I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.
-Mother Teresa
Most of the time my eyes just glaze over when I see article upon article of football news. One caught my glazing eye over the weekend, though - 'De la Cruz - Mother Theresa in boots', because of the familiar name. Mother Teresa, that is. It was the first time I’d ever heard of this de la Cruz guy, an EPL player who hails from Ecuador (GNI per capita US$2,630; as a comparison, Singapore’s is US$27, 490 – source: BBC country profiles).
His is a great story to illustrate that famous Chinese saying about not forgetting your roots.
According to the article, ‘Each month a proportion of that salary (about S$150,000) Reading pay him - be it 10 per cent in January or 20 per cent in February - goes direct to the village’ (where he grew up). (Picture and profile from here)
Here's what he has been credited for:
1. 'The 2002 World Cup,' de la Cruz reflects, 'financed 18 kilometres of water pipes and a treatment system. The 2006 World Cup was important because the success means I can finance a new sports and community centre.'
2. His mother manages his foundation, which has plans to build 40 new homes.
3. Built a clinic and pays the doctor, dentist and nurse there. (Prior to that, people from his village had to travel to another town for medical treatment)
4. Built a school which some 200 children attend, their books, lessons and meals sponsored by him, of course.
Here's what he has to say about all this:
'Football... gave me a great opportunity. I love children, I love to see them happy, and I am fortunate to be in a position to help.'
I’m not sure about the comparison to Mother Teresa, but I am impressed by de la Cruz.
Of course, one might argue: but he earns so much now, what. Does that matter? The point is that he is giving part of what he earns to very worthy causes. I don’t know this for sure but my guess is he didn’t join his club just to get money for donations, so he’s really free to do what he wants with his salary. And the fact of the matter is that he is giving some of it away regularly.
In a traditional Chinese context, this would be seen as remembering and honouring one's roots. In a western context, this would be seen as love. How are we doing as little love 'pencils'?
If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
-Mother Teresa
-Mother Teresa
Most of the time my eyes just glaze over when I see article upon article of football news. One caught my glazing eye over the weekend, though - 'De la Cruz - Mother Theresa in boots', because of the familiar name. Mother Teresa, that is. It was the first time I’d ever heard of this de la Cruz guy, an EPL player who hails from Ecuador (GNI per capita US$2,630; as a comparison, Singapore’s is US$27, 490 – source: BBC country profiles).
His is a great story to illustrate that famous Chinese saying about not forgetting your roots.
According to the article, ‘Each month a proportion of that salary (about S$150,000) Reading pay him - be it 10 per cent in January or 20 per cent in February - goes direct to the village’ (where he grew up). (Picture and profile from here)
Here's what he has been credited for:
1. 'The 2002 World Cup,' de la Cruz reflects, 'financed 18 kilometres of water pipes and a treatment system. The 2006 World Cup was important because the success means I can finance a new sports and community centre.'
2. His mother manages his foundation, which has plans to build 40 new homes.
3. Built a clinic and pays the doctor, dentist and nurse there. (Prior to that, people from his village had to travel to another town for medical treatment)
4. Built a school which some 200 children attend, their books, lessons and meals sponsored by him, of course.
Here's what he has to say about all this:
'Football... gave me a great opportunity. I love children, I love to see them happy, and I am fortunate to be in a position to help.'
I’m not sure about the comparison to Mother Teresa, but I am impressed by de la Cruz.
Of course, one might argue: but he earns so much now, what. Does that matter? The point is that he is giving part of what he earns to very worthy causes. I don’t know this for sure but my guess is he didn’t join his club just to get money for donations, so he’s really free to do what he wants with his salary. And the fact of the matter is that he is giving some of it away regularly.
In a traditional Chinese context, this would be seen as remembering and honouring one's roots. In a western context, this would be seen as love. How are we doing as little love 'pencils'?
If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
-Mother Teresa
Comments
dee
Yeah, the world could do with many more kind and sincere givers.
Btw, congratulations! What a cute little guy :-)
What a contrast from the other rich footballers who let their pretty girlfriends waste their money on meaningless pursuits.