Last March 30 at the Lancaster Hotel on Shaw Boulevard, we were surprised to see Angelu de Leon, who took her oath as the new president of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ortigas Chapter.

Paliwanag ng aktres sa kanyang kinabibilangang organisasyon, "This is a non-partisan, a non-profit organization and I only have the chance to lead the Ortigas chapter for one year... Parang it's a leadership program and then after one year, we elect a new president again."

Around 2006 noong nagsimula siyang maging member ng JCI. "Well, una, referral ng friend. And it sounded good. Unang-una, non-profit siya and then it can teach you pa how to become a leader, how to organize a charity na hindi naman siya normal. Hindi naman siya tinuturo sa school. Hindi rin naman siya tinuturo sa bahay. Most especially, hindi siya tinuturo sa show business," saad ni Angelu.

Dagdag pa niya, "Medyo low-key siya, e. Hindi lang siya parang charity. It's an organization na parang may parliamentary, so para siyang mini-government in your community. Iba yung kusa kang tumutulong. Iba rin yung feeling ng nakakakuha ka ng ibang tao para tumulong. Yun ang difference ng JCI Ortigas, hindi lang siya pera mo.

"Para sa akin naman, ang pagtulong sa kapwa, wala siyang time, any time puwede mong gawin. So, yun lang ang gusto namin. Na parang I wanna make sure na hindi porke nasa showbiz ka at busy ang schedule mo, hindi ka na puwedeng tumulong. So, yun ang gusto kong maranasan.

"Even for myself," patuloy niya, "I want to stretch myself to the limit na kung walang work, hindi ako puwedeng tutulog-tulog lang. Or kapag walang ginagawa sa taping, wala kang ginagawa, tutulog lang. So, it's a continuous work."

ANGELU'S CALLING. Angelu is a Born Again Christian. Pero bago  siya naging Born Again ay nasa JCI na raw siya.

"Ngayon na lang siguro na bilang Presidente, yun ang parang calling na when you are really ready to help. Kapag na-defocus na ang sarili mo sa mga nangyayari sa kabuuan, dun ako binigyan ng chance.

"Alam naman natin na bilang showbiz, bilang artista, yung focus mo, yung sarili mo. On how you'll gonna look good at may mga luho tayo na hindi mabitawan. I guess, when God taught me how to defocus myself, mas naging open ako to this opportunity."

Kuwento ni Angelu, kamakailan lang ay nagkaroon sila ng program sa Guimaras kung saan namahagi sila ng school supplies sa isang community, bukod pa sa feeding program.

"Actually, marami kaming naka-lineup," aniya. "Not just for helping people but for individuals. Meron kaming mga training, grooming on how to look good. We have four areas like individual, community, business, and international. So, dun kami nagbi-venture."

EFREN PEÑAFLORIDA. Ang CNN Hero of the Year na si Efren Peñaflorida ang naging guest speaker sa oath-taking ng JCI Ortigas Chapter. Nalaman nga namin kay Angelu na siya mismo ang personal na kumontak dito.

Aniya, "Yes, pareho kami ng belief to pay it forward. Sabi nga niya, one doesn't need to be old, one doesn't need to be young, one doesn't need to be yung may kaya or wala. It has to start from you.

"Alam mo, sobrang blessing niya sa akin kasi hindi ko siya kilala personally. To call him and he said yes, sobrang feeling ko, siguro yun ang answered prayer ko. I really don't know anyone naman. Sabi ko nga, it's totally different from show business.

"Ayoko rin siyang maging political. Non-partisan kami, e. Especially with this coming election, mahirap. Kaya nang umoo siya, sobra akong blessed.  Kung ang feeling niya natulungan namin siya with what he said and what he showed us, mas natulungan niya kami on how to make JCI Ortigas better."