8 year old Filipina Girl Writes to Barack Obama – and Gets a Response!

I found this really interesting article on Digg.com (again!) about a certain Filipina girl named Karina Encarnacion who personally wrote to President Elect Barack Obama – and in a surprise turn of events – gets a response from him!

You can check the Digg submission here: http://digg.com/people/8_year_old_writes_to_Obama_gets_response

Here is a picture of Karina, along with her parents, John and Cindy Encarnacion:

Karina Encarnacion, with her parents John and Cindy Encarnacion / Photo by Philstar.com

Here is an excerpt of the article that I have traced also from Philstar.com

Karina sent Obama a two-page handwritten letter in September, and suggested a Coton de Tulear, a small Bichon-type dog named after the city in Madagascar, for its soft cottony coat, noting that “they do not shed, they are very lovable, small and very soft.” She said she has one, named Murphy, who “is very smart and sweet.”

Obama has promised his two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, that they can have a dog when they move in to the White House.

In a surprise reply received last Oct. 30, Obama told Karina, “Look out for other people, even when it does not directly benefit you; strive to make a difference everywhere you go; and get back up every time you are knocked down.”

Karina, a fourth grader in Missouri, told the then candidate that “I think you will make a very good president… I think that you will make wise decisions for the country.”

Check the full article in this URL link: http://beta.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=413244

Good thing for Karina and her parents. And knowing them that they are Filipinos (I have Filipino blood too), it makes me proud of them and at the same time, quite jubilant at the fact that President Elect Barack Obama took his time to read the girl’s letter and wrote a response to it. That is an indicator that Obama shows an open door in his presidency – everyone is welcome and so is their opinions, suggestions etc. America, you should be proud – you will have a great president that will lend his ears to anyone who wishes to be heard.

And not all leaders today are capable or even human enough to write a personal message to someone who have suggested something. Not even their Philippine president Gloria Arroyo.

Everyone, not only Americans have the same hopes as Karina – That Obama can be a great president and can make wise decisions for the country.

I believe that Barack Obama will not be the only one to make the change – but with the help of the American people as well as the rest of the world – can make a difference and follow Obama’s lead – to make a change.