A Woman of Valuewritten by Ulysses Espartero
published in Panay News, 2009
If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day. – Alex Noble
Seldom can you find a woman who despite her achievements in life, remains quiet and down to earth. The story of Tita C. dela Cruz is a story of a woman of value.
Tita was born on November 25, 1951 in Banga, Aklan to spouses Felipe Dela Cruz and Davidica Ibit Dela Cruz. She is married to Chief Engr. Reynaldo Dela Cruz with successful children.
She earned her elementary education at Banga Elementary School Banga, Aklan (1958-1964) and her high school at the now Aklan State University (1964-1967). She holds a degree inBachelor of Science in Education from the Northwestern Visayan Colleges where she graduated in 1970.
After successfully hurdling the Licensure Examination for Teachers in 1972, she was admitted asPublic School Teacher of Zamora Elementary School in Manila where she served from 1972 to 1983. She resigned from her teaching post in 1983 to establish her own business.
She knew very well then that a person who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own. She served as Vice President of Zeal Maritime Corporation from 1983 to 1985. This company provided employment to hundreds of Filipinos and Aklanons.
She presently serves as President of the Christian Medical Clinic, a position she holds since 1983. Her management and expertise has propelled the Manila-based clinic to the heights of success. For one, it is the clinic of choice of Shoe Mart (SM) for 17 years now, Mc Donald (15 years now), ABS-CBN (5 years), Max Restaurant, and 90 other top corporations and companies of the country.
CMC has been designated as clinic of choice for neuro and other medical check-ups of applicants for employment of Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs), multi-national shipping companies and many others.
In 2002, after many years of managing successful business in Manila, she went home and ventured into another business as a proprietor of Holy Father & Medical Diagnostics based in Kalibo, Aklan. In 2007, she also started the Holy Father Pharmacy also in the capital town of Aklan. She founded the Green Hut Resort in New Washington, Aklan as an alternative choice for guests and tourists. The resort has hosted seminars and events thus promoting Aklan as a tourism paradise.
She also was able to operate a fish pond in New Washington. This project involves a multi-million investment in the seafood capital town of Aklan which not only provides employment to Aklanons but more so in ensuring the availability of aquaculture products in the province.
As a deeply religious woman, she was President of Mt. Carmel Catholic Association in New Manila. She believes that giving frees people from the familiar territory of our own needs by opening our mind to the unexplained worlds occupied by the needs of others.
It’s not surprising that her significant contribution and community services are beyond reproach. She has donated Php6 Million worth of 3,000 vials of vaccines for anti pneumonia, which were distributed to hospitals in the province of Aklan. She played a gracious host to hundreds of investors, guests and top officials of the provincial and local governments in the Province of Aklan, a testimony to how she cares for the development of her province of birth.
She also sponsored countless promotional campaigns, events and projects for a cause. Last year, she hosted a luncheon press conference for Matt Monroe, Jr. whose concert tour will benefit the STAC in Kalibo, Aklan.
She is also a tireless organizer of countless medical missions and free clinics in far-flung areas all throughout the country for more than two decades now and benefactor of medical missions in Aklan for more than 20 years now.
She also hosted the police forces which extended assistance and responded to emergencies in Boracay Island, the country’s premier tourist destination. Through her companies, she provides assistance to hundreds of Aklanons for employment in Manila.
The journey is still long for Mrs. Tita dela Cruz who believes that those who bring sunshine into the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves.
