My Great Friend, Jimmy....altruistic to the end
Posted on Friday, 24 March 2017
My Great Friend, Jimmy…altruistic to the
end
By Apolinario Villalobos
When we are at the lowest ebb of our life
that include days we spend in bed due to an ailment, the natural thing to do is
for us to exert an effort to show our
best. But there are some who make cover-ups, apprehensive that others will know
their situation. By being honest, however, does not mean that help is being
solicited. We can even gain respect and admiration, by showing others our endurance
during such trying times. The respect and admiration, as the fruits of our
effort are sweeter, than the casual reaction from others whose view of our real
situation is obstructed by hypocrisy.
Jimmy was a friend who used to hold a high
executive position in a trading company. Even before I started blogging, he was
well-informed about my small projects in Tondo and Divisoria as he was a
regular donor. We met at the Mary Johnson Hospital in Tondo many years back,
where he visited a staff of his office, while I visited the daughter of a
friend from Baseco compound who was confined due to dengue. His sincere
friendship punctuated by his giving me his business card made me divulge to him
my real identity, but implored him to keep it to himself. I explained that I do
not reveal my identity to those whom I extend a little help that I could afford,
so that I had been known to them by another name.
He failed to save much needed cash for his
retirement because much of what he earned went to friends who sought his
financial help. To make the story short,
when he resigned due to a prolonged ailment, he was left with an almost
depleted savings. Every time I visited him, we would talk about his friends who
became successful in their jobs. His statements were always ended with “ I am
thankful that they made it…”. Truth is, he had been instrumental for their
success. Some were his subordinates whom he pushed with deserved promotions and
guaranteed referrals. Some were given financial assistance as a start-up for a
small business.
The cancer in his bones resulted to his
losing weight considerably which practically changed his physical appearance.
Despite the transformation, he could still muster a smile, as if nothing had
changed. He was financially handicap, but he did not cover it up. When he became bedridden, the first to go was
his car, followed by his studio-type condo, after which his nephew accommodated
him in his home in Malabon. His wife with whom he had no child, left him for a
Chinese boyfriend she met in a casino.
Jimmy gained much respect because of what
he showed, aside from reaping admiration from neighbors and friends who visited
him daily. The disease that physically emaciated him did not change his image
that had been exuding an aura of contentment.
He passed away two months ago (January 2017). After his cremation, I was
invited by his nephew and his wife for a dinner at their home after which an
envelope was handed to me. It contained PHP3,730.00, balance of his savings and
with it was his passbook. Outside the envelope was his simply handwritten note,
“God be with you always in all you do”.
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