Korina’s softer side

Korina Sanchez has always had this tough-as-nails image. When it comes to doing interviews on-air, she is relentless and unafraid to go up against even the highest government officials. She’s gotten into trouble more than once for her outspokenness, but that is just the way she is, and she’s not about to apologize for that.

And yet for all her toughness on-screen, Korina also has a softer side. For instance, people have only recently begun to discover that she loves dogs and actually keeps four of them at home. She is also a very generous person, and ever since she started as a broadcaster, has always thought of ways to share what she has with the less fortunate.

“All of my platforms since I started in Magandang Umaga Po (her first morning show with Kabayan Noli de Castro), I already had charity. Bata pa lang ako, I really like charity. I like giving, I really derive happiness from that,” says Korina. “My earliest photos of my earliest shows, there was always charity — Hoy Gising, Magandang Umaga, Balitang K, there was always charity. Then I headed Lingkod Patrol for a while, when Mel Tiangco left, di ba sa kanya ‘yung Lingkod Bayan, and then it became Lingkod Patrol under me when she left.”

In her latest show, Rated K, she also introduced a charity component. She does this through her Tsinelas Project, where she gives out slippers to children too poor to afford them. She came up with the idea years ago during a trip to Samar. Korina asked fellow broadcaster Ted Failon, who hails from Leyte what she could do by way of a charity project there, and he suggested giving out slippers. “So I brought lang 500 pairs and I went to a far-flung barangay, and when I saw their tsinelas, wow. So immediately, we identified that as a basic need kasi lahat sila, ‘yung mga tsinelas, nangangalahati na, at ‘yung likod, pudpod na,” says Korina.

To her surprise, the problem wasn’t just in the provinces; the same was true even in Metro Manila. “Dito sa Metro Manila ang may pinaka-sirang tsinelas, for some reason. The need is the same.”

People who would watch her program would be shocked by what they saw. Apparently, few had realized the extent of the need for slippers, which is something a lot of people take for granted. “People who watched, people who live in comfort, they are shocked that nationwide, there is that kind of problem pala, kids without slippers,” says Korina. “And we never thought it was a basic need, so natutuwa naman ako na ang daming nagtatanong, ‘Paano mo naisip ‘yan?’”

Now, whenever Korina drives through the streets of Metro Manila, she keeps the tsinelas handy in the trunk of her car to give to children who beg for coins or loose change. “Madalas, ‘yung mga batang nanlilimos, ‘yung tsinelas either sira-sira, or they go barefoot. So I give them. Para akong Santa Claus ng tsinelas,” she laughs.

But despite her best efforts, Korina realized she can’t possibly put slippers on the feet of every single child that needs them. There are so many children, and not enough slippers, which now reportedly cost almost P40 a pair. For poor families, or those living below the poverty line, P40 is a big thing. It can buy a kilo of rice and some fish or vegetables for ulam. So rather than spend it on slippers, they will spend it on food or other things they consider more important.

What she is trying to do now is get other like-minded individuals to help in the tsinelas campaign so that more children can be given slippers. “The need is unending,” says Korina. “And I think it’s going to be a sin if you don’t try to harness other people’s goodwill when you can. And you’ll be surprised, so many people are so willing (to help).” Just the night before this interview, Korina was at an event and tried to solicit as many tsinelas as she could. One guest responded positively to her query and asked, “How many do you need? I’ll give you all you need.’”

Korina’s goal is to raise a million pairs of tsinelas. She’s nowhere near that number yet, but she’s confident that with the help of so many others who’ve expressed their willingness to come forward — from ordinary citizens to her fellow broadcasters — that they will reach their goal sooner than soon.