The name Mother Teresa resonates with compassion, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to the service of humanity. Her remarkable life serves as a testament to the transformative power of love and the enduring impact of kindness.
Explore her legacy through the words of Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria, Executive Director at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
First showcased in Passions, Vol. 56, this article has been adapted for the digital platform – exclusive only on VOICE OF ASIA.
Many women have influenced the direction I have taken in my life. What moves me is not the drive to make a difference, but a drive based on love for humanity and the environment; the ability to admit that one cannot achieve any measure of success by one’s self; the belief that the hand of God will provide the necessary support; and not be ashamed to admit moments of weakness and desolation.From these flow tenacity, the commitment to the task at hand, humility, sincerity and integrity – the willingness to give without counting the cost.
These are qualities that describe many a woman committed to improving the lot of less fortunate members of society. And we are not short of strong women leaders in Malaysia, who have, in their quiet way, made significant strides in bringing to the fore the concerns and challenges faced by members of society, and worked tirelessly to support and assist them in overcoming them. More importantly, they provide leadership to get things done, and they make a difference. Datin Paduka Mother Mangalam, Datuk Rasammah Bhupalan and Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood are just a few of our wonderful Malaysian women leaders!
If I were to choose one who continues to impact on my consciousness daily, she would have to be Mother Teresa. Much has been written about her, criticisms and accolades, alike. And while much is known about her work with the poor, not enough focus has been given to her leadership abilities. How else would one explain her achievements? From a one-woman drive to assist those in need to establishing an order that spreads over 100 countries, she has reached out to millions, and all in four decades!
However, for me it was her gentle reminder that we should be less concerned that our philosophy, beliefs and practices may not be in sync with what is modern or popular. We should be focused instead on doing what our conscience tells us is the right thing to do. What appeals to me is not that she was perceived to be saintly, but rather that she was very human, as seen in her admission of despair and helplessness in the face of the challenges around her, as in her poem, “Anyway”. Ultimately, there is no short cut to achieving our goals. To quote Mother Teresa, “To keep a lamp going, we have to keep putting oil in it.”
Contributor Profile
Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria
Executive Director at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Datuk Dr Rebecca’s route to her current role was a natural evolution. Having worked at the Ministry for some time, she leveraged on a career background in the Trade and Industry sphere and has plenty of experience, such as that with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) of which she is a Board Member. She has served in various capacities in what was then the Ministry of Trade and Industry, for example as Deputy Secretary General, where she provided oversight for the formulation and implementation of Malaysia’s international trade policies and positions. For a time she was also seconded to the ASEAN Plant Quarantine and Training Centre as Chief Administration and Procurement Officer.
The holder of a PhD in Human Resource Development from the University of Georgia USA, Datuk Dr Rebecca has an array of educational awards and accolades – among which are a B.A. (Hons) in English Literature and the Malcolm Knowles Award for the best PhD dissertation by the American Academy of Human Resource Development. She is also a trustee for the MyKasih Foundation – a non-profit organisation that provides food aid, health awareness and financial literacy programmes to help less fortunate Malaysians regardless of race, religion and descent – and a member on the Board of Directors of the Emmaus Counseling Centre, thanks to the M.S. (Counselling) that she earned from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Datuk Dr Rebecca is also a board member of Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
