Happiness

HAPPINESS
By Mr. Winston A. Maxino, Corporate Executive

(Message delivered during the 58th Honors Day Convocation held February 15, 2016 at the Silliman University Gymnasium.)

Distinguished Officials of Silliman University led by our dear President, Dr. Ben S. Malayang, Respected Members of the Board of Trustees of Silliman University led by Professor Emeritus Leonor M. Briones, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Betsy Joy B. Tan, Vice President Jane Anette L. Belarmino, Vice President Cleonico Y. Fontelo, dedicated teachers, faculty and staff, proud parents, accomplished honor students and co-curricular awardees, friends of Silliman, mga kaigsuonan, kapamilya og kapuso, maayong hapon kaninyong tanan.

This is truly a wonderful afternoon for me because I am very happy to be back in this great institution that was my second home for 15 years. From Kindergarten through College, dear old Silliman was where I acquired knowledge and expanded my capabilities. Her classroom walls and the 319 acacia trees stood as witnesses to my hard work as a student, to my mischief as a little boy, to my successes as a student leader, and to my secrets as an adolescent growing up to be a man. It is here where I first laid eyes on my wife, Alina, walking down Hibbard Avenue to get to the Engineering Building. On Hibbard Avenue, is Katipunan Hall, which used to be the Silliman Mission Hospital, and was my refuge as an asthmatic student gasping for breath and clinging to life. Ironically, the pollen from the acacia trees was one of the causes of my perennial asthma attacks, but I did not leave Silliman’s side. I am proud to have stayed loyal to this beautiful campus beside the sea.

Another reason that makes me very happy this afternoon is because of the illustrious company — Today, I am with the best and the brightest of Silliman. The positive energy is simply invigorating. I can feel the joy of the honor students and the co-curricular awardees who receive their rewards after all the hard work and sleepless nights. I can feel the pride of the parents who are rejoicing at their children’s achievements. I can feel the fulfillment of the teachers who see their best students get the recognition they so richly deserve. I was once an honor student and a most outstanding student awardee as well, I am a parent with children who have garnered honors in school, and I also used to teach — in other words, I can very well relate to all your feelings. “Gets na gets ko” the significance of this day to all of you.

Today, I want to contribute to the positive energy by talking about a positive topic: Happiness. The timeless question I have often been asked is, “How do we stay happy even during the worst circumstances of our lives?”

In 2010, I was awarded the Happiest Pinoy from among the hundreds of nominees from all over the country. The judges saw me as the “person with a constantly cheerful face and optimistic outlook, who has the proven ability to rise above life’s challenges, and who makes a positive impact in the lives of others.” Yes, my life is indeed challenging because of my many health issues. If Ms. Universe Pia Wurtzbach is confidently beautiful with a heart, I lay claim to being confidently handsome… with a heart… problem. I have a serious case of hypertension that requires daily heart maintenance medicines for the last 26 years. Ever since I was a small boy, I suffered from chronic acute asthma that has put me on the brink of death on many occasions. As if those were not enough, in 2000, I was diagnosed with a rare, incurable, painful and debilitating disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis that requires me to take pain relievers everyday for the rest of my life. I also have thoracic scoliosis, osteoporosis, uveitis, allergic rhinitis, nephrolithiasis… etc, Amen.

My medical troubles may be lifelong and life threatening, but I choose to focus on what makes my life worth living. Yes, I suffer, but I am cheerful. Yes, I struggle, but I am hopeful. Yes, my life can be very difficult, but I refuse to stay depressed and defeated. I do not think that I am a rare breed; there are many admirable Filipinos who hold on to the same happy spirit in the face of suffering. Happiness is our strength as a people — we Filipinos smile a lot, we love to laugh, and we know how to bear our burdens with grace and good humor. Therefore, we Filipinos are already at an advantage for having the never-say-die spirit.

But, there is yet one other source of the happy disposition that is second nature to me; we Sillimanians are fortunate to own it. I have inside of me the happiness seed, and this happiness seed was planted here in Silliman. This seed has grown and flourished in me, and it continues to bear good fruits in my life. This is the seed that has given me the indomitable Silliman Spirit!

My happiness seed is the Silliman motto: “Via, Veritas, Vita”. I still remember the portion of the Silliman song that says:

When we leave the halls of Silliman,
Roam the world o’er near and far;
Still the faith and truth she gave us
Will remain our guiding star.

“Via, Veritas, Vita” has always been my guiding star. This motto is the foundation of Silliman’s Christian education and it is rooted in the immortal words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

John Chapter 14 starts with Jesus telling his disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God; believe also in me.” In modern lingo, Jesus would have been saying, “Don’t worry, be happy.” And so, if we believe in Him, Jesus is teaching us that “Via Veritas Vita” is the path to happiness.

Via — Jesus is the Way that leads us closer to God. When we get close to God, He is on our side. To be happy, we must have faith in God, we must trust in Him. Even during the rough times, my faith leads me to believe that God has a purpose for everything that is happening to me. I may not understand it at first, but if I endure and continue to trust God, then eventually, something good will come out of my trials and travails — God will turn my burdens into blessings.

Let me share with you a very personal story about faith. In 1996, Alina and I were expecting our second daughter Brina Kei. I prayed to God for our child to be born normal and healthy. Little did I know that my faith would be tested. When the doctor came out of the delivery room, she told me that our daughter had Down Syndrome. A child with Down Syndrome used to be called “mongoloid” but that is no longer an acceptable term to describe them. Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder wherein the child suffers mental, physical and developmental delays. I was then devastated beyond words. We consulted another doctor, only to be told that because of Brina’s very poor muscle tone and her heart defect, Brina will not live long. My faith in God was shaken, and I asked Him, “Why are you giving me this problem?” But, I held on to my faith and I prayed for strength and guidance. I accepted God’s will and made one of the most important decisions of my life: I decided to stop thinking of Brina as a problem. I decided to see Brina as a blessing, not a burden. I resolved to love her with all my heart and to do my best to help Brina develop to her fullest potential.

Fast forward to the present day… Many years after the Doctor told me that Brina will not live long, many years after a Psychologist told us that Brina cannot even finish Grade School… Brina is now 19 years old and she is truly a great blessing beyond what I would have ever imagined. My child with an intellectu*]}*al disability graduated from a regular High School, at the appropriate age of 16, as the Class Valedictorian. She already earned her Certificate in General Clerical Skills and her Diploma in Associate in Arts. She is now in College taking up AB History while working part-time as a pre-school teacher assistant. She is currently the Special Olympics Global Youth Ambassador representing Asia-Pacific. Moreover, because of the great job she has been doing in Special Olympics, she was invited to a dinner in the White House with US President Barack Obama.