I was intently observing the crowd from the grand ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel entrance when a woman carrying a blue log book caught my attention. Attentively, I watched her as she walked briskly, approached and handed the log book to one of the women seated in the back row. After writing on it, the woman whispered something in her ear and she chuckled. My gaze followed her as she waded through the crowded room and slumped down in her seat. Minutes later, I spotted her at the water station. Curious, I walked toward her and asked if I could interview her. She consented.
My subject, Tonette Estrada, donned a black-and-gray ensemble adorned with colorful, wooden beads dangling around her neck. Despite her salt-and-pepper hair, her vigorous strides and winning smile would hint at someone that Tonette is a little older than 55. But later I learned that she’s turning 66 this year. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been pegged at younger than my age,” she gleefully said in Tagalog.
Grateful to God for enjoying 66 years of good health, this realtor attributed her tiptop shape to walking, good nutrition, and positive outlook in life. “I have learned a lot [from the Health Expo]. I can’t help but share what I have learned to others, especially to my friends,” referring to a group of women I saw her handing out the blue book to.
Speaking of the blue book, “It contains the names of my invitees. I want to make sure they will complete the 12-day series like me,” she explained. Like a hired hand of the Good Shepherd, Tonette counts her invitees every night and does follow up. “During the day, we exchange ideas about the discourses from the previous night. If one of them was absent, I would call or visit her to inquire what happened.”
“I was telling them, this series of lectures is for our future, too. If we can save a little amount of hospital money by simply applying the health principles presented, why not come here and sacrifice 2-3 hours nightly?” she said, with an air of assurance in her voice.
Tonette, who is a mother of six, knows very well the importance of acquiring proper health information. “My children are all grown up now. But I guess wisdom comes with age, because they still rely on me for practical health advice,” she mused, adding that it is one of her motivations to attend the health expo.
“I am not getting any younger. I told my invitees ‘as you grow old like me, you’ll experience a lot of body aches and pains. So you have to take care of your body before it’s too late.’ I even mentioned to them how I am enjoying my health now. I have no issues with my heart. My blood pressure is normal. Except for occasional joint pains, I’m perfectly alright.”
On the spiritual aspect of the expo, she added that if through her invitation she can impart a lasting legacy to her family members and friends, she will be satisfied. “I am not forcing them to believe, I am not yet an Adventist myself. At the end of each session, it will be according to our personal choice and own freewill. But at least, the gospel is there and we have something to think about on our way home.”
Tonette is just one of the thousand attendees I spotted that night, but her eagerness to share the good news to others really struck an emotional chord with me. Indeed, the Good Shepherd works to keep all His sheep together and He is using somebody as Tonette to do the nightly headcount.
