"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Abraham Lincoln

Learning the stories of other people--their joys, their struggles, their achievements, their fears, and their dreams is a blessing. They make one see life from a different perspective.

Yesterday, I was very lucky to have met three wonderful women:

Lola Eden: a Zoology graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, became a teacher for many years in a school in Manila molding young minds, for a time also worked as a laboratory assistant contributing to the medical industry, even traveled Europe at the peak of her professional and financial success... Like you and me, she probably enjoyed her youth and had not foreseen dark clouds in her future. Regrettably however, she was unfortunate in love ending up an old maid. Savings gone, her memory not as good as it had been, no children and only a few relatives left (who according to her "could not be bothered" leading their own lives), she said a tearful goodbye to success and stability as she started counting strands of white hair. Her only joys now are taking care of Tiger, her chubby black cat and reading whatever she could get her hands on provided her deteriorating eyesight could manage to see.

Lola Freda: lived a stereotypical barrio lass' life... Born to poverty, her days were a constant struggle to survive. Making and repairing clothes is not too lucrative a business especially for someone not so well-educated. She did enjoy being a seamstress and basking in beauty and fashion. But an abandoned old maid at present, she longs for the slow hum of her old machine, back when she had little but at least was happy spending time on her hobby and livelihood. She still has the penchant for fashion... as I've sensed when I saw her in an orange floral duster, carrying an orange handbag, an old but eye-catching headband glistening against her white hair... But her shallow pockets and now crooked frame simply don't match that interest anymore. Chronic depression has led this once bubbly girl to think of taking her own life. Relying on the donations of people and borrowing attention from whoever cared to listen were definitely very unfashionable.

Lola Chayong: a picture of Madonna, a loving mother. When I spoke to her, she could not stop telling me all about her son who had become a priest. "Ang anak ko, napakabait at napakaguwapo [My son is very kind and very handsome]," her eyes sparkle as she recalls her beloved. She goes on to tell me that he took his priesthood studies at a prestigious convent and was even ordained by a popular bishop. It had taken ten years for him to prepare serving the Lord and His community. She had a wide smile as she said: "Isipin mo... sampung taon! Higit pa nun ang walong taon ng pagdo-doktor! [Just think about it... ten years! That's longer than the 8 years it takes to become a doctor!]" I nod and tell her how admirable it is indeed to devote one's life to the holy calling. To lift her spirits, I even exclaim that all that can be attributed to her good upbringing of the boy. She goes on to tell me more stories. But later on, she bows and darts her eyes when someone mentions about his passing away. I cannot imagine the pain of a parent who lost a child.

They are just some of the grandmothers who have found hope within the gates of ANAWIM.

Derived from a Hebrew term pertaining to the unfortunate, ANAWIM LAY MISSIONS FOUNDATION, INC. is the home of 55 abandoned elderly plus a few orphans and physically and mentally handicapped persons. They will be 12 years by the middle of 2008, giving care and love to God's poor. Bo Sanchez, popular writer and inspirational speaker, is the founder of this institution.

The Maersk Employee Committee's Corporate Social Responsibility team organized a second visit to Anawim. This is one of the reasons I love MEC, all the hard work and responsibility it is. I firmly believe that to touch a life even in the smallest of ways is very worthwhile. Visiting children at the orphanage and the elderly of ANAWIM (some of the initiatives we were privileged to have put up with the company's support) is a way of giving back to the community as is due considering the size and profit of the Maersk business. Likewise, it grants employees the unique chance to be immersed in life's realities and take part in something meaningful.

Taking after last year's Valentine event, this time we shared our time with them as an advanced Christmas gift. The long and bumpy ride to get there was definitely worth it as the lolos and lolas, all very game, sang and danced with us. We then had lunch together and exchanged stories, smiles, and care the entire afternoon. Even if just for a while, I was able to share some love to my alagas Lola Eden, Lola Freda, and Lola Chayong. We also walked around their huts and their chapel. And before leaving, we had left them gifts of rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits and individual bags of hygiene supplies to hopefully address their needs.

But I think it was them who gave us a more valuable gift: the gift of appreciating life.

----------------------------------------------------------

For more information on ANAWIM and/or to be an ANAWIM partner, visit: http://anawim.com.ph/home.html