(The Philippine Star) Updated April 01, 2012 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - At the turn of the 19th century, national hero Dr.
Jose Rizal, then taking up higher studies in Europe, proved to be just
as concerned about the exchange rate, like many overseas Filipinos today.
After all, as a student, the young Rizal was still getting his allowance
from his parents back home. A few dollars saved here and there would
certainly go a long way until the next round of financial succor.
In the book called "One Hundred Letters of Jose Rizal to his Parents,
Brothers, Sisters, Relatives" found today in the Lopez Memorial Museum
and Foundation, it is said that Rizal wrote his parents and explicitly
advised them:
(Paris, January 1, 1886 - Boulevard Arago 65)
"I received a draft of $200 which when collected in francs gave me only
192, so 4% is lost. With more reason I repeat to you now what I have
told. If you are to send me money do it by the Chartered Bank of India,
Australia and China which is very much better."
The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China merged with the
Standard Bank of British South Africa in 1969 to become Standard Chartered.
The bank that Rizal found worthy enough to endorse at the time is now
marking its 140th year of service to the country.
If Rizal were alive today, it is not far-fetched to imagine that the
national hero would still have good words for the bank.
Not only has Standard Chartered stayed in the country through good times
and bad times, or through countless revolutions and political upheavals.
Standard Chartered is also giving to the Philippines this year, to
commemorate its 140th anniversary, a $1-million pledge to help eliminate
curable or preventable blindness in the country.
An ophthalmologist by profession, Rizal would have been happy with the
bank's anniversary gift.
Through "Seeing is Believing," the bank's global initiative to tackle
preventable blindness, the donation will be used for a nationwide
project that will focus on the treatment of cataract, refractive error
and childhood blindness. The project will be undertaken over three years
in partnership with local beneficiary, CBM/Cataract Foundation of the
Philippines Inc. (CFPI).
Almost 450,000 Filipinos are blind today and, of this number, 90,000 are
children.
However, 80 percent of blindness is avoidable, meaning preventable or
curable. This is where Standard Chartered would like to make a difference.
In a Gala Night held at The Peninsula Manila recently, Group executive
director and CEO for Asia Jaspal Bindra said, "This milestone occasion
serves to express our gratitude to the country and the Filipino people,
including our partners, clients, customers and staff, for being a big
part of our 140-year journey here in the Philippines. Through our
$1-million 'Seeing is Believing' pledge to help eliminate avoidable
blindness in the Philippines, we hope to recommit ourselves to be here
for people, here for progress, here for the long run, here for good."
Meanwhile, Philippines CEO Mahendra Gursahani said, "Standard Chartered
Bank is extremely proud of its unbroken record of 140 years of service
in the Philippines. It certainly speaks of our unwavering commitment to
partner with the country and, traditionally, that has been our position
in all the countries we're in. Even through civil wars, world wars or
other kinds of social unrest or upheavals in some nations, we continue
to service our banking clients. We don't get scared easily and we remain
true to our commitment to service. This is the essence of our brand
promise to be here for good."
The bank's foremost client, Rizal, would have been appreciative. Rizal,
after all, was a physician who trained in ophthalmology under two
prominent European ophthalmologists of that era, Louis de Wecker and
Otto Becker.
Rizal was said to have been inspired to study ophthalmology because of
his mother's failing eyesight and his desire to help her. He practiced
ophthalmology mainly in Calamba, Hong Kong and while in exile in the
town of Dapitan. His specialized skills brought him renown, and patients
often traveled long distances to seek his care.
His mother's ailment was cataract and it is reported that in 1892, Rizal
successfully removed the cataract from his mother's left eye. Several
months later, he sent her glasses with instructions to cover the right
lens until he could operate on that eye, and two years later, in
Dapitan, he extracted the right cataract.
More than a century hence, the donation from Rizal's favorite bank is
coming in to benefit thousands, hopefully, of his visually impaired
countrymen.
The anniversary gift will give many needy cataract patients a chance at
avoiding blindness.
Add to these numbers those whose eyesight could be saved by merely
treating refractive error. It is a gift to the Filipino people our
national hero would have greatly approved, because not everyone is
fortunate to have an ophthalmologist like him in the family.
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CARLOS ANI - International Microfinance Consultant - SEEDFINANCE Corporation Chairman
Mailing address: PO Box 90 UPLB Los Banos Laguna, Philippines 4031
Emails: carlosani@gmail.com , carlosani@seedfinance.net
Landline Phone: +63495010127 (PLDT)
Cellphone Numbers: +639152919580 (Globe) and +639328590859 (Sun)
Websites:
CARLOSANI.COM - http://www.carlosani.com
DEVJOBS - http://www.devjobsmail.com
PHILDEVFINANCE - http://phildevfinance.posterous.com
My News Clippings - http://www.myclipps.posterous.com
Family website - http://www.anifamily.net
SEEDFINANCE Corporation - http://www.seedfinance.net
Skype name: carlosaniph
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
***********
This message is intended only for the named recipient and may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any misdirected transmission. If you received this message in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at +63495010127 and immediately delete this message from your system. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use, disclose, distribute or copy any part of this message. Thank you.
***********
