Serving others is rewarding

In his column last Saturday, Inquirer columnist Mahar Mangahas wrote that people who serve others are happy individuals.

Mangahas, who heads the prestigious polling firm Social Weather Stations, said that Filipinos by and large consider serving others “very important.”

Altruistic Filipinos are considered “very happy,” according to the columnist-pollster.

He noted that the Philippines ranks No. 11 in the 2001 World Values Survey of 37 countries with the most number of altruistic people who are happy.

“The Philippines is 10th among the 37 countries (in terms of happiness), about the same rank in terms of altruism, which fits my altruism-happiness hypothesis,” said Mangahas.

I can confirm his opinion that those who serve others are very happy people. Serving others leads to an abundance of material things and friends, and excellent health.

The Universe rewards altruists.

I’ve seen how the Universe has worked wonders on people who have selflessly served others through “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo,” a public service program that I started on May 1, 1991, at Radyo Veritas.

“Isumbong” helps citizens who complain of abuses committed against them by people in power; victims of illegal recruiters, domestic violence and the slow pace of justice; and persons needing medical aid.

Persons who used to be in the staff of my public service program, who have helped their distressed fellowmen without expecting anything in return, have advanced  professionally and financially since leaving my outfit.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

Dina Revano is now  a production manager of a TV show produced by her own church; Mackay Quadra runs her own production house; Malou Sanchez owns a very successful catering business; Ma. Cristina Yu is now a nurse and expects  to be employed in a hospital abroad.

Donna Natividad is an anchor of a Filipino station in Canada; Eleanor Tuazon is a highly-paid researcher at the Development Academy of the Philippines; Ely de Leon works for  a nongovernment organization (NGO) with her husband Tigoy who was also in my staff.

Tisha Timbang is a coordinator of a church foundation; Jazmine Gatdula is  a human resource officer of a TV production outfit; Noemi Reyes is an executive producer at TV5; Baby Garcia runs her own school.

June Aragon now lives in Australia with her Caucasian husband whom she met when she was working  with me; Bong Diaz is now a lawyer like  Ruth Balita; Pam

Buenaflor works for a firm in Abu Dhabi.

Lei Caballes is now working in the Intellectual Property Rights Office; Junjun San Miguel holds a high position in an NGO;

Joda Avecilla is a flight stewardess of a foreign airline; Josie Serato manages her own business.

Rachel Bustos runs a profitable business with her husband; Einsberg Hernandez is a highly-paid teacher in an international school; Fel Gleo works as a paralegal in a law firm; Princess Ocampo is a call center agent; Je Cunanan works in a TV production outfit.

Every year, my former staff, my current staff and I hold a Christmas reunion. Former drivers, cameramen, program directors and my ex-bodyguards, are invited.

Recollections of working for a tough and hard-driving boss are shared by my current and former “angels,” as they are called by beneficiaries of the public service program.

Former angels tell my current angels—Alin Ferrer, Beulah Rosales, Rhea Payuan, Joyce Molon and Josie Lu—the happiness they felt  serving the least fortunate.

They attribute their improved status to good karma as a result of helping the oppressed and the distressed.