Memoire

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Three young teens passed by my table as I sat silently chewing a piece of burger in my mouth. Then two middle-aged men with smile on their faces followed them and have them all seated around 3 tables placed side by side.

This sight created a lump on my throat and tears easily welled in my eyes. It made me recall of my green days in college. It was a moment of struggle if I can go for further studies after highschool or not due to financial difficulties in the family. That was when I thought, will I ever get to college?

God opened a window for a light to shine through my clouded faith. I did not know him personally, except for one thing; he has the heart to help me. Mario ‘Bobby’ Heriales’ walked into my life.

Kuya Bobby, as I casually call him, was a publisher of then Silangan Shimbun in Japan. He was also one of the main providers of calling prepaid cards which were readily available to his Pinoy kababayans overseas, mainly in Japan, where he found a living.

A heart to help and a drive for education, those were his tools to keep on reaching his dreams. Those same forces moved him to sponsor students in their studies.

I was blessed enough to be chosen as one ofhis scholars. I remember that day of desperation. The scholars’ slots were all taken. The only way I could thought of was to personally talk to him via distant phone call and plead of him.

If for him that was a chance to take; but, for me, it was the last option left. God must have seen the sincerity of my heart. In four years, he patiently sustained me and alleviated the burden of my family. He took the load of paying for my tuition fees with a promise that I should do my best in school. I did my part, just as he hoped, and finished college with flying colors on common Alma Mater.

Philantrophs around us are a gift from God. Though some of them opt to remain unheard, the evidence of their hard work shouts out. Every brimming smile that a person returns after successfully getting through the expected course with another’s help is a simple note that the sweat paid off. How much more when the tangible help reached their personal life in the future?

This philantroph heart, I should say, is contagious. I believe that I, too, am on my way to passing this good gift forward. Forever I will thank Kuya Bobby for being there when the going for me got tough.