It is an honor to introduce my wife of 36 years......Erlinda Bartolome Reyes, the mother of my three lovely daughters: Jennifer, Jenevieve and Janet. She is also a proud grandmother of 4 gorgeous grandchildren. She was born on July 12 in Hermosa at the historic province of Bataan, Philippines. As a promise, I will not reveal her age except that I am in liberty to tell everyone that she is in her golden years. She is an accounting graduate of the Lyceum of the Philippines. She had tons of working experiences before she called it quits in 1998 to be a full time housewife. She moved to Texas, USA from Toronto, Canada in 2001.

Speaking of gold, I remember one fortune teller who said that my wife has a golden aura. Whatever it meant, I knew that I found a pot of gold when I saw her for the first time. She is with a golden heart, very loving of others. She is a person that is willing to help out, giving her time and effort to make things happen. Once she sets her priority on to something, she persists, she won't let go until she achieves her goal. In the 70's, as a member of a religious organization in Tondo, Manila t, she was instrumental in the success of the group to have raised sufficient funds which surpassed all expectations. She made it happen that the poorest of the poor in our neighborhood were assisted. Her devotion and commitment to help others impressed me so much that I married her three years later.

She knows the meaning of being poor because she comes from a humble family. Kindness and generosity are very inherent in her. When we migrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1980, she and I were active members of the Featinians of Toronto, a group of former students and alumni dedicated to provide financial assistance to those talented individuals who cannot afford to go to universities back in the Philippines. She was also a member of a religious group that extends help to the Orphanage in Manila. She had been the United Way campaign canvasser year after year in the Provincial Government of Canada where she worked for 15 years.

As a lead fund raiser of the Mrs. Philippines of North Texas Charity campaign, Linda, as she is fondly called, is once more in a quest to help those who are in need. I enjoin you to support her in this endeavor. Through the goodness of your heart, I can assure you that your support can help in making a difference in the lives of the parishioners of St. Peter De Verona Catholic Church of Hermosa, Bataan Philippines and the PCCI beneficiaries.

On behalf of my wife, thank you for your generosity.


Sincerely,
John Reyes