Making a difference

If we learn to give of ourselves, to forgive others, and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness – it will seek us.

Aside from receiving lots of good wishes that my Easter eggs be Faberge (I wish!), I also received a couple of messages that I refuse to delete from my inbox – nuggets of spiritual nourishment to chew on from time to time. Among them was one sent by Arlina Onglao, a travel specialist who organizes pilgrimages to holy sites.

Her message shows why there are a multitude who give of themselves so that others may have a better life. Some give up a life of ease to live in fetid slum areas, away from the comforts of home and the love of their family.

It just hit me that these people, whom we describe as "martyrs" because we cannot for the life of us understand why they choose to flagellate themselves with the scourge of poverty – are actually not martyrs. They are happy people. In giving of themselves they are not only making others happy – they are actually making themselves content in a way people like you and me find hard to fathom. Not that we should admire people like Mother Theresa and our very own Sister Christine Tan (who lives in the slums of Pasay) or Ramon Magsaysay awardee Ruth Pfau (a German doctor who treats lepers in Pakistan) less because they were or are happy with their mission. Instead, we should pity them less for living a life that is truly hard by our standards.

For all you know, they are happier than most of us.

* * *

Nancy Harrington is a six-foot-tall American who has dedicated her life (including the retirement money she received as a teacher) into helping educate poor Filipino children.

Nancy once lived in the American bases in Clark Field, Pampanga, and Subic Bay, Zambales, where she was a teacher. Her husband Navy Commander Daniel Harrington IV fought in the Vietnam War. One of their sons, Daniel V is nicknamed "Cinco."

While still Philippine residents, Nancy and Dan started what would have been a life-long commitment to poor Filipino children by distributing 180,000 lbs. of educational material to public schools in the barrios. When they moved to Hawaii, they continued the donations, and got much needed support from Philippine Airlines for transporting the books to the Philippines. They christened their project "Books for the Barrios."

Since then, five million books, hundreds of computers, hundreds of thousands of teaching materials (toys, puzzles, flash cards, charts, globes, maps) have been donated to public elementary and high schools, working through its Philippine counterpart, "Books for the Barangays."

Because of one woman’s zeal, one out of every four public schools in the Philippines has been a beneficiary of Books for the Barrios – that means over 10,000 schools in the Philippines, from Batanes to Jolo.

Nancy sources these books and other educational materials from schools in the US. She specifies that books donated should not carry religious themes or should not revolve around American history. Books for the Barrios prefers books on Science and Math.

To make the schoolchildren involved in their donation, they are allowed to help pack the books that will be shipped to the Philippines.

At a lunch hosted by Ann Puno (wife of lawyer Rene Puno) during her most recent visit to the Philippines, Nancy would get teary-eyed whenever she would recall the decrepit classrooms she had visited in the course of her work. She would also shed tears of frustration whenever she would remember some local officials who would give her a hard time, or would want to gain political capital by riding on the success of the project. But she was all praises for the local officials of Agusan for the success of the distribution of Books for the Barrios there.

Nancy says she wins over American children to the cause of poor Philippine children by telling them, "Filipino children are just like you. They love to play. They want to learn. But they have no books."

Nancy believes education is the key to progress.

"Educated people are able to have a livelihood, they have smaller families, and they are able to stand up against physical abuse," Nancy stresses.

Nancy needs help to sustain the project – her retirement money is running out.

(Nancy Harrington may be reached in the US at (25) 687-7701 or send e-mail to her at [email protected])

Dee’s Day

There is a new tele-magazine program that will give viewers an intelligent alternative to established bump-and-grin noontime shows.

This is the one-hour Dee’s Day over RPN 9 hosted by former Press Undersecretary and spokesperson for President Cory Aquino and Manila Bulletin columnist Deedee Siytangco. She is joined by her friend, Honeygirl de Leon, chairman of the PCSO.

Dee’s Day is produced by RPN 9 as part of the new programming scheme under the leadership of its chairman and CEO Serge Remonde, four-time KBP chairman and now AdBoard chairman. RPN 9 is concentrating on public service shows and at the same time beefing up its primetime programming with such hits like Ally McBeal, Dharma and Greg, NYPD Blues, JAG and other top-rating foreign shows.

Deedee is a seasoned moderator, a stalwart of the now 17-year-old media Tuesday forum at the Westin Plaza, Bulong Pulungan. Dee’s Day will feature the "softer, gentler side of the news and the personalities who make the news." In short, the guests will be the kind of people that Deedee meets and writes about.

Honeygirl joined the show because she liked the values it would project.

The premiere show featured Tom and Baby Pastor, whose sons and daughters are car racing enthusiasts; artist Fernando Sena and his painting students; PEZA director-general Lilia de Lima; former Undersecretary Rosie Castro; and Chit Martinez, formerly with the Commission on Elections.

This Thursday, April 24, Dee’s Day will feature an all-star cast of the leading lights in the film industry, director and president of the newly-created Film Development Council, director Laurice Guillen; Film Academy of the Philippines chairman Leo Martinez; Producers Association president Wilson Tieng; director-actor Soxy Topacio; and movie columnist Emmy Abuan.

Aren’t the two hosts afraid of going up against the masa appeal of the other noontime shows?

Not at all, Deedee and Honeygirl claim.

Dee’s Day is anchored on solid family ties, and encourages service to others appeal to a big segment of the population who has not been tapped. Deedee believes that many would welcome an informative, entertaining noontime show that will highlight positive values.

As in her columns, Deedee begins with sharing, with Honeygirl, Angel Thoughts of the Week. Viewers can send in their Angel Thoughts to them on [email protected] or send them by mail to RPN 9, Broadcast City, Quezon City.

Dee’s Day sponsors include The Swan Catering; Flower Farm; Dimsum n’ Dumplings; Marisa Lopa of Amazing Space; PCSO; Pineapple Furniture; Diet Pepsi with a Twist; Peach Petal Plus Parties; and Faro Clothing Store at Shangri-La Edsa Plaza.

You may e-mail me at: [email protected]