Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of depression.
A Gen Z from Laguna revealed how visiting a home for the aged in Laguna helped her surpass challenges in life.
Mary Sheena Villanueva first visited Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and Abandoned in 2010. Since then, the elderlies had a special place in her heart.
Last year, Sheena was diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
A sister from the Mary Mother of Mercy Home for the Elderly and Abandoned reached out to her.
“Nagmessage naman po si Sister Venus sa’kin. Out of nowhere, tinanong niya kung ako ba ‘yung Binibining San Pedro, nanalo po kasi ako. Sabi niya may isang lola daw po na paulit-ulit akong hinahanap.‘Yun nga lang namatay na po ‘yung lola. Matagal na po akong hinahanap ni sister,” she recalled.
Apparently, it was one of the lolas she met during her previous visits at the shelter.
“Nung nag-message pa lang sa ’kin si Sister Venus, na parang wakeup call na po ‘yun sa ’kin. Feeling ko dito ako dinadala ni Lord para maging okay ako,” she said.
“Hindi ko alam nag se-self-doubt ako pero hindi ko alam, do’n sa own little way ko na nakipag-usap lang ako ‘dun sa matanda, nagkaroon pala ako ng impact sa kanya. Siguro ito ‘yung purpose ko sa life,” she added
Sheena added that her visits in the shelter also helped her surpass one of the biggest challenges in her life.
“Nakausap ko po si Sister Venus. Ang dami po niyang words of wisdom na binigay sa ’kin kumbaga parang nag-start po lahat sa spiritual healing. Little by little, hindi ko napapansin na o-overcome ko na pala ‘yung depression ko,” she said.
After taking the dental board exam in 2022, Sheena spent some time with the elderlies.
She also decided to celebrate her 25th birthday by surprising them with a special meal.
“Sobrang unplanned kasi parang gusto ko po i-secret ‘yun sa family and friends ko.Gusto ko siyang gawin nang ako lang. After ng work ko nun, nag-asikaso na ako ng bibilhin,” she shared.
“Nakakatuwa kasi tanda po nila ako. Instead na ako ‘yung ma-surprise, sila ‘yung na-surprise kasi hindi nila alam na babalik ako.Sobrang fulfilling po as in. Especially nung kinakantahan nila ako ng Happy Birthday,” she added.
According to Sheena, she wanted to share her story with the elderlies in hopes to reach kind-hearted individuals who would help fund the planned facility renovation of the Mary Mother of Mercy Home
“Hindi kailangan na mayaman ka. Hindi kailangan na marami kang pera or influential person ka para makatulong ka. Walang bayad maging mabuting tao. Kasi ‘yung simpleng pagbisita po sa kanila doon, talagang malaking effect na po ‘yun,” she stressed.
