Rufina Gonzales-Gupaal: Learnings From Her

Fina, in yellow, with husband Jun and her four princesses

Fina is constantly smiling. She has such a pleasant demeanor. And I have heard countless stories of her generosity to family members, both immediate and extended. If indeed the face is the mirror of your soul, then Fina has a kind soul for sure.

I wanted to write about Fina because of the value she places in good education. With limited resources, she and her husband Jun managed to provide college education in a private university for her daughters Jasmine and Rowena.

One is only able to do this if one is willing to make great, personal sacrifices in terms of material possessions; if one can look far into the future and dream of a more comfortable life for the children; and, if one accepts the realities of life now and understands that change is possible. Change should be possible.

Fina has worked as a housekeeper at St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City for the last 15 years.

That her two daughters finished college is most inspiring. But Fina’s legacy to and for us is much more than the pursuit of higher education for her children. What is more valuable is our knowledge that anyone, someone like Fina, can create better lives, finding absolutely no justification to do otherwise, if you just have the biggest heart to will it to be so.

Apolinario Poldo, Jr.: Our Everyday Hero

Pol, on the right, hosting a corporate event with officemates Cris Laudenio and Beth Gutierrez.

Unconditional love is so valuable, so rare. So I will tell you all a few things about Pol, a man who has it, who feels it for his family and has given up much for them without asking anything in return.

About two decades ago, when Pol was still single, he would purchase on installment small appliances for himself: a television set, radio, single-burner stove, oven toaster, electric fan, an emergency lamp, etc. Upon his parents’ request, Pol would then send these items to Las Navas, Northern Samar, his hometown. Pol would simply purchase new ones for himself all over again. He would also regularly save a portion of his salary and then send it immediately to the province if needed.

In the mid 1990s, Pol’s family also encountered a period of great financial difficulty. They had to mortgage their parcel of land; Pol promptly took out a Social Security System (SSS) loan to help redeem the said property. For two years, he had monthly salary deductions to pay for the loan.

Pol has always been a dutiful son and brother: in thoughts, words and deeds. He has only needed one thing: the assurance that his family would have a better life.

Today, Pol works as a Sales Manager for an outdoor advertising company. He has a wife and two daughters, one already in high school. He has also invested in a house and lot in Northern Samar. The family has even begun to save up for the children’s college education.

Pol certainly deserves all the blessings life has brought him.

Pol has worked for the same company in the last twenty (20) years; while there is great value to his length of service, he is treasured primarily because of his industry, kindness and honesty. He has excellent attendance at work, even coming in early to plan his day. Pol is polite and sincere to clients, suppliers and co-employees. He acts as mentor to his subordinates, selfless in helping his department meet targets and generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge.

Pol is a devoted family man. He is a thoughtful husband, and a protective and responsible father. Pol shuns vice, preferring to channel all resources to provide his family with the basic comforts. Pol best exemplifies our ideal, modern-day dad: deeply involved in rearing his children, shares in the housework, faithful and affectionate to his wife, and always believing in and reaching for the brighter star.

Pol finished his secondary education in Las Navas, Northern Samar. He was taught trade skills in the course of his employment but learned a lot more on his own. Despite the odds, Pol clearly made his decision a long time ago to be a man of courage and goodwill.

I admire him for the man that he is and what he has accomplished thus far.

A Child Now In Heaven

There was a child who passed away last weekend. His name was Em-em.


Em-em was used by a criminal syndicate for many years. By the time he was rescued, he was already physically, mentally and emotionally damaged.


He could not even stay in a home for his own safety and security. He was always hungry and dirty. He was always looking for friendship and affection.


I cared for him. I wonder now if I did enough. But my love may have just remained in the periphery of his troubled life.


Rest in peace, my dear Em-em. I do not know how I will be relieved of my sadness and regret. But may all of our future acts of goodwill deeply touch more lives because you truly deserved to live in a much better world.

Happy Birthday to Femie Trinidad!

That's my mom on the left with her good friend, Lulu Consignado, both quite successful at upstaging Dawn Zulueta.

My mom will be celebrating her 68th birthday on September 3rd. I want to greet her for the first time on the net and thank her for loving her children: Richard, Anthony, Tom and me.

Karen V. Cortez: Young and Compassionate

Karen on the left with her mom, Ellen, and grandmother Amanda Marcelo. The children should join one of the idol contests.

Australia-based Karen Cortez visits the children at Gabay Buhay Home every year whenever she takes a vacation in the Philippines. Karen is 12 years old !

Last Easter, she helped host an Easter egg hunt, some games, lunch and a water balloon fight with and for the kids. It was such a fun filled day so when her family had to leave already, some of the girls asked her to visit again. And Karen did.

Del A. Castillo: Healthy Food Advocate

At Likha Diwa, Del is wearing a red shirt; front row:
jules and leslie; 2nd row: maris and mavic; back, rodel


There are many alternatives to crispy pata. (Howling in the background.) Okay, okay. Let me qualify my statement: there are many healthy alternatives for a better quality of life. yahoo.

Health is clearly a matter of choice. And we need to make good choices. People like Del Castillo help us in our most trying, tempting moments.

Del Castillo has been a tireless advocate for healthy eating. For 13 years now, she has been operating Likha Diwa sa Gulod where fruits, vegetables, seafood, tofu, mushrooms and meat substitutes are primarily served.

The Likha Diwa menu includes traditional Filipino recipes (adobo, kare-kare, etc.) and products of Del's continuing culinary experimentations such as the vegetarian paella and relyenong tofu.

Think carrot and cucumber juices. Squid and mushroom sisig. Fish lumpia. Rice coffee. Mushroom and chili veggie meat quesadillas. Sinigang sa bayabas.

Del has personally encouraged friends and relatives to make THE SHIFT in their diets: more servings of fresh, raw, organic fruits and vegetables; the use of olive oil and yoghurt; limiting soda and fastfood intake. Good, practical choices.

Through the years, Del has also shared cooking techniques and invited countless guests to sample her product development creations. Wonderful feasts!

To complement the healthy eating, Del has been running too, easily finishing a 10K when I am just into my first Kilometer. Really, the power comes from omega-3, oranges and the pechay balls.

Likha Diwa is located along C.P. Garcia, near the University of the Philippines and Katipunan Road (1 Lt. J. Francisco Street, Krus na Ligas, Diliman, Quezon City. You may reach them at 925-55-22.

What It Takes To Be A Mom or Dad

Someone gave me a photocopy of this list. I am sharing this with all of you as even those without children will appreciate this.

Please feel free to copy and forward it to your friends and relatives.

If anyone knows the original source, just let me know so we can properly acknowledge the author.


What It Takes To Be A Mom or Dad


1. Read to your children.

2. Keep your promises.

3. Go for walks together.

4. Let your children help with household projects.

5. Spend time one-on-one with each child.

6. Tell your children about your own childhood.

7. Go to the zoo, museums, and ball games as a family.

8. Set a good example.

9. Use good manners.

10. Help your children with their homework.

11. Show your children lots of warmth and affection.

12. Set clear, consistent limits.

13. Consider how your decisions will affect your children.

14. Listen to your children.

15. Know your children's friends.

16. Take your children to work.

17.Open a savings account for college education.

18. Resolve conflicts quickly.

19. Take your children to your place of worship.

20. Make a kite together.

21. Fly a kite together.

Our Tita Cory

photo courtesy of Time.com

Among Tita Cory's greatest gifts to the Filipinos is her courage to lead us when we feared the dictatorship.

Ma. Cheryl F. Prudente: Environmentalist

I had a house built somewhere in Cavite.

I wanted the structure to be attuned to its environment. Where does the sun rise? How deep would the underground water table be? Where do its tributaries lie? What is the direction of the wind? How shall it help cool my house? What plants would be best for the garden given the area's soil quality?

I wanted the process of house construction to conform to all environmental laws, whether existing or moral in nature.

I wanted a home that nurtures, aids its environment; that will also help me save on utilities and various other costs in the long-term. Well, my home now has a specially designed plumbing system and two cisterns for storing rainwater, large windows that frame clear skies, high ceilings, and a fishpond! My home makes use of low wattage electric bulbs, a lot of steel, cement and aluminum components to reduce the need for future, constant repairs and replacements, and earth colors that send messages of peace and warmth.

When I was going to have my house built, I could only think of and trust Che Prudente.

Che Prudente is one of our best catalysts for change in the way we view and respect the environment. She has been involved in the fields of policy-making, design, research, education, advocacy work, among others. To further her cause, Che works closely with schools, communities, both government and non-government organizations, industries, commercial enterprises, and even "ordinary" people (like me, for which I am eternally grateful).

Of the many projects Che is involved in, I am particularly appreciative of her efforts to share her expertise among the youth in various communities around the country. The modules include more than just lectures as participants get to visit river or lake areas and test their water qualities.


The Youth for Wetlands Ecological Camp was held last April 15-17, 2009 at Angono, Rizal.

As an individual, Che practices what she preaches. At home, she has an aquarium with excellent water quality, a correct mix of fish that actually survive till old age, and flora that really serve as fish food and shelter. She devises household systems to save on water and electricity (for instance, she does not reheat and simply eats leftovers straight from the refrigerator).

Che studied Architecture at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila. She also finished her Masters in Engineering in Water and Environmental Resource Management at the UNESCO-IHE (Infrastructure Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering) Institute for Water Education in Netherlands. Whew.

I asked Che about her current involvements apart from the Ecocamps. I thought there were three or four things on her agenda. Please read on and think hard if Che is still able to sleep:

• Technical Assistant for the TWG (pre and post conference) of National Wetlands and Climate Change Policy Workshop
• TWG: Updating the National Wetlands Action Plan
• Team Leader: GREENovation and GREENretrofitting of the Candaba Wetlands Information Center Complex in Apalit, Pampanga
• Lead Project Officer: Ensuring Access to Safe Water for Households in Communities Affected by Floods in the Philippines (Northern and Western Samar)
• Technical Team: Pilot Low-cost Residential Houses with Wastewater Treatment Facilities (Tipas, Rizal and Dasmarinas, Cavite)
• Technical Team: Installation of Low-cost Floating Septic Biogas Reactor for Offshore Settlements in Selected Sites in Tawi-Tawi.
• Technical Team: Low-cost septic and wastewater treatment for a resettlement area in Bacoor, Cavite.

Everyone's probably thinking now: "I should be doing more for the environment, too. Yes, please, in ways great and small.

Che's commitment to all of these projects must inspire us to live lives of moderation, to remember that we are all just passing through in this world, we owe it to the future generations to leave intact our God-given wealth of resources.

Let's reduce, re-use and recyle. Let's ask everyone we know to do the same. Let's support projects for the enviornment. And let's spearhead our own campaigns, too, if we can.