Saturday photo



Life is good... and a life spent in service to others is best.

A few days ago, I had to struggle to keep it together, and not break down in tears as a young lady broke down in front of me, after trying - very hard - to hold back tears.  It was most unfortunate that she was born to an extremely impoverished family.  She had to scrape her way through Elementary and High School - in a very good school, on hard-earned scholarship, as her parents, who could not even obtain High School education, tried to make both ends meet by working as househelps.  None of her hardships though could sway her sight away from her dream to get a College degree, and help her family out of the rut of poverty.  "With hardwork and faith in God, there is always hope," she said. 

After finishing high school, she had to stop attending school for a year, not having enough money to pay for her graduation fees and other fees in high school not covered by her scholarship. Therefore, she was not able to graduate officially even when she was able to fulfil all the academic requirements. And, anyway, even if she was able to get her high school diploma, her family did not have enough money to get her into College.  For a year, she worked as househelp for a relative, living on strict budget and setting aside money, hoping she'd have enough in a couple of years or so to get to College... until a priest in her Parish gave her the idea to look into the possibility of studying in this University he knew about - on scholarship.  She worked to earn enough money to pay her debts in high school and to pay for her University Entrance Examination fee.  She studied hard to make sure she'd pass the Exam... and she did.  After that, she had to work harder to pay the initial fees to enrol in the University.  Once in, she worked very hard, setting aside the temerity that she acquired from being underprivilleged all her life, to find scholarship in the University.  Luckily, she found her way through the process of getting a scholarship. 

I was very lucky to have been given the task to speak with this girl regarding her scholarship application.  I was beginning to despair about how hard I had to work - day in and day out - to fulfil my (many, many) tasks at work.  It took a conversation with this girl to remind myself how lucky I am to be in this position where I am able to serve and help wonderful people like her to fulfil their precious dreams.  And the harder I work, the more people, like this young lady, benefit from the fruits of my labor. 

I guess it helps to always remind ourselves how beautiful this life that we're living truly is... by making it our goal to put a smile on the lips of the people around us, especially those we serve - of course, without compromising the principles and high standard of the Institution that sustains the platform on which we dispense of our service. 

To be put in a position that enables us to serve others is in itself a great blessing from God, and serving well is the best way to show our appreciation for this blessing.  Therefore, let's serve well.

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Location:  Stilts Beach Resort in Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines

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