Vote For Our Hero !

Elmer De Los Santos: Pastor, Where Are You?

I met Pastor Elmer De Los Santos in 1997. He had to take a leave from his duties at the Emmanuel Christian Fellowship and focus instead on earning a living.

He and his family had to face such difficult challenges before they were really, finally able to live peacefully. But I’ve always known that their situation was only temporary; their collective faith, honesty, courage and sacrifices can only result in great blessings. It was just a matter of time.

Pastor’s economic concerns began when he was victimized in a scam. His financial situation then took a turn for the worse due to a subsequent failed business venture. But he had vowed to honor and pay off all the debts he had incurred. For many months, he worked long hours driving a taxi cab. He lived frugally and still there was barely enough for rent, food and education.

When his wife decided to work abroad to help with the payments, Pastor Elmer accepted this albeit with a heavy heart. When she left for the Middle East, Pastor stopped driving the taxi cab and took care of the children full time. He missed his wife terribly and longed for her quietly. He could only pray for her safety. One day, however, his wife had called long distance. She needed help to return to the Philippines immediately. His wife’s employer was not a kind man. Pastor Elmer was grief stricken.

Fortunately, through the intercession of a friend, Pastor’s wife’s employer had to release her. The Pastor’s wife, however, was not discouraged by her experience with her first employer. She left again, this time for Taiwan, after a few weeks.

Since then, blessings have poured in for the De Los Santos family! Pastor Elmer’s wife won some cash in a contest; Pastor was able to invest in a house and lot for the family. The debts were being paid on a regular basis. Pastor Elmer still missed his wife but he was no longer worried about her safety. The family would be reunited soon enough.

I have very good memories of Pastor Elmer. He was such a morally upright man. He was responsible and he put other peoples’ interests first before his own. He lived simply, unattached as he was to material wealth or influence or power. Pastor Elmer is a preacher and an evangelist, effectively speaking, acting and living in god’s grace.

I have not seen Pastor Elmer though in a decade and I am hoping that someone out there who knows him gets to read this. Nananawagan po ako…I would very much like to see him again. (I already scoured facebook and multiply.)

Virtues To Live By

We reflect on our thoughts, words and actions regularly; ask for forgiveness; learn from our many mistakes; and, help our fellowmen. Oftentimes we still ask ourselves, “What more should I do?”

Apparently, there are checklists available...ha ha! While the list of virtues below may appear challenging, may be eye-popping, many of the virtues are very relevant to our lives today, now. Wikipedia lists over a hundred of them:

ability acceptance altruism appreciation assertiveness attention focus autonomy

awareness balance beauty benevolence candor caring caution charity chastity

cleanliness commitment compassion confidence consciousness consideration contentment

cooperativeness courage courteousness creativity curiosity dependability detachment

determination diligence discernment empathy encouragement endurance enthusiasm equanimity

equity excellence fairness faithfulness fidelity flexibility foresight forgiveness fortitude

friendliness generosity gentleness goodness happiness health helpfulness honesty honor

hopefulness hospitality humility humor idealism imagination impartiality independence

industriousness innocence integrity intuition inventiveness justice kindness knowledge

lovingness loyalty meekness mercy moderation modesty morality nonviolence nurturing

obedience openness optimism patience peacefulness perseverance philanthropy philomathy

piety potential prudence purity purposefulness resilience remembrance respectfulness

reverence responsibility (moral & social) restraint self-awareness self-confidence

self-discipline self-reliance self-respect sensitivity service sharing sincerity skill spirituality

strength sympathy tactfulness temperance tenacity thankfulness thoughtfulness

trustworthiness truthfulness understanding unity unselfishness wisdom and work !

Norma Castro: THE Ate

Norma Castro (seated, in white shirt) with some friends at SM MOA.

It’s wonderful to be called “Ate!” Not only does it sound better than “manang” when it is used to address you, you know a real bond exists: you either share blood ties with another person, or have had an enriching experience together, or have acted as mentor to a learner or as a guardian to a child. Yes, you are older than the other person but when the relationship is acknowledged, the age difference may be deemed as incidental.



The quintessential Ate, to my mind, is Norma Castro as she takes her title rather seriously. She is devoted to her two wards and to her younger friends at a foundation. She is deeply concerned for their welfare, infinitely proud of their achievements, and willing to make sacrifices for them. Almost like a parent would be.



A month ago, Norma texted me: “Ate, my wards were included in the honor roll.” Norma brings the two kids to school, prepares what they need for classes, helps them with their homework, and ensures they get enough sleep. The other month, Norma also texted me: “Ate, my wards performed a number in class. I helped them practice.”



During her days off, Norma visits the children at Gabay Buhay Home. Her favorite pasalubong (gift) for the kids is a large order of pancit palabok (a noodle dish with shrimp sauce). She sleeps there overnight and takes the opportunity to bond with both the staff and the children. And while she is there, Norma’s wards always text her to check if their Ate is fine and to ask whether she is returning to their Pasig home soon.



Ate Norma never takes a day off if no one will take care of her wards. She refers to them as ”mga alaga” which in the vernacular means “those I take care of.” So Norma may easily forego resting or pursuing her personal interests, putting her wards’ interests first over hers any time. (“Alaga” is different from “pinalaki”, or to raise, as the former has a nurturing component while the latter emphasizes the provision of the basic needs of an individual: food, clothing and shelter.)



Children trust their Ate Norma because her good intentions are always reflected in her actions, in the way she speaks and in how often she smiles -- which is really more often that you, me and five others combined!



Ate Norma would be a joy to be with or to work with always. And I am writing this just so that she knows that we appreciate her and acknowledge all the good that she does.

Melecia A. Velmonte: Doctor For The Barrio

Google “Melecia A.Velmonte” and you will find a long search list on her: numerous research papers, medical missions, conferences attended, lectures done, organizational memberships, etc. And Dr. Velmonte’s achievements as well as contributions to the medical profession are actually even more than the sum of your search list.


An infectious diseases specialist, Dr. Velmonte finished high school valedictorian in San Dionisio, Iloilo and studied medicine at the University of the Philippines in Manila. She has been staffed in various hospitals, both private and public, but has always managed to find the time to treat patients from the marginalized sectors for free in different provinces all over the country.


Dr. Velmonte spends her free time in Barangay Maybangkal, Morong, Rizal still treating patients and organizing medical/dental missions with the help of local barangay healthworkers. She also tends to her farm and manages a conference venue called Silungan. (Dr. Velmonte’s Silungan is a regular venue for children’s camps as well as trainings, seminars and workshops for medical practitioners, government institutions, academic groups and non-government organizations.)


I am most touched by Dr. Velmonte’s deep involvement in the lives of children affected and infected by HIV. Dr. Velmonte has already worked with generations of these children thru the Extended Care Program at San Lazaro Hospital and the Precious Jewels in Quezon City.


But best of all, Dr. Velmonte’s standards for treating all her patients as well as her concern for their welfare are equally high, regardless of stature or economic background.


Thus, we are ever so grateful that she has chosen to return to the barrio and treat patients there,where she is most needed.

(For inquiries on Silungan, please call Bob @ 09178278497.)

Live Without Regrets

How wonderful! London-based Jane Adiong-Scott, a good friend of mine from college, wrote in and shared a beautiful poem.
Jane also writes poetry herself and we both studied Anthropology in the state university a long, long time ago.


If I Had my Child To Raise Over Again

IF I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.

--Diane Loomans

Typhoon Ondoy

As of yesterday, 247,555 families have been affected by Typhoon Ondoy. Let's extend immediate assistance to our countrymen!

Please check on the link below for donation drop off points:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=tBMVeBvbdAtYRaRB6ErFWnA&toomany=true&pli=1


Thank you, everyone!