How Mama made a difference

I had a few people I looked up to while growing up in Bato town in Bicol. My mother and my sisters were my most generous companions as a child. I would usually watch my mom as she worked in the ricefield. Although her chores were physically tiring, I didn’t hear her complain. She made us feel that everything was okay. She made us feel comfortable despite the fact that we were living in a condition that was considerably impoverished. She taught me perseverance and instilled in me that education is very important and it is the only legacy she could give us.

When I was already going to school, I would sometimes come home crying because I couldn’t take the teasing of some children my age. I looked different from them, and at times they called me names. It even came to a point when they had me chased by a dog. My mother was my source of comfort. She told me to just let those people who called me names be. I need not fight back because it will be the Lord who will judge us all in the end. He is someone we can run to in every challenge we face. And as long as you know that you are not doing anything wrong, there is nothing to be afraid of.

We all have the capability to affect people we have in our lives, and those we meet along the way. I treasure the lessons I have learned from my mother. Those lessons guided me as I was growing up. I bring them with me everywhere I go.

Like my mother is to me, there are people who make a difference in our lives. These people have become significant because of their deeds, words of wisdom, and just the way they are to us. Our personal heroes become our inspiration and motivate us to do as good as they did. They are the people we dedicate the honor to when the time comes that we get acknowledged because of what we have become.

That’s Mama and me during the People of the Year awards night.

Being chosen by People Asia Magazine as one of their awardees is a great honor. I am so happy having known that I have been a good example and I have touched lives from different walks of life. As a beauty queen, I hope that what I’ve gone through and achieved would give a fresh view of beauty contests, that people who join such do not only show off their bodies or are unintelligent. Beauty contests can also be a venue for nations to be united.

I have observed that each of the awardees has excelled in different fields, but has a common goal to make a difference. Each wanted to help and create change in the community. There is one who helps support education of street children, provides them clothing, food, shelter, and care. There is one who, despite a tragic event, was able to smile and maintain a very positive view of life. Having the opportunity to meet them and know what they do is amazing.

I was once told, and I believe that we cannot make someone’s values good in an instant. It is something that is molded by time and challenged by every experience. We can all make a difference in our own little way  from being responsible sons and daughters, throwing garbage in the right place, following traffic rules, to just being honest in everything we do. Being good is something innate in all of us, and something we can do every day.

Most likely, the next generations who will be recognized in our country are the children of today who, as early as now, are already thinking of how they can make a change  those who have hopes and dreams of becoming better than what they already are. They are people who persevere, are humble and keep a strong faith.