Christmas and New Year are 7 days apart and these days are usually the most festive and joyous occasions of Filipino families. Relatives and friends come home, schools hold reunions; food and drink are plentiful; there are parties left and right, and people indulge in the warmth of friendship, laughter and good conversation.
Yet in the midst of these there are those who still experience pain and sorrow. I was sad to hear the news of two women I knew from Toastmasters who passed on. One on Christmas day, and the other on New Year’s Day. They were two of the gentlest and kindest women I knew.
Vicky Leuterio was the founder of the Holy Child College of Davao. I was in my twenties and had been a Toastmaster for around 3 years when I met her. Their school had just formed a new club and were always on the lookout for guest Toastmasters to come help and mentor them. It was an honor for me that a woman of her stature and achievement would take tips and evaluation from someone half her age, with no hint of arrogance and resentment whatsoever.
Even later, when I felt I had done something to offend her, I sought her out to talk to her. The apology was hardly out of my mouth when she smiled and said, “There’s no need to apologize. It’s not your fault.” That was Vicky — ever gracious and with a big heart.
Winda Casiano is one of my oldest friends in Toastmasters. We were neophytes and charter members together of the Davao Noontime Toastmasters Club. She made her mark as a humorous speaker from her very first speech, which was about introducing oneself, but she soon made it an advertisement for her sporting goods store, and she even advertised her siblings’ professions in case we would need their services. That speech had us all in stitches, and I still remember it to this day. She eventually competed and became our Humorous Speech Champion.
Winda was the first treasurer of our club, but she found herself constantly re-elected to the position, showing the huge amount of trust people had in her. She also served in various positions over the years — as President, Area Governor, then Division Governor.
She was warm and hospitable, inviting us often to her home for impromptu fellowship sessions. We in turn, invited her into our hearts as a second mother, a confidant, a friend.
The Toastmasters world has lost two champions, and we grieve and are one with their families in suffering their loss. And also, we are thankful that their lives and ours have crossed paths, that we have shared many happy and meaningful moments — and that brings us joy and peace.
Vicky and Winda, you fought the good fight and did not go gently into the night. Rest now, my friends.
Email me at andy@freethinking.me. View previous articles at www.freethinking.me.