[tweetshare tweet=”Happiness has nothing to do with life’s circumstances; it is based on your ability to accept the things you are experiencing.” username=”SPk3(ad*e(5d4@pEwem@tnlADFb9ZZc8:1:1″]

This is one thing we learned the other day when we met 12 inspiring individuals who choose happiness among other things.

The Search for the Happiest Pinoy

Valuable Lessons from the Happiest Pinoy

The 10 are part of the close to 800,000 applicants to the biggest edition of the Cebuana Lhuillier Search for the Happiest Pinoy. They are already winners in their respective categories and recipient of P50,000 each. All 10 will go through a panel interview to determine this year’s Happiest Pinoy grand winner. 

The categories each finalist represents are youth, senior citizens, OFW, lingkod bayan, professionals, manggagawang Pinoy, entrepreneurs, employees, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ community. Announcement of the grand winner will be on May 29, 2019, at the New World Hotel.  The victor will take home P1 million tax-free.

The Characteristics of the Happiest Pinoy

The search for the happiest Pinoy is an advocacy program of Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest micro-financial services company. The search celebrates the values of optimism, resilience, and hope. It aims to find a Filipino who has a positive outlook in life, was able to rise above life’s challenges and had a positive impact in the lives of others.

These very characteristics are what made Richardson Navor the 2015 Happiest Pinoy. He is still the reigning title holder until he passes the crown to one of the 10 finalists. What made Navor bagged the title is his focused and strong determination to stay positive amidst his condition. At a young age, he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.  Despite his condition, he emerged a victor in almost all stages of his life. He graduated Magna Cum Laude at the University of the East- Caloocan. The young man was also recognized as one of the Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines and the Ten Outstanding Students in the Philippines.

We were also privileged to meet Rommel Arellano. Aside from his 2012 Happiest Pinoy title, he is also a guidance counselor and an adviser of a PWD organization in his hometown in Limay, Bataan.

Valuable Lessons from the Happiest Pinoy

During the presentation of the 10 happiest Pinoy finalists at the Happy Place Cafe in Makati, he welcomed everyone with a greeting “[tweetshareinline tweet=”giving up is never an option” username=”SPk3(ad*e(5d4@pEwem@tnlADFb9ZZc8:1:1″].” This all the more confirms that Arellano indeed deserves the Happiest Pinoy title. That despite the difficulties of life, he continues to fight and choose happiness. Arellano is also a PWD, but his contribution to his community shows how he focuses on the positive things in life, not dwelling on his inability because of his disability.

The valuable lesson of the Search for the Happiest Pinoy

We love this search for the happiest Pinoy advocacy of Cebuana Lhuillier. It shows the real core values of a Pinoy – faces life’s challenges with optimism, faith, and can-do attitude. Filipinos are known as one of the most resilient individuals in the world. And Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier believes that such an approach must be appreciated and encouraged at all times, thus, the Search for the Happiest Pinoy.

These 12 individuals presented before us reminded us of a valuable lesson we must have opted to do since the beginning.

[tweetshare tweet=”Happiness is a choice, so let’s go of things that frustrate you and start to enjoy your life. – Wilson Kanadi” username=”SPk3(ad*e(5d4@pEwem@tnlADFb9ZZc8:1:1″]

Good thing nothing is too late to start. If only you and I will begin to now, we are never too old to experience pure bliss. So let us opt to be happy, because after all –

[tweetshare tweet=”In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured. – Gordon B. Hinckley” username=”SPk3(ad*e(5d4@pEwem@tnlADFb9ZZc8:1:1″]

admberlin