One inspiring text message for 500 people daily

By Eva C. Visperas

This Indian national spreads one inspiring quote about the real meaning of life before sunrise daily to more than 500 people from all walks of life through text messaging.

 

Ashok Vasandani, 42, a resident of barangay Bolosan, Dagupan City and who has considered Philippines his home as he has been in the country for the past 26 years, is also considered a Good Samaritan by several sectors of society here. 

 

Vasandani wakes up between 3:00 to 4:00 a.m., he starts his prayer and meditation. At the strike of 5:45 to 7:00 a.m., he starts sending to more than 500 “souls” a uniform inspirational text message on that day culled from a book he read.

 

He has made this his daily sacrifice for the past two years. He has three cellular phones for Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular for this purpose. He said he uses the language of the Prayer Books.

 

Vasandani believes that the “Good News” spread fast because the recipient of the text message will most likely forward the message to his other friends.

 

Known as a man with a good heart by many Dagupeños for his charitable works, Vasandani has been reaping recognition from various sectors even as far as the Philippine National Police regional office in San Fernando City, La Union during its recent PNP Day. I’ve met him twice in two awarding rites and I wondered then why he was well loved.

 

“If people think I deserve the award, I’m happy,” Vasandani, who also speaks Filipino fluently, said.

 

He denies being the one doing the good deeds for the needy people.

 

“I am just an instrument,” he said.

 

He has taught his children to be generous also for the needy people, sharing their savings from their “baon” in school.

 

Vasandani’s family is engaged in trading home and office appliances and household wares in the city. Remember Maya Emporium? That’s the one along A.B. Fernandez Avenue, Dagupan City.

 

He confessed that he used to be the black sheep in the family and being the youngest among six siblings; he was carefree and enjoyed life to the fullest. 

 

Until one day, his two-year old son met a vehicular accident and he regretted it much because he was supposed to send him home but he allowed him go with another all because the drinking session in a party he attended had not started. By God’s grace, the boy was luckily out of danger.

 

Then later, as fate would have it, someone in their church approached him to join them. He said a new shine happened in his life. From then on, he maintained a vice-free life.

 

“I didn’t believe in God before. I thought money was everything. But I was wrong,” he said.

 

From providing some assistance to the police, providing rain gears to traffic enforcers, giving electric fans to detainees at the jail, law books, helping the sick in the hospital, Vasandani and his family even spent Christmas last year by caroling the sick at the Region I Medical Center here and brought some food for them. His charitable works are endless and he promised not to stop for as long as he is alive.

 

Now, Vasandani is taking care of a three-year old boy from Binalonan town who was diagnosed to have cancer and is scheduled to undergo CT scan in a hospital, followed by an operation as of this writing. He learned about the poor boy’s pathetic condition after watching a segment at the local television program.

 

He said he is happy with what he is doing.

 

“We got only one life. Make people happy not just by saying it but by doing it,” he said.

 

He said he is lucky because his wife, Kanchan, and his four children aged 12 to 17, are all supportive to what he is doing.

 

He encourages everyone to make a sacrifice in their life to make others happy. He said he pities some rich people who have closed mind about helping the needy.

 

“It’s not the money always. Its how you want to come out and express your feelings,” he said.

 

He ended the conversation by saying that one should have a ready smile to anyone because “A smile brightens the day of another person.”

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(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)

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