Paying it forward

CEBU, Philippines – Jasmine Curtis-Smith has never had the misfortune of worrying where her next meal will come from, whether she’ll have a roof over her head tomorrow, or where to scrounge up the next check for her college fees.

“Ever since I was a kid, my sister and both my parents were already working. So I was never put in that position,” says Jasmine.

Yet thanks to a strong awareness of  her parents’ struggles, the Fil-Aussie actress didn’t grow up an entitled spoiled brat. Nor one oblivious to the abject poverty the world over.

The Melbourne-born Jasmine says she grew up hearing stories of her Filipina mother, Carmencita, juggling several jobs: in a factory for zippers and buttons, in a bakery, and even for an aunt, among other things. What struck a young Jasmine the most was how her mom would send her entire earnings “down to the last five cents” to her family back in the Philippines.

“That’s something that’s so selfless and one I could not imagine I could ever do,” she says. “Yung wala na talagang matitira sa akin, basta lang maibigay ko sa mga taong mas nangangailangan pa.”

“My mom worked harder to make sure her siblings would not go through what she had gone through. She paid off their education, and eventually, they were able to secure their own jobs and go to the countries they wanted to go to,” Jasmine continues.

Her Australian father, James, didn’t also come from a well-heeled background. Jasmine says he too, went through working several jobs at once to pay off high school and college debts.

Her parents’ humble beginnings are what make her “appreciate how lucky I am to have what I have.”

Bent on using her celebrity pulpit wisely, the 21-year-old declares that it’s time for her to now give back.

“I have everything I need. I don’t need much,” she insists. “It’s time for me to pay it forward, not only to my mom, but for the country that she grew up in and the country that she worked hard to be a part of. We’re so blessed to be in the position that we’re in and the attention that we’re given. Might as well make use of it the best way we can.”

Jasmine is doing just that as World Vision’s Ambassador for the Youth,  joining the ranks of staunch celebrity supporters which include Miriam Quiambao, Sam Milby, Nikki Gil,  Christian Bautista, Sam Concepcion,  among others.

Now 58 years in the Philippines and more than 30 years in Cebu, World Vision is an international humanitarian, relief, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to overcome poverty and injustice.

In Cebu, Word Vision’s office is located at Mandaue City’s Arcada 5. Currently, 6,000 kids from Cebu are under its sponsorship program, specifically those in the remote areas of Liloan, Compostela, Sogod, Tabogon, Alcantara, Moalboal and Ronda.

Jasmine was in Cebu last Monday to visit sponsored children and students of Compostela Central School. She was also the guest speaker at the Cebu IT Expo 2015 held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, where she shared her advocacies with World Vision which began during her student years in Australia.

“Prior to all of this, I was actually very active in World Vision Australia,” the TV5 star reveals during a press conference held at Golden Cowrie Lahug.

She first discovered World Vision through a cousin who invited her to participate in an event dubbed ‘40-hour Famine,’ wherein participants are asked to give up something special or essential to them such as food, their comfy bed or social media for 40 hours. In exchange, volunteers are able to raise money by asking friends, family or anyone online to donate however much they want.

In 2011, when the younger sister of A-list star Anne Curtis was just starting out in showbiz, World Vision Philippines reached out to her through Twitter. This was how her bond with the group began.

Every now and then, Jasmine joins emergency response and post-recovery operations, such as when she volunteered in helping rebuild a house in Bohol after the province was rocked by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013.

“What’s good with World Vision,” Jasmine notes, “no amount is too small to give. It’s the act of giving that they cherish. It can even be your talent, time or your resources.”

Jasmine sponsored her first child at 19. When she turned 20, she vowed to sponsor one child each time her birthday comes up.

“So far, I have five sponsored kids, three of which I just began sponsoring this year. The other two, I sponsored as I celebrated my birthdays. I missed doing so last year, so I made up for it this year by sponsoring three.”

“I thought sponsoring was a great way to signify a big leap in my maturity. I’ve been so blessed, so there’s no reason not to share what I have,” says Jasmine, who is provided regular updates about the health and academic progress of her sponsored kids.

And speaking of blessed, Jasmine, who is heralded “TV5 Princess” by her home network, is among the lucky few among the Kapatid station’s stable who still enjoys a steady stream of projects. This, after quite a few contract talents of the network expressed dismay at the lack of work and are concerned they might be disenfranchised after a new TV5 entertainment head was appointed (Wilma Galvante was replaced by VIVA big boss Vic del Rosario).

“From my perspective and from what I’ve observed in this industry, artists will always have their own season. I think that’s what needs to be understood by other artists,” surmises Jasmine, currently seen on TV5’s adaptation of the Koreanovela “My Fair Lady,” Mondays-Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and “Happy Truck ng Bayan” on Sundays at 11 a.m.

“TV5 is such a small network, so their mindset is probably ‘Konti lang naman tayo, so bakit wala akong work.’ At the same time, it needs to be settled in their heads that there are also plans among the big bosses which we don’t see as artists. Seasons will come for us. This may be my season now, but in the next six months, I might not have a single show. TV5 might then be building up another artist.”

As for the Christmas holidays, Jasmine will be spending it Down Under with her mom and younger brother Thomas James.

Christmas in Australia is a far cry from how it is celebrated in the Philippines, but no matter, Jasmine is just as happy to be spending it with family.

“In Australia, Christmas really begins in December. It’s summer season, so it’s always a hot Christmas. Kahit gabi, walang hangin. Mainit talaga,” she says.

“Hindi naman sa malungkot, but if you don’t have a big family there, hindi mo masyadong mararamdaman ang Pasko. There, decorations don’t start getting displayed until December. Kami, we start displaying during September, so our neighbors find us weird.”