Dubai-based multi-awarded broadcast journalist Rachel Salinel, who represented her batch at the St. Louis Girls High School (SLGHS) in Baguio City Alumni Homecoming last February 4, encouraged her fellow alumni to find their passion and purpose as it is ‘not too late nor too early’.
Rachel narrated at the gathering that covering news was her passion, first as a field reporter for a Japanese TV network, and then as a senior correspondent of The Filipino Channel of ABS-CBN in the UAE and Africa.
“I realized later on that it is not enough to just report about the triumphs, the pains, the struggles, and the joys of overseas Filipinos but to use more my passion to do a purposeful work dictated by God,” she explained.
In June 2020, Rachel was named as one of the Dakilang Bayani (Noble Hero) Awardees by the Philippine Consulate General for her advocacy on Mental Health and Depression Awareness. As early as 2011, she was able to identify and report on the sensitive topic of depression which at that that time was not being openly discussed within the Filipino communities in the Middle East.
For the past five years, she has been conducting free in-person and online sessions on ‘Journaling to Heal and Succeed’ as she believes that journaling is an effective way in clarifying one’s thoughts and emotions which can lead to calmness and even inner healing as well as success in life.
Rachel said in her speech: “I praise God that my parents enrolled me in this school where I learned to be ‘Gay and Cheerful’ (quoting from the school hymn) and where our teachers taught us to be brave and be fit to be called ‘Girls of High’ caliber for the Lord, and also to be the mission partners of ICM or the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. To be resilient, to be resourceful, to be respectful, to share and to care for others, to have faith in God and in ourselves, to share our time, talent and treasures for others.” SLGHS is now known as Saint Louis School, Inc. (Center) which is an ICM educational institution for more than 100 years.
She also asked how one defines success. “Is it to pursue your passion or to fulfill your purpose or mission in life? What if your passion is not your purpose or your purpose is not your passion? Does it mean you are not successful?”
Rachel mentioned that there were many successful individuals in her batch like doctors and nurses. “Even a TikToker who is also known as a global nurse, a flight stewardess who is famous for her caring attitude towards passengers, an author, banker, government officers, managers, hospitality leaders, academicians, architects, engineers, business owners and not to forget housewives but not an ordinary one because some of them raised a priest, a doctor, an entrepreneur and loyal citizens of the world. And yes, we have in our batch a school principal,” she further said.
