National fencer shows kind heart

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo fencing standout Maxine Esteban went all-out in the fund-raising drive for the medical frontliners in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, with a donation of her entire 2019 allowance as a national athlete.

Esteban also gave away her incentives from the 30th SEA Games in the campaign called “A Small Thing Goes a Long Way.”

All proceeds went to the procurement of relief packs, PPEs and other medical needs of hard-hit areas as well as hospitals like the National Children’s Hospital, UERM, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, UST Hospital and Makati Medical Center. 

San Juan City Hall was also a beneficiary of the 19-year-old rising star’s charity act launched last month. 

“First off, I want to thank all our donors, without whom this project would not have been possible,” said Esteban, who won a SEAG bronze medal as part of the women’s foil fencing team.

“We were able to raise around P360,000 from our donors, but my sisters and I wanted to reach P500,000 so I decided to share my blessings as well.”

This off-court MVP effort by Esteban came with her impressive academic achievement in the middle of the enhanced community quarantine as she has finished online courses from Ivy League institutions Yale University and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.