By Winston A. Maxino
Sun, Jul 01, 2012
Mr. Jean Henri Lhuillier, Mr. Miko Jimenez, Mr. Leo Escano, Mr. Jonathan Batangan, officers and employees of PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies, and of Cebuanna Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, guests, my happy friends, good evening!
On Feb. 17, 2010, I was so blessed with an unexpected gift from God. Without my knowing, my sisters-in-law Gigi and Tinette had nominated me in the Nationwide Search for the Happiest Pinoy by Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions; out of 218 nominees from all over the Philippines and seven finalists, I was proclaimed the winner. I felt so honored to receive this recognition because we, Filipinos, are essentially a happy people. I thought that I was just like all of you and my fun-loving nature was just an ordinary thing. Gigi disagreed and told me that my happy attitude is remarkable. That surprised me — at napaisip tuloy ako – what was so extraordinary about my attitude toward happiness? Nevertheless, Gigi and Tinette — thank you for your belief in me that I could be the Happiest Pinoy!
In my reflections, I realized that what people considered remarkable about me was that I chose to be happy despite all the trials, pains and struggles that plagued me.
After I won, people from many walks of life approached me or got in touch with me to say they were inspired to hear my life story.
Truly, I feel touched and humbled by their appreciation! How I wish I could tell them a defining dramatic moment in my childhood when I made this conscious decision to always be happy no matter what… but honestly I could think of none! I just remember that even as a little boy, I accepted my circumstances, I endured the difficulties and I overcame the challenges — always with a smile on my face, with joy in my heart, and with lots of laughter along the way.
And so I asked myself the next question, what made me like this? I am stumped and have no definite answer. I am not a psychologist so I cannot give you any scientific explanation. I have no psychological theories to expound on; I have no powerpoint presentation with “picha pie” charts. All I have is only myself, my simple life story — perhaps we can all learn lessons from some significant events in my life.