Picture this scene: a woman sits in the visitor’s chair in an office pouring her heart out to the lady behind the desk. Her life story unfolds and there is a drizzle of tears. The listener nods sympathetically and after understanding the cause of her heartache, comforts her and gives her some sound advice. The client leaves with a lighter heart and words of wisdom that can hopefully turn her life around. You probably think the scene happened in a psychiatrist’s clinic or at a radio station during a “Dear Abby” type program. The office is actually a travel agency; the lady behind the desk is Rosebelle Protacio, the owner/manager; and the woman, one of her many clients who is in the office to pick up an airline ticket. This is not a unique occurrence, it happens often with different clients occupying the visitor’s chair. The staff of the agency jokingly refers to the chair as “kumpisalan” (confessional box).
Rosebelle, or Belle to family and friends, is a counselor for the Light of Jesus Counseling Ministry. Troubled people naturally gravitate to her because of her ready smile, friendly face and her willingness to listen.

Why do you think this happens to you often?
I usually interview my clients about their travel plans and the purpose of their trip to be able to assist them with their itinerary. If they have a problem, the real purpose of their trip is revealed during the conversation. This becomes an opening for me to learn more – like I had this client who was sending her children to her estranged husband because of her poverty, for her children to have a better life abroad. I feel their pain so I want to be able to help them. When they tell me the truth about their situation, my focus gets shifted from selling to counseling.
Besides that, talking to people is something I enjoy doing. That is probably why I ended up in the travel business because here I get to interact with a lot of clients. I have always liked to listen to other people’s stories, to find out what makes them tick. When they see that you are genuinely interested in them, they open up even about their personal concerns. Sometimes they find it easier to talk to someone who is practically a stranger because there are no biases involved.

What do you think is the most important gift or skill needed by a counselor?
For me, it’s the ability to listen not just with your ears but with your heart. This is the first and most important step in counseling. You have to listen not only to what they are saying but also to what they are not saying or what is in their heart that they are afraid to bring out. This is mostly where the problem lies. You cannot give good advice if you do not know the whole story.

Did you undergo training before you became a member of the Counseling Ministry or did they just choose you because of your natural gift?
My husband and I attended a workshop for around six months that trained us to be counselors. There are very important principles that we have to learn because we are dealing with people’s lives. Like for instance, a counselor’s wrong attitude could drive the counselee away from the counselor and towards a path that is not right for her.

What other things did you have to do to prepare for being a counselor?
We had to undergo some form of regression. This is for us to be able to reconcile with things in our past that could get in the way of our counseling like resentments or unresolved conflicts. A counselor who is not at peace with God and with herself cannot point others towards the right direction.

Can you recall any incident that makes counseling a fulfilling ministry for you?
There was this prospective client who was booking a flight to leave the country. I found out that she was leaving her husband here and going with another man. I discerned that she was doing this out of revenge because her husband cheated on her and not because she was in love with the other man. I advised her to talk to her husband, tell him the truth, and at the very least put a closure to her marriage and not just disappear into thin air. After a few weeks, she came back to tell me that she will not be pushing through with her trip. She talked to her husband and they were able to put things right between them. She apologized for the cancelled booking. Despite the cancellation, I felt such a sense of fulfillment because I was able to guide a person away from making the wrong decision. I was more concerned about saving a soul than making a sale. But then the Lord was not blind to my efforts. Many blessings came to me in the form of several bookings referred by this woman I helped. That, of course was just icing on the cake. The real gift was the opportunity to be God’s instrument to make someone’s life better.

Rosebelle Protacio is our Ka-Pinay Spiritual and Family counselor. She is the owner/manager of Mirabelle Travel.

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