Churchill Aguilar THERE are days when my faith in humanity gets reinforced. It’s usually when I see compassion unfolding right in front of me-eaffirming that indeed we must be made out of something good and that there must be such things as meaning and purpose out from what seemed to be a series of randomness and accidents in our lives. Last week, I met an old Korean couple who tied up with City Hall, the City Hospital and the German Doctors to launch a surgical mission for burn patients. They have invited a team of doctors from Korea to conduct plastic surgery for burn patients in our province for free. While I was in awe of such initiative, there was actually more of their charity than that. They have actually embraced our people like their own for more than two decades now. After the meeting, I had a chance to talk to the wife who prefers not to be identified. She then narrated to me how their love of Filipinos began. In 1994, she and her husband toured Cagayan de Oro and its neighboring towns. One time, her husband had car trouble in a remote sitio in Kalilangan. Out from the reach of towing services he did not expect that the whole village would come to his aid, and bring his car back on the road. With much gratitude, he asked the villagers what they would like to have in return to which they responded that they badly need a school since most of them are illiterates. Keeping his word, he went back with his wife and built the village their first primary school starting with only 30 pupils aging 5 to 12 enrolled in kindergarten. Since their school only caters elementary, they would bring their graduates to Cagayan de Oro, house them and enroll them in different schools here until they graduate college. To date, five of their scholars are professional teachers already and are presently teaching in their school in Kalilangan. They have also produced engineers, criminology graduates, technicians and are continuously sponsoring some 51 high schools and 22 college students. Their once very laidback sitio in Kalilangan is now changing for the better as more and more of the villagers get formal education and professional careers. Ask when does she plans to retire from helping, my Korean friend simply said she won’t. In fact, her son in Korea is showing interest to continue what she and her husband have started here. Indeed, their acts of generosity are very inspiring. While all of us are busy trying to get ahead of one another with our new gadgets, cars, fashion and even power, my new Korean friends decided to spend their time and resources to help others be given the chance to simply live with dignity. I felt pinches in my heart thinking here I am allowing the worldly things to slowly swallow me when the essence of living is actually not found in what we have at the end of this journey but rather how much lives we have touched because we cared. To the Korean couple, may your tribe prosper and may more people be inspired to follow what you have started. Indeed, you both are pieces of heaven here on earth. Kamsahamnida!