The man behind Pusong Pinoy voice

MANILA, Philippines - When you listen to his voice, slowly spoken yet convincing and clearly understood, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. live on DWIZ Khz AM band, every Saturday he patiently and joyously attends to the needs of those who seek medical and health assistance.

“Ito’y para malaman ng taumbayan na pwede silang lumapit sa PCSO para humingi ng medikal at pangkalusugan tulong (This is for the people to know that they can go to PCSO to ask for medical and health assistance),” says lawyer Jose Ferdinand Mendoza Rojas II — also known to listeners as Atty. Joy — the current GM of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Atty. Joy hails from Cavite City and Bigaa, Bulacan, two historic places in our country’s history where Tagalog is fluently spoken.

“We’re happy to extend the life of a person in a day, a week, a month or a year. Di kayang sukatin ng pera ang saya, and the quality time that is extended to be with his family and friends during the last moments or days of his life,” he further remarks.

Oftentimes, Atty. Joy participates as a guest on Pari Ko, which is aired from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., also on DWIZ, every Sunday. The show is hosted by Fr. Jojo Buenafe and Fr. Jason Laguerta, with the participation of the seminarians from the San Carlos Seminary in Guadalupe, Makati City. It addresses spiritual concerns and prayers for help for medical and health needs.

He is also involved as a lay minister at St. Peter and Paul Parish Church in Makati City.

This Lenten season, Atty. Joy, together with PCSO chairperson Margie Juico, led the PCSO community in its yearly retreat, or the 11th Values Re-orientation Program, with its theme, Remember Your First Love.

For his part, he will do the training, fasting and hands-giving. He will also go to Ateneo for the Lenten recollection and visit the seven churches.

Interestingly, his wife, lawyer Patricia A. O. Bunye, whose grandmother is a former actress before World War II hit the Philippines, is very supportive of his causes.

“She’s a lawyer, a senior partner (in a reputable law firm), specializing in mining, energy and intellectual property rights,” says Atty. Joy, who is a product of La Salle Greenhills (high school), the University of Massachusetts with Bachelor of Arts degree majors in economics and political science, cum laude, in 1988 and Ateneo de Manila University Law School with Juris Doctor of Law in 1994, the year he passed the bar examinations with flying colors.

He was able to put up his law office and, at the same time, he was able to work in government, starting with the Philippine National Oil Company, then with the Philippine Racing Commission as its commissioner and later on its chairman.

As the PCSO GM, he plans to increase its revenues by “enhancing our existing activities and introducing new programs.”

If they would be able to do that, he says the PCSO can help more needy Filipinos. “We eventually intend to have a sub-office or branch office in all the provinces nationwide so that our services will be within reach of every Filipino who may be in need.”

As to his philosophy in life, he says that one should be content with what one has. “Never compare yourself with others. Just do the best that you can. Do good and be good,” he says.

He hopes that more people in the provinces can find time to listen to his radio program to be updated or to know what people want from the said 77th year agency.

“We’ll go to them, instead of them going to us,” he says.

“For every peso that you can give to PCSO, 30 percent goes to medical and health assistance for our needy brethren. You have not only helped but you have also won. Filipino by heart, win by heart. We’re like this at PCSO,” he adds.

If he were to be born again in this world, he still prefers to be the same person doing these radio programs, lending a helping hand to those who have less in life.

“I would not ask for anything more,” he says with a gleam in his eyes as he is about to entertain lots of people who are in dire needs.