WHILE others prefer to spend their birthdays in extravagance by throwing grand parties for friends and families, others choose to celebrate it in a noble cause just to help others instead.
Throwing birthday parties at 50 is too mainstream that is probably why others choose to spend it differently and that include the Resource Development Manager of the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, Dolly Rain Santos.
Santos, who had just turned 50 on November 4, had embarked on a remarkable journey by choosing to share her blessings to 47 young cancer patients at the house of hope in Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) who are undergoing treatment there.
Together with her friends Nancy Ang Herrera and VoxPop Davao General Manager Tessie Alcoriza, Santos had given the kids tumblers, toys, kiddie meals, medicines, vitamins and rice last October 22. They also extended their help to the patients at Kid’s ward at SPMC as well.
“This was brought about by the fact that I too has been through a lot of illnesses. I can empathize with the kids’ pains and sufferings that’s why I wanted to help alleviate their pain,” Santos shared when asked about what pushed her to make such a step in helping the kids.
“I do it alone, or sometimes, with the help of my closest friends,” she said, explaining prior to this that it was not the first time she did charitable work as she had always do this on a personal level.
Santos recalled how she had once suffered from a spinal problem where she was confined in bed for months and had to be injected with pain killers and given morphine to ease the pain she was feeling.
“I thought I would die but God, in all His faithfulness and goodness, healed me thus I [can relate to the] kids’ pain,” Santos shared.
Aside from handing out tangible things to the kids, Santos also did not set aside the most important thing - which is the intangible: she had also shared words of encouragement not only to the kids but to their parents as well and she even whispered words of prayers to them.
Extending help to others do not end here though as Santos said that it will be a lifetime thing for her.
“I love giving. Whoever gives to the poor, lends to the Lord just as the bible says,” Santos expressed.
“The kids, including their parents, were so blessed. I am also blessed to see their smiles and hear them say thanks and that’s more than enough for me,” Santos added.
In spite of all these, Santos gives all the credit to God.
“I give all the glory and honor back to God,” she expressed.