“Mother, why don't you sell me?” a little girl of 7 year old called Fang Fang recently asked her mother. “Because if you sold me, we would have enough money to buy your medicine,” not knowing that both her parents are dying of HIV because of selling blood during the 1990's. Both parents died recently, leaving Fang Fang and her younger sister to become orphans.
This true story, which happened in Henan Province in China in 2001, is the most heart-breaking story I have ever heard. This was told by Chung To, an AIDS activist who is among this year's Ramon Magsaysay awardee for emergent leadership, during his acceptance speech in the awarding ceremony held at the PICC Main Theatre last August 31. It almost moved me to tears and as I listened to more stories of the children orphaned by AIDS, I slowly came to a realization, that the world indeed need heroes, not the type who possessed exaggerated super powers and wears silly costumes, but normal people (even the differently-abled ones), who have an extraordinary will power and passion to help their fellows. Heroes, who will save the world from poverty, corruption and ineffective governance, ignorance, global warming and destruction of the environment, and will inspire us to do the same. And these were the heroes that are recognized by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Now on its 50th year, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is the highest award given to Asians who have rendered selfless service to the peoples of Asia.
Chung To, a very successful young man is one of them. A graduate of Harvard University has a flourishing career as a senior bank executive. Bothered by the ignorance of the homosexual community about the looming danger of HIV-AIDS, he founded the Chi Heng Foundation, an organization aimed at helping gay Chinese men become aware of the threat of unprotected sex. He distributed condoms and safe-sex kits in gay bars and clubs and set up a help line for HIV-AIDs information, organized workshops, personal counselling, legal advice and links to doctors.
But as he discovered the hardship and sufferings brought by HIV-AIDS to the small town of Henan Province, where half of the villages died of HIV-AIDS, not from of sexual transmission, but from an illegal and ruthless trading of blood due to poverty, To decided to quit his flourishing career as a senior bank executive and went full helping people with AIDS. In 2002, he launched AIDS Orphans Project which helps children orphaned by AIDS, to live normal lives. To avoid social isolation, he insisted that AIDS-impacted children shall attend normal or vocational school and live with their relatives. He also provides these children counselling, through art and writing therapy, summer camps, and home visits, to help them regain their self confidence. From 127 students from Henan Province, To's foundation now helps four thousand AIDS-impacted children make a better lives for themselves.
“I figured that the world could do with one less banker,” say To. “But these children, they cannot wait.”
Also among the awardees- for government service - and my father's personal hero, former Senator Jovito Salonga, decided not to accept the $50,000.00 cash incentive given to the awardees. Instead, he will donate the said amount to three foundations which are very near to his heart, the first two - Kilos Bayan Foundation and the Bantay Katarungan Center of Justice - himself being the founder, are independent, non-profit and non partisan organizations which helps the marginalized sector our society. Salonga said that both are dwindling in funds because they rely heavily on donations. The third one, Silliman University in Dumaguete City is where his brother studied chemistry.
In his acceptance speech, Salonga recalled how his religious upbringing influenced his political actions. “It was inevitable that my Christian beliefs and values should motivate and influence my thinking and values in everyday and every hour,” said Salonga.
Salonga, born to a Presbyterian priest and a very spiritual mother, struggled to finish his Degree in Law at the University of the Philippines. He topped the bar exams in 1944 and took graduate studies in Harvard and Yale universities. He became Congressman of Rizal, won senatorial seats twice and was among the staunch defender of democracy during the Martial Law years. As Senate President, Salonga heads his colleague in ejecting the US Military bases from Subic.
Salonga, now eighty-seven, is recognized as one of the most honest public officials. During his private life, he founded Bantay Katarungan and Kilos Bayan which seeks to continue vision of a honest and competent government which have compassion for the poor and pride for the country. For him, the meaning of life is worth more than any financial advancement especially in service.
