 Aloha, and mabuhay. Welcome to another edition of Pinoy Power Hawaii here on Think Tech Hawaii. My name is Emi Ortega Anderson, your host, and we come to you live every Tuesday at 12 noon. Again, we want to thank our proud sponsors and supporters of Think Tech Hawaii for giving us the opportunity to come and share these pertinent subjects that affects our community, especially our Kababayans, the community of the U of T Filipino. And here on Pinoy Power Hawaii, we do speak three languages, languages called itaglish. At one time or another, we may be speaking Ilocano, Tagalog, and English. And sometimes it's all in one sentence. So today we are continuing our sequel of Awakenings and Second Chances. And I have a special guest who is dear to my heart. She is my sister in Christ. Her name is Lilia Pasqua Esperito, and she's a community leader, volunteer, also a Sunday school teacher who devotes her time in sharing God's blessings. So how are you today? Please Lilia, welcome. Oh, well, thank you. I'm fine. Amy, thank you very much for inviting me on this prestigious program of yours. And I'm so happy to be a part of this program today. Well, thank you for joining us and helping us with our empowerment. You know, sister Lilia, we aim to enrich, enlighten, educate, entertain, but the big word for us is empower. And I know that you have a story to share. But before we go into your awakening and second chances, please tell us. When you hear of Lilia Pasqua Esperito, who is Lilia Esperito? Oh, well, Amy, I came from La Union, just like you. From Luna, La Union, and my barangay is in Rimos. I was born in February 8, 1953. And I went to school in San Fernando, La Union for high school and then proceeded to Manuel Alcazar University in Manila, where I took up my Bachelor of Arts and Political Science, where I dream of being a lawyer someday. But then, you know, some tragic incident curtailed that dream of mine when my sister, who is in Hawaii at that time, passed away or they were murdered in their home in 1973. And so my dream of becoming a lawyer died out, because she's the only support that I have sending me all what I need. So, and luckily, I was on my fourth year at that time, and I'm graduating from that Bachelor of Arts. And so instead of proceeding to the law proper for taking up another four years maybe, I decided to take up education courses so I could teach in college. That's when I graduated in 1973 and started working as an instructor at the Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics in Manila, where I teach for 16 years. Wow. Yeah, 16 years. And there, I gained my experience in teaching as a college instructor, and at the same time, I also worked as a part-time instructor at the International Aviation School at the time where the trained pilots become commercial or, you know, government pilot or military pilot. I handled the academic classes. You got into it because you love flying or you just love being a pilot? Not really, because I don't have any idea. Since I was employed by as a teacher or as a constructor at the Philippine Air Force College of Aeronautics. And so some of my friends, when that school just opened up, they just beginning at that year, they told me if I want a part-time job, well, of course, spending two, three hours every night after my classes at the Philippine Air Force College doesn't hurt my schedule, so I agreed to try to apply there as an instructor in the academics. Wonderful. Yeah. In sister Lilia's education, yes, part of the progress we are making, and we can never have enough knowledge of being vaccinated, no? Yes. So I really salute you in that, and I think even this day, you continue to get educated on a lot of things that we need. Well, actually, I mean, we do a lot of things that we want to do, especially when it comes to our family, our focus is on our family. So I tried, when I came to Hawaii in 1991, I tried every means that I could handle my kids, especially when the man that took me here passed away. It's when like, oh, what should I do now? I need to work, get two jobs to support my family, and of course, getting two jobs and supporting my family will enrich my learning, because I believe that even we are old, we continue to learn. And so that's what happened. That's why I work at CMSA as claims department, yeah, the claims department. And then after that, I applied for the state job, and luckily, I was employed by the Department of Health where I stayed there for 22 years, more than 22 years as a secretary of the Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. Oh, interesting. So within the period that I worked at Jai, I was in the Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. And I was in the Department of Drug Abuse Division. Did you have a drug abuse case when you were trying to get your kids to do the same things? want to keep it themselves. Yes, you're right on that. I mean, it's beautiful. Oh, maybe it's a good thing for us to keep it, or something. It's good for us, right? But for me, because I work as a secretary, and I get all the calls. Every time we call a family member, we'll call. What will I do? My son, my daughter is like this. My daughter jumped out of the truck when they were bringing her to the rehab center. Sociedal. Because you're a societal agent. And so I give them some kind of advice. And because they thought that the agency, they kept asking for help from the police to take care of the giant. That's not the case. Oh, when, when, when. If they are violent, and they do something bad that hurt the public, then the police will come and take them away. But when they just call us, it is not our responsibility to call the police. Because for us, if the person, especially no, an atahanganan, I don't atahanganan, Amy, don't you know that? Well, chronic problem, right? Yeah, 35, 40s. But now, I don't know anything about it. It's just a ten-each year. It's a problem. But it's a problem. No, the more I dig into the problem, I think, the more I find out that it is a sickness or epidemic that, yeah, it's really a problem, Amy. Or it's your age. Yeah. And so, it's a problem. You know, the police will come, and we will come and take them away. Or the police will come and take them away, you know. It is the willingness of the person, especially no, an atahanganan, to come and rehab. Oh, and why? Yeah, because we have different rehabilitation agencies that we contract with. And that's how the state helps those people. Because there's only one example that will help. We have a lot here in Oahu. Oh, and so, at the GOPC, because there are resource centers that support that information, so that it can be helped when there's a lot of assistance that will help you, right? Yes. But at the GOPC, we have a lot of resources that help those people. But most importantly, the aid and the alcohol and drug abuse division, their main focus is getting funding for those agencies that provide services to the public. They get the concern that they get. And we also give training to these substance abuse counselors. And we also give training to these substance abuse counselors. We give them training. But I think that they can do their work better. So, that's what they do that time. Yeah. So, it's great that we have the opportunity to help those people. But I think that they can handle these problems. That's why there's a lot of shame. There's a lot of anger. There's a lot of anger. Just like you stay in the closet and you don't get any help that way. You have to prepare for the problem. And in that case, they shut the outside world. So, therefore, I want you to help to prepare for the problem of the people. Yes. Actually, I like the culture of the Philippines. Yes. The culture of the Philippines, even though we're talking about it. But through my experience, when you talk about the Philippines, you can solve the problem of the family. Yes. That's why there's a lot of anger. There's a lot of anger. And that's the secret of the family. You're so scared to ask for help. You're not going to help, right? Yes. I'm sorry. We used to help each other. We used to prevent each other. We used to help each other. When? When? The Philippines helped each other. But, that's the problem. At first, there were no problems. But then there was a counter solution. That's right. You're really scared. I want to help each other. And there was a situation. When you were helping each other, I didn't know what to do. I didn't know what to do. But, I decided to help each other. And we helped each other. Yes. I didn't know the taxi side. Because they get help very late. Because of the shame from other people. The shame of their family members. I encountered that while working at the alcohol and drug abuse division. Yes. You're really scared. Because, when you were helping each other, I don't know the culture of the Philippines, especially the Ilocano. You're just scared. You're afraid of the people. But, that is not the case to get help. It's the time for us to get help. We must help each other. We're really afraid of the problem. That's right. I want to know that. Do you think that the number of people who were helping each other We will come back with our awakening, second chances conversation with sister Lillia, Pascua Esperito after these short messages and Pinoy Power Hawaii. We will be right back. Hey, Stan the energy man here on Think Tech Hawaii and they won't let me do political commentary so I'm stuck doing energy stuff but I really like energy stuff so I'm going to keep on doing it. So join me every Friday on Stan the energy man at lunchtime at noon on my lunch hour. We're going to talk about everything energy especially if it begins with the word hydrogen. We're going to definitely be talking about it. We'll talk about how we can make Hawaii cleaner, how we can make the world a better place, just basically save the planet. Even Miss America can't even talk about stuff like that anymore. We got it nailed down here. So we'll see you on Friday at noon with Stan the energy man. Welcome back to Pinoy Power Hawaii. I am your host Amy Ortega Anderson and we appreciate you staying with us. And today our subject is awakening second chances that they pinakariing when no make a doang a chance hata yung a ba bal bali when no they take money set kargeti priorities important a tea biag tail. So today we're having a conversation with one of my closest sister in Christ. That's sister Lillia Pascua Esperito who also hails from La Union that they nag up on the tea or take a family to know what would be a good start. And we're going to continue with our conversation. So I say with all the things that you've done volunteering and of course working hard to help our cover buy ins. They get a talaga makasapu liti you get lost in the process of helping others. Yeah. Yeah. I love to work work work and work not only for myself but for others helping others. Actually I can say I can say I don't charge them but I am happy to render the knowledge that I have to them. Share it. I share it to them. And so that's what happened to me in February 9 2014. It's a day of right after my birthday. Oh yeah. The morning February 18 was my birthday in the night when I had that. And it happens when I was in church and I'm so glad I was in church that it happened at that time. And I was about to start my class because I'm a Sunday school teacher. Yes. Teaching the Relief Society. And then I just feel like I'm busy and having headache. And so the sisters in the room told me like you can sit down sisters. So as soon as I sit down I already felt the coming of the numbness on my face on my right right side of my face. And so one of the student there for a sister who is attending my class was my daughter. And so I turn around and look at my daughter and I said I'm numbing call a doctor. Yes. Right away. And then luckily in that class we have some nurses and there and then oh baby she's having a stroke and then that happens. And then right away somebody called 911 and then they call the bishop. The bishop is standing at the time and the right away lay me down on the couch and give me a blessing. And I'll tell you Amy the blessing that was given to me is very important because only the word I heard it when he says bless her that she will be full again. Okay. When I wake up from the hospital I couldn't move my left side. No movement of my left side. And so I was going to worry that I couldn't not to walk anymore or something. And so what happened after that I moved to Kaiser because I used to work there when I was close to Kahalamon where the word is. So we'll I moved to Kaiser where I used to work. And so they were putting me in rehab and something. And then my daughter said the doctor was saying that I still have the opportunity to to walk to move. Only it's not very normal but I can walk and move. And so every day they wanted me to move my thumb my foot thumb and like that. And so because of that worry that I do not move anymore or I cannot walk anymore I was thinking of that blessing to be full again. How could that be? And then my daughter was telling me one time mom you need to help yourself. Okay. So even when I was lying down I used my right foot to move my left foot up and down to move and move and move in my feet. I used my left side to move down like that. And so after a month yes and rehab I went to rehabilitation hospital of the Pacific. After a month I was able to get rid of the of the wheelchair of the walker. I can walk by myself though feeling dizzy. So I always have what you call this a walker. A walker. Yeah. My walker. So it took the urging of your daughter to remind you that God helped those who are willing to help themselves. Yes. So and of course I prayed every night. I prayed every moment right there. If this is a challenge to me I said Heavenly Father let me have a second chance. Yes. Exactly. Let me have a second chance. And so in thinking of that second chance the Lord said help yourself then I will guide you and help you. Okay. Let me take you back to initially right after you had the stroke. Of course you couldn't move. How was your in effect that you didn't look at Sister? Were you able to look at it? Were you able to continue to affect this thought pattern? Well so far that's what I'm very thankful for Heavenly Father Sister because I didn't close my mind. There's nothing only physical like my face become look type side. Yes. Other sideways like that and I couldn't move my hand. Right. But then through exercise I was able to put back my face in its normal way and but my mind doesn't get affected. It never changed. Never changed. Your ability to think. I have my cell phone. I listen to conference talk and I can remember you know that's that's my past time when I'm not busy in the hospital telling to myself. I listen. I read the inside. Actually I'm reading all the books that I can. So I exercise my brain. Yes. By reading. And also did you ever doubt? Did you ever ask yourself why me? At very first I have that thinking. That feeling. I've been so good. I go to church every Sunday. I do good things to people you know. Why me? And then why did this happen to me? But then I answered my own question. Okay. And then it said maybe this is a blessing because God is giving me the trial to let me think that I should have not abused myself while I'm still strong. So I can relate to your story, Cecilia, that a lot of us get caught up with our everyday activities and sometimes we don't know when or how to stop because for me service becomes an obsession the desire to want to finish what I'm doing or to do more that I can handle. And then in doing so we are able to really give you the capability when you are able to complete your task when you are at work. Because the pressure that you are buying over all health. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So I promise to Heavenly Father when I get out I will take care of my health. I'm going to decrease the activities that I have. Like before I go to parties you know like those association parties and everything just to know more people to get in touch with people like that. Networking. Networking because you know we are we are with some of the businesses on the side that we do so we need to work with people. Right. And so I have to stop all those things. I promise my health is more important. That's when I try to remember how to lower my sickness. My like I have a diabetes. I have to I try to remember so I go I went to a diet and everything. From 160 pounds I lose 210 when I get up from the hospital. Yes. That is good in a way that is really not a good way to do it. But it works in your case. It is really an awakening because things happen in our lives to kind of remind us that we need to slow down. We need to find balance. We need to take time to prioritize that they come from Stephen Covinga first things first. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And cut back on our community activities. is that the social gatherings that we are going to attend, because that's how society wants us to be sometimes, right? Keeping up with the Joneses that I'm going to attend. They have a lot of drivers, so they can drive Mercedes, BMW, Rolls-Royce. I don't consider it as a trial or something, but it's a blessing on my part, because God is giving me the ways to think that your health is more important than those associated that you have that keeping up with all those parties and everything, you know. And so, after I get out of the hospital, I just concentrate on myself how I get well until now I'm still continuing to help myself to heal. Yes. But along with that, I'm sure you credit your family, especially you have a supportive husband, you know, your brother Tony, right? I know he's very, very important part of your healing and well-being. So, thank you again for being our guest and reminding us that it's important to balance and also to manage our time so that we can self-continue serving, but most of all to take care of ourselves. So, I appreciate our guest today, Sister Lilia Pasqua Esperito, for sharing. They give the experience as not a top non-marrying to you. They give the pinna ka-pal-ti-ing. Make kan-tayu iti, make kan-do-ha-gun-dawa. Second chances, window awakenings. This serves as a reminder that we need to take the time to take care of ourselves. And the saying goes that no success can ever make up for a failure in the home. So, let's remember that the focus and really prioritize first things first. Thank you again for joining us here on Pinoy Power, Hawaii. And we invite you again to tune in next Tuesday from 12 noon to 12 30 here on Think Tech, Hawaii. Mabuhay. Maraming salamat po. Aloha and God bless.