By Joesyl Marie V. De La Cruz
Photo by Jun Rojas, PSI

If you want to meet someone very successful, Christopher Millora is someone you need to know. His accomplishments that created buzz around the Philippines; everything was surreal that it would hard to believe. Chris made the country, the province, the city and various communities proud of him. How can anybody say that Chris is one of the most accomplished people there is? That is quite simple to explain.Chris, as the whole WVSU community calls him, is one of the most successful students. He is an inspiration, an idol, a hero. With his wit and love of literature, he is, without any doubt, the Editor-in-chief of the university publication “Forum Dimensions”. Also, he was the recipient of the Esteban Javellana Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. The odd thing is that Chris is not a literature major neither in journalism. It is rare for a person to admit that his dream is quite far from where he is now because Chris always wanted to be a high school teacher specializing in Literature. However, Chris is a Cum Laude graduate of Nursing. What lead him to a different wrong is an untold story but what is important is, he still have this longing for his real passion and is making amends to have the chance to do it.

Actually, he is a much fulfilled writer compared to anybody because his work had inspired the young minds of almost 2000 children in Iloilo. His creation The Little Green Rangers: Ang Kapirdihan ni Basuramon had been Chris’ ticket into being close to his dreams. This story started as one of the foretold children’s stories that Chris serves his younger nephews and nieces in exchanged for sweet hugs and kisses. Not until, the news about the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy knocked in Chris’ door and immediately gave the opportunity a shot.

“To be honest, I did not start out as an environmental advocate since in college most of my efforts are focused on leadership and team building. However, with the blossoming efforts by various individuals and non-government organizations, it is difficult to just stay blind and not do something,” said Chris.

“The Little Ilonggo Environmental Heroes Short Story Caravan” is an idea that was turn into a reality via the hardest road Chris had to take. The idea includes producing an information material in a form of a children’s book but instead of distributing these books, they would visit communities around Iloilo and stage a puppet show that will lead into giving lessons about the environment. The characters that used to be a simple message transmitted through storytelling, was visualized through the help of Chris’ good friend, Miss Azel Ann Baron.

He had a wide view of what the future of his plans would be like but there were barriers, big ones. “This visionary project started from scratch. I had no budget, no volunteers, no logistic,” Chris shared. “All I had was my desire to get the project going and tell stories to kids that would help them become more concerned with our environment, thus, instilling a realistic sense of empowerment that they too, can do something for Mother Earth.”

But with the help of many of Chris’ friends, colleagues and supporters  – he spend three months doing the project that he admitted taught him life’s greatest lesson. He worked with minimum resources but he was not bothered. “So, when they say that passion can actually keep an entire work going, they are correct,” he said.

All of Chris’ work with his volunteers, supporters and friends had paid off. Chris was chosen as one of the BYEE delegates to represent the country to Leverkusen, Germany. “Spending five days in a European country with best practices when it comes to environmental protection is in itself a life changing experience. Not to mention, that I get to spend it with 49 other envoys from all over the world,” Chris said. If the study trip to Germany wasn’t enough, Chris’ became the recipient of the first ever International Bayer Young Environmental Leaders Award. His project was named the best of all the projects done by different students around the world. The glory he brought to the Philippines was splendid. But what he cherished most in the trip is not the recognition but rather the experience to represent the country and the chance to bring honor in times that our Motherland needed it the most.

His love story with the environment had opened countless doors for Chris. Back at school, he was awarded Most Outstanding Student Nurse of the Year and had earned him the award as TOSIA (Ten Outstanding Students of Iloilo) Worker for Excellence in Community Service. And to top it all off, he landed the first rank of the TOSIA Elite Circle of 5.

Success became Chris’ middle name but he always believes that it was never easy. “If there was a recipe for success, I could've paved the road much smoother to reach what I want. But of course, there is no easy way to getting there. I think what enabled me to be "successful" is my personal conviction to become a man for others. It's true when they say that if you don't focus your work towards helping others, all other blessings will follow or your happiness will depend on how you can make other people happy.” His views and mantras matched the way he works and the way he live his life.

Those conquests gained Christopher more and higher qualifications to be at the top of his game. Now Chris is, once again, on a road that will add to his already deeming success in the field of student and youth leadership. He is on to be one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines. Let alone being part of the chosen student to represent Western Visayas, Chris couldn’t hide his thrill. “TOSP is the most prestigious award that can be given to a graduating student because it awards the most well-balanced students of the country,” Chris shared.

No matter where the world takes him, Chris still managed to hold his ground. He is proud of what he had done for his self and for his countrymen but together with that, having the chance to be around amazing people humbled Chris in all ways.  He idolized the people that support the same causes as him and that it to be helping our country to be better and greater.

Speaking of future and dreams, Chris shared his vision of what the future is for him, the community and our country.

He wanted to starts with happiness. “It comes in many forms but as for me, it is waking up in the morning not feeling heavy-hearted because you know you have a deeper purpose. I know, it sounds vague, but trust me, I know exactly how it should feel,” he said.

As he adds more to that already bright phrase, “The Philippines is a beautiful country. My vision is for it to be composed of empowered citizens. To be realistic, I do not really vision it to be a poorless country or a rich country but its citizens, no matter how poor, rich, sad, happy, inspired they are - contribute to nation building in the way they know best. That is my ideal Philippines.”

An idealist, a community worker, an optimist and a hero – Christopher Millora is a person with a good act that is worth emulating. If the youth can be like him or even surpass him there is no doubt that the Philippines will find its way into greatest.*