Nanay Muring: An Epitome of Volunteerism in Valenzuela

Today I’m sharing a story of an unsung hero whom I had the chance to interview during a recent assignment. She is Nanay Murita “Muring” Paulino, a 65-year old senior citizen who is both a Bantay Estudyante volunteer and a Central Kitchen volunteer.

Nanay Muring in Bantay Estudyante Suit

In Valenzuela, citizens are encouraged to engage in volunteer works to help contribute in making our home city a better place to live in. When I asked Nanay Muring of her timeframe until when does she see herself serving our city, I was moved by her response, “hangga't kaya ko po dahil wala naman po akong sakit” (as long as I can because I am not ill yet).

I could not help myself from gazing at her using a xennial’s lens. Despite her wrinkled skin, hers are magnetic eyes that showed me her big heart. I saw in her a contented woman who has won and lost battles through the years, yet who remained steadfast in nurturing her pure motherly soul. Her voice was filled with love and sincerity as she described her joy in serving the Valenzuelano children. In my mind, I couldn't help myself from thinking that her sun-kissed skin is her natural badge for her unrelenting selfless service. My heart shivered.

If you’re wondering where my admiration is coming from, let me talk briefly about her two volunteer works – Bantay Estudyante and Central Kitchen.

“Bantay Estudyante” is the brainchild of our handsome mayor, Rex Gatchalian [writer swoons]. In Valenzuela, senior citizens are welcomed for employment by the local government despite their age. During school days, volunteers are posted on visible sites during the ‘alpha and omega’ of classes only. They are deployed near the streets of public elementary schools to oversee the safety of the kids from vehicular accidents. They also prevent youngsters from brawling nonsensically over petty things.  

The Central Kitchen is a different activity. Here, volunteer-mothers help in preparing meals for thousands of identified malnourished and undernourished children enrolled in public schools, from kinder to sixth grade.

I have conducted interviews with other kitchen volunteers in the past so I know how tough their sacrifices are. They have to wake up at least 3:00 o’clock in the morning, leave their abode before dawn, start chopping veggies once they arrive at the kitchen, and twerk until all packed lunches are delivered in schools. These, ladies and gentlemen, are the efforts exerted by our mother-volunteers at the kitchen. So kids, I hope you’d really study well and pay it forward someday.

Nanay Muring communicated with me the essence of satisfaction and love – these are two things that many of us fail to achieve despite the credentials we brag on social media, despite the hollow praises we get from people who don’t really care about us.

Nanay, how to be you po? I salute you.