A testimony on poverty
Below is a letter we received from Tony Vera Cruz. Editor
27 January 2007
Dear Mrs. Mila Garcia Glodava,
May the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and your family!
I am blessed for having a "kababayan" who cares for others. And, I praise and thank God for giving the town of Infanta that "kababayan" - YOU. You have responded to Christ's call for service to other people. God bless you and the Metro Infanta Foundation.
Even though I have not seen Infanta for a long time, the website of Metro Infanta Foundation really updates
me. The article of Ms. Dolly Banzon regarding poverty inspired me to send this e-mail. I agree with her and I am along the same line with her ideas on poverty.
I grew up in Infanta from a poor family. My mother was the late Consuelo (Nana Choleng) Lamina Vera Cruz who did a lot of sacrifice for us. Many old Infantahins can testify. For sure, Ambassador Rudy Arizala knows my mother, Kuya Noli and Ate Vener. Like Mama Mary, I treasure those sacrifices of my beloved mother in my heart. Poverty did not stop me in accomplishing with great effort for my children. My eldest daughter with a master degree in Industrial Psychology from La Salle-Taft now works in Meralco-Ortigas. My second daughter, a licensed civil engineer and also a graduate of La Salle-Taft, is presently connected with Ericsson-Philippines. My youngest daughter ("pahabol") is in Grade IV at San Beda College-Alabang. My wife is a nurse, but, she sacrificed her profession to take care of our daughters. As for me, I am presently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as consultant for Quality Management (ISO) Systems.
Poverty is never to be an excuse for being dirty, physically and morally.
I am a living witness of God's promise – "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa". We have to do our part, the best we can, and God will do the rest. Let this testimony be an inspiration.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam! Deus caritas est.
Thanks and best regards,
Antonio L. Vera Cruz
In addition: I was an ex-seminarian of Bishop Labayen. The late mother of Ambassador Arizala was one of my benefactors. I believe God has a purpose why I did not become one of His anointed priests. God sent me, not only to earn money but also to serve Him, in Saudi Arabia, a mission country in the Middle East. I am one of God's many active Catholic servants here as Lay Minister and Community Elder.
From the photo of your Class of '57, I have now just learned that my late brother, Leodosco, was your classmate.
Maybe I can be a starter for our class reunion for a cause, say, be a part of the re-structure of Gabaldon Project. Is it possible to get the e-mail addresses of the following names: Linda Borreo (Valedictorian), Alfredo Asis (Salutatorian), Ernesto Coronacion, William La Torre, Evelyn Ravago. The late Mayor Roldan Velasco was in our batch and I was their 1st Honorable Mention.