This is one of my favorite photos of Chin-Chin Gutierrez online. Being a model, actress on stage, TV, and in the movies, she’s got tons more but I find this one that very much represents how I see her. I believe she’s one of those Filipinas that we could all aspire to.
Of course, at first, I only saw her as a beautiful woman, an actress, and a model. She’s started her career when she played Maria Clara in the 1991 Noli me Tangere. And ever since, she had played different roles, not all being beautiful or glamorous, but this gave her character and credibility as a professional actress.
And yet, I think, in this world, she is a real Muse, having such a passion for the arts. Not only an actress, but she’s a painter (first collection was unveiled in May 2006 in Baguio) and a singer. At an age when she could have just lived like any common rich celebrity, attending extravagant parties and making sure to be seen with the big names in the society, she has chosen to devote her time promoting advocacies dear to her heart, such as PETA and the environment. Nowadays, she has become one of the most sought-after resource speakers for Environment education, Women’s rights, and ecology and spirituality. She’s also earned the distinction of being one of Asia’s Heroes in 2003, as recognized by Time Magazine.
And what perhaps made me admire this strong, artistic woman more is the manner by which has risen from a recent catastrophe that befell her family. It was in early 2007 that she lost her ancestral home and eventually her mother to a fire caused by faulty wiring. In an extreme effort to save her ailing mother and other household members, she suffered second-degree burns and other physical injuries. She, herself, is still sick from the burn wounds and yet, all she could think of is her mother who’s in the ICU, and would direct her management even through phone because she still cannot move much because of the wounds. And even if the fire has consumed everything she’s got and had led to the loss of her mother, she suffered the pain but went on surviving. She visited other fire survivors and comforted them in her own way, despite having lost everything herself.
For me, that is the strength that I wanted to have.
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There are a lot of Filipinas who are as inspirational and strong as Chin-Chin, I’m sure. They are ordinary people like a housewife, a neighbor, a teacher, or even a colleague who have made extraordinary contributions for the betterment of the society. And what better thing to do than to share their stories of success and achievements so that they may inspire others too.
Modess’ campaign “Aim High, Pinay!” is started to celebrate women from all walks of life and how each Filipina has the potential to realize dreams and new goals everyday. You can read stories that were shared by other Filipinas by going to their website: http://www.aimhighpinay.ph/. Everyone is encouraged to share their stories of inspirational women or small personal victories by submitting their stories and photos in the site (but one has to register with the site first). Modess will pick several winners of GCs and even a spa package. The contest runs from September 8 to October 6, 2008. Check the site for more details about the competition.
