Rosario "Nene" D. Lansangan is musically gifted. Besides singing in her church's choir, she would play guitar in her spare time. But music isn't the only gift that she is blessed with. God also gifted her with a heart that yearns to do good -- especially for the less privileged and disadvantaged. In fact, it is these twin gifts that people in her hometown of Hagonoy, Bulacan regard and refer to her as their "very special teacher." She taught music to most of the town's poor children.

In 1995, she was awarded Bulacan's "Most Outstanding Teacher" for her caring contributions to children, schools, and music. Indeed, how she has endeared herself to countless poor and rich families alike through her gifts of music and Christian heart.

Despite her hectic schedule, Lansangan would find time even to volunteer her services to her church and the community. She helped organize various local cultural and musical groups, such as the "Musikong Bumbong," Teodora Cruz Rondalla, Hagonoy Elementary School Pupils' Choir, "Dulaang Musmos," the District Teachers' Choir, and the Toy Band.

But on March 16, Lansangan's world of music and humanitarian services virtually stopped because of a heart stroke that all but snapped her life. It was a cruel stroke that paralyzed her. Only a heart surgery could help restore her and prevent her from being completely being shut from the rest of the world. But heart surgery entails prohibitive cost that the Lansangans are unable to shoulder financially. Without heart surgery, Nene will remain no longer the gifted music teacher that everybody knew. Still, endowed with an indomitable spirit, her present physical disability from the stroke refuses to shatter her dream to serve humanity with her gifts of music and Christian love. Somehow it only freezes it while she awaits for good Samaritans that will help shoulder the cost of her much-needed heart surgery.

Before her tragedy, quitting the teaching profession was never an option for Lansangan - most especially so that it helped in providing for family's wherewithal. Now, her primary fear of not being able to provide for her family is tearing her up. Blessed with six children she fears that her husband Jun's meager income from his part-time job will not be enough for the Lansangans to continue providing college education to their children.

The Lansangans live in the poorest village in Hagonoy of Sukol where running water is a precious commodity. The family's two-bedroom house is devoid of normal amenities.

Her forced retirement as a public school teacher due to the stroke is estimated to net the Lansangans a mere $13,000. She has already borrowed about half of her expected retirement benefits to sustain her needed medications.

"I have already used up half of my retirement for my medicines and food for our family," she laments. "How can I raise the funds needed for my heart surgery?"

Nene was raised and grew up in a poor family. Her father was a musician who was occasionally employed as a brass band and rondalla conductor. His meager income hardly helped to send her to high school. But that didn't dampen her strong will and determination to obtain education. She worked as a helper-custodian at the Haganoy Institute and was paid less that 50 cents a month, which helped underwrite her high school education until her graduation in 1962.

After high school, Nene enrolled at the Manuel L. Quezon University for a degree in education. While in college, she co-founded the MLQU Glee Club for which she enjoyed partial scholarship. Sheer hard work perseverance and guts coasted her to finally graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Education in December 1965.

Nene believes that like in her struggle to obtain high school and college education to develop her God-given gift of music, "my God will bring that miracle for my heart surgery."

"Hopefully, He allows it to happen before Christmas," she says wistfully.

"I'm just waiting for that kind-hearted person to help me. I'm seeking the help of our Dear Lord to find one for me."

Says Tito delos Reyes, a Hagonoy civic leader and business man who knows her, "If we could save Nene's heart, we helped not just her. We helped the whole community."

Nene's prayers and those from people that know her selfless dedication to serve humanity are not without answers. Through the power of the Internet, her pleas for assistance have reached her compatriots in California. Through the networks of the newly-formed Katipunan-USA, the Rural Organization for Advancement and Development (ROAD), Cerritos Rotary Club, Double Eight, Samahang Hagonoy-USA, Hagonoy.com organizations, and several Filipino-American newspapers, hundreds of people learned about this poor teachers' plight. A 3-mile "Walk-a-thon" sponsored by the Katipunan-USA is scheduled on Saturday, Nov. !*, at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, CA., starting at 9 A.M. Donna Delfin, the group coordinator, said that goal is to raise funds for Rosario's surgery and other projects for the needy in the Philippines. Interested parties can register on-line at www.katipunan-usa.org.

"Good Samaritan" doctors from Long Beach - Dr. Konstantine Vlachonossios and Dr. Ann Connor, both cardiac and thoracic surgeons, have already offered to perform the surgery on a charitable basis. The Whittier Presbyterian Hospital in Whittier, California has likewise, offered its facilities for her surgery. Additionally, free board and lodging while Nene is recuperating has been arranged and donated by another Filipino couple in Carson, CA. What she needs more is funds that will help underwrite the cost of plane fares for her and another person who must accompany her for this life-saving operation. The Trisoft Corporation in Fullerton, California, which heard the appeal responded and offered to help.

"I'm definitely inspired by these good Samaritans and I know I must thank the good Lord for touching their hearts and allowing the miracle to happen," Nene says with tears of joy. "They will definitely be blessed for their kindness."

For donations to Nene's plight and other humanitarian help for the less fortunate and disadvantaged in the Philippines, please make your checks payable to Katipunan-USA and send them to P.O. Box 8701, Fountain Valley, CA. 92708.

For inquiries about Nene Lansangan's plight, please call (714)-434-8280 or (714)-530-8939. Katipunan-USA may also be accessed thorough their website: ernie@katipunan-USA.org or JplanSmart@aol.com.

All donations will be acknowledged and updates will be published at www.katipunan-usa.org or at www.roadusa.net as they come.