I was among contestants of ABS-CBN’s game show “Minute To Win It” recently. I was pitted against teleserye princess Kim Chiu, sexy actress Aubrey Miles, “PBB” discovery Karen Reyes, and the comedic father-son tandem, Tatay Diego and Gedent.
The first game we played, we were tasked to hold on to a clothesline clip using our mouth and to put them on a clothesline one on top of the other. Unfortunately, I was eliminated right then and there.
After a few more games, only two contestants remained: Kim and Tatay Diego. The latter told show host Luis Manzano that should he win the one million peso cash prize, he would buy his family a house. He actually begged Kim to eliminate herself.
Moved by Tatay Diego’s plea, Kim said, “Tatay Diego kahit anong mapanalunan ko dito bigay ko sa iyo ’yung kalahati para mapagawa mo na bahay mo.”
She added, “Kung manalo ako ng one million pesos, sa iyo na ’yung five hundred thousand. Tapos the rest, share ko kina Ate Giselle, Karen and Aubrey.”
My chinky eyes dilated over the announcement. Never have I seen generosity at its finest.
Well, actually I did. While hosting “Deal Or No Deal,” Luis doubled the amount won by comedian Atak Arana, after he told him his plans to send the money to his sick mom.
The talented TV host-actor probably got his generous ways from his parents. Congresswoman Vilma Santos is said to donate thousands of her own money to poor constituents.
His father Edu Manzano once let a homeless comedian live in his house for three months. Edu never told anybody about it but the comedian himself told me how Edu went on to help him start over, even giving him money so he could buy appliances.
Why am I sharing these? So that I can inspire you readers to pay it forward. An act of kindness a day makes a better world. (G. Sanchez, mb)