. Now I try to be more patient to see what God has planned for me.  

Sisters Tere and Carmeli have taught me the joy of helping and sharing with only the happiness of doing so as your reward. Can you imagine what this world would be like if everyone went out of their way to help each other, to choose to do good every chance they had, if we only loved each other and took failures as small steps towards a greater lesson to be learned? It’s never to late, as I have learned from these two women. And I see glimpses of their good will and works in many others I work with, live with, and come across everyday – and to all of you, whose names I can’t mention here – hats off to you.

I admire all of you because it is unrecognized heroes like you who inspire me and give me hope that the best is yet to come!