Vina Magallanes Lelim shares inspiring journey in new book PLUS: Baby Espanola hosts Supremes’ weekly lunch
USA-based home care entrepreneur Vina Magallanes Lelim was in Manila to celebrate the launch of her official biography, “From A Philippine Village to Beverly Hills – Vina’s Journey.”
Vina’s life story began in extreme poverty in a tiny village about twenty miles away from Iloilo, where she worked in the rice fields from age five. Her story encounters bullying at schools, working at night to pay her own school and college fees and suffering the worst kind of abuse in adulthood, although Vina did give a “spoiler alert” – the book has a happy ending.
Guests came from many different countries, including Ambassador Peter Kell of New Zealand, Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino of Malaysia, Brett Campbell from the USA Embassy, The Caviar Ladies Group from
Los Angeles, the Philippine Expat Community and Expat Housewife Circle of Friends, The Funtastic Group of Friends, The Filipino American Press Club of California, The Tennis Ladies of Ayala Alabang Country Club Tennis and The Inner Wheel of Chinatown.
“My life can inspire others, particularly OFWs, never to despair and know that an honest heart and determination will lead you to success. I risked everything and left everything and everybody I loved when opportunity knocked on my door to become an OFW when I was just over forty years old.”
Now Vina is returning blessings through her own charity, the Vina Lelim Foundation, which helps homeless people in Hollywood and Los Angeles. Vina also regularly returns to the Philippines so that her Foundation can help people in her original home near Iloilo. “Education is a key to overcoming poverty,” Vina says, “so I try to focus my charity on giving and improving education.”
To Vina, may your tribe increase. Congratulations!
Meanwhile, Supremes weekly lunches was organized by Celine Saldana Bautista three years ago.
Members came from her previous groups for the past 15 years, Celine, Lovely Ladies (LLG), Venture 7, VIP, May Bukas, Rosary, Zonta Club of Metro Rizal, Toastmasters and Awesome.
As one of the celebrants, Baby Espanola hosted in her newly renovated beautiful Dasmarinas house in Makati. Other birthday celebrants were Vicky Zimmermann, Ditas Rodriguez, Baby Sison, Beging Soriano and Isabel Tique.
Sumptuous food (kare-kare, adobo, barbeque, embutido, shrimps, crabs) was prepared by Baby’s cook. Cakes were overflowing for the birthday ladies donated by Senator Cynthia Villar, Malou Bewer, Ning Littaua and Celine Bautista. Due to these lunches, nobody has Alzheimer due to the bonding while blowing the cakes and chatting that completed their afternoon.