Heidi Tobias-Valenzuela is one of the dearest persons in my life. She is my sister from another mother, best friend for more than three decades, business partner, confidant, and literally a person who knows me well aside from my family. Like her, she knows that I don't collect things but memories and I value relationships more than anything else. Whenever we see each other (I am glad that it becomes often for a couple of months now due to our perfume venture), we see to it that we check and assure each other that we are okay despite our concerns and struggles, may they be personal or family related. We like to give each other words of wisdom and sometimes we exchange a little something for each other like food and kikay stuff. What makes me amazed about her is she knows what I need at the moment. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, may pagka- "Manang Bola" siya. Ang galing niyang manghula! 

Just recently, she gave me a present. Tamang-tama kasi it was the time that I was planning to purchase an extra pouch for my necessities. She said that I could choose among the purses that she showed me as her birthday gift to me. Then I chose the one in the middle of this photo because I really liked the verse on it and it was really, really pretty. I was touched. How thoughtful of her! What made me more touched about her gesture was the fact that those purses that she showed me was purchased by her for a cause. 

Mabait, matulungin, at mapagmahal talaga sa mga kaibigan at kapamilya ang best friend ko. She finds ways and means to extend her help sa abot ng kanyang makakaya. Her selflessness is one of her traits that I really admire. She told me that she purchased the purses to help her friend and co-worker at Philippine Business for Social Progress, Franco Dino Bonifacio, to raise funds for his kidney transplant. 

I was not able to ask Heidi more details about Franco's life. All I know is that he needs to save funds for his kidney transplant that needs to be done as soon as possible. Apparently, he is single and stays with his mom. Below is the post on his Facebook account that Heidi shared through private message.

What makes Heidi happy is that there are many friends who are willing to help Franco. Sabi nga niya, Franco is a good person at siya ang tipo ng taong hindi ka magdadalawang-isip tulungan. If you are already preparing your Christmas gift list, I am humbly knocking on your kind hearts to please consider Franco's purse as one of your gift choices. You may purchase directly to him though the posted link above. The details, variants, designs, mode of payment, and other instructions are included there. I assure you that you are going to like his purses. They are so nice in actual, affordable, high quality, useful, practical, and neatly packed. Hindi ka mapapahiyang iregalo sila sa iyong mahal sa buhay, 'ika nga! Makatutulong ka pang mapahaba ang buhay ng isang mabuting tao.

Your help will be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance and God bless you a thousandfold.