By: Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
The joy of being remembered!
Two decades ago I became a volunteer of Enfants Du Mekong, a Catholic French Foundation who is sending children to school in third world countries. I was being referred to by a friend, Teresita Escano Manguerra, a wedding sponsor of the wedding ceremony of my eldest daughter, Estela Ocampo-Fernandez.
That was in 2008. I was, then, coordinating 32 college students who dreamt of becoming professionals in order to help their respective families and someday help their younger siblings to school. It was their means to gain economic freedom for the betterment of their way of life. The only requirement was the applicant’s dream and the proof that the parents of the applicant were incapable of supporting the children for a college education. Only one applicant from each family was allowed.
Indeed, everything starts with a dream. And in this Foundation, the applicants were asked to write their dream so the Foundation could look for a sponsor from France to support the scholars’ studies in the Philippines. The foundation was founded by a French soldier who fought in the war along the Mekong River area which is made up of many countries: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and the Thailand border. You must have seen Miss Saigon – that’s the offshoot of the war – Ms. Saigon, The Opera. This stars Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson, on alternate schedules.
It was at that time of the height of the Foundation here in Bohol when I asked the help of my bff Ardy Ardaneta-Batoy to conduct lectures on Communication to the scholars. Letter writing and article composition was one of the subject matters. So the scholars started to freely practice their skill in writing.
It was a beautiful experience for each scholar to write his/her dreams and regularly send letters on special occasions to the benefactors. While it was true that the scholars were not allowed to write directly to their benefactors, yet their letters reached the addressees via the scholarship coordinator. The process had to be done this way to avoid some form of mendicancy.
It was also nice that Enfants Du Mekong is a parish-based Catholic organization without limiting its beneficiaries to those who belonged to the said Religion. Education doesn’t have boundaries, so the scholars/beneficiaries came from different Religious groups
My term in the program ended in 2014. Of the 32 scholars who have graduated during my term, there are 2 or 3 who still always keep in touch. When you see them on facebook already settled in their respective careers, you find an instant feeling of joy and fulfillment that, somehow, you have contributed a little to the betterment of their lives. This kind of joy is beyond measure. Indeed, it is a beautiful feeling to be remembered – not necessarily to be recognized.
Some graduates have become closer to me. One of them is Argie Galvez who hails from Mabini, Bohol. He is already a licensed architect, plumber and electrician who finished his course at Bohol Island State University. When he passed the board, he came to see me to say thank you. For every milestone, he expresses his “Thank You!”. He practiced architecture for a while in Cebu and got married. It might be that during Covid he had this dream of becoming a policeman. And now he has finished his training. He sent me a letter thru messenger if I could help him get an assignment in Bohol so that his wife can take a review in Civil Engineering. This is one couple who is on the journey of realizing dreams with the two kids.
Can I help him make connections with the Philippine National Police? I’m now ancient at age 77. I know only of those who are in my immediate environment and my only link to the outside world is the radio, television and the Bohol Tribune. National dailies have become passé to me. My eyes cannot even stand reading the fonts on the mobilephone. And I remember the radio program over dyTR called SIBYA ug LAMBIGIT featuring the Philippine National Police during the Thursday edition of Open Forum. This is anchored by my bff Ardy.
So, bff Ardy, pardon me for making you as one of Argie’s references. After two decades, he must have perfected the art of letter writing with you as one of his mentors. Yes, you have been his mentor and he has put to heart what you taught him and the scholars about the Art. Just as I have become a writer, though in my crude ways, because of you. I hope by now, his letter to you is on the wings of love and song.
True happiness is always felt when we give part of ourselves freely without conditions and reward.
