A good man’s generous gifts keep on giving

Pete Roa

Pete Roa’s loving family and friends got together on Aug. 12 to honor and remember the acclaimed broadcaster-producer on his 10th death anniversary.

Inspired by the Mass and sermon of Fr. Jerry Orbos, they vowed to support and pursue the laudable objectives of the Pete Roa Integrated Media Endeavors (Prime) Foundation, which was put up by the Roas to make sure that Pete’s significant advocacies and initiatives would continue to be pursued and achieved despite his physical absence.

Pete’s advocacies are indeed significant: He cared a lot about broadcast education, so Prime has put up conferences and workshops featuring industry experts and icons, who have selflessly shared their wisdom and experience with hundreds of Broadcasting and Communication majors.

To raise the standards of Philippine broadcasting, Pete’s foundation has also put up the Prime TV Awards for exceptional, career-long work in television.

The first “lifetime” awardees were hailed by both industry members and viewers alike as truly worthy of admiration and emulation—Pia Hontiveros, Winnie Monsod and Cheche Lazaro.

The awardees were in turn delighted to discover that the beautiful Prime trophy they received was sculpted and donated by premier Filipino glass artist Ramon Orlina—truly an abiding and cherished testament to the excellence of their principled service to millions of grateful Filipino viewers.

Pete was also a devotee of St. Padre Pio, so Prime has put up performances of presentations on the stigmatist-saint’s heroic life and times, funded by the Ortigas family.

The inspiring play continues to be performed, with some presentations at the Padre Pio Shrine in Batangas.

In addition, a TV documentary on the saint has been shot, narrated and produced by Boots Anson-Roa in Italy, at actual sites associated with Padre Pio.

As Pete’s loved ones and friends talked about these and other Prime initiatives over dinner on Aug. 12, it was made bracingly and movingly clear that a good person’s example and influence do not end at his demise.

Aside from Pete’s relatives, people whose lives he touched for the better shared their fond and grateful memories.

Some of the people present took heart at this informal sharing, and reminded themselves that they, too, could have some of that beneficial effect on others—and they didn’t have to wait until they were goners to get the inspirational process going!

Prime Foundation has other projects lined up for 2017-’18, including more presentations, workshops, publications, as well as financial assistance for stroke and cancer patients.

Indeed, a good and giving person’s beneficial and inspiring influence and effect on others, both professionally and personally, are generous gifts that unstintingly keep on giving.