Gaining confidence and Learning to Nurture Family through Empowerment

(By Jocelyn Ittiw)

Cristina B. Sad-ang or Chubby is a participant of the Empowered Abra for Sustainable Economy (EASE) Project. Being a child born out of unwanted pregnancy, Chubby grew up in a broken family full of frustrations, depressions and seeking love and acceptance. She grew up in the custody of her relatives living a very poor life that added her frustrations in life.

Because of these, Chubby at her very young age started to work. However, to seek job opportunity for high School under graduate like her was diminutive. Hopelessness, frustrations and abject poverty strongly shove her to work as bar waitress and developed drinking habits to help her release her frustrations in life. Until she met her husband Ambot who accepted her and help her ended her miserable life.

Before the project, Cristina’s Family did not own any farm animal. At the start of the project, Chubby was looking forward of receiving the animals from Heifer, thinking that these were the only benefit she could get. She did not imagine, however, that the project through the Cornerstones Workshop and trainings would help her change her perspective in life.

In the Cornerstones Workshop, Chubby at first was not participative and very timid but warm welcome of the other participants changes her. She realized that she could work for the betterment of her own family with the help of her husband. She appreciated the Cornerstones Sharing and Caring, Gender and Family Focus and Genuine need and justice. These made her reflect on her past experiences will not happen again to her family. She said that the Cornerstones made her realize that “there is still a bright future for me and my family.”

After the Cornerstones Workshop, her family is actively participating in the SHG (Self Help Group) undertakings and even participating in other community activities. She learned to forgive her mother who never accepts her and even thank her for giving her a chance to live in this world. Now, she can mingle and trust people around her. Although Chubby had no experience in farming, she had her small garden along the road because they do not have lot. She added that the two carabaos they received will greatly help in farm activities and hopefully earns income for family needs. As she said during the Pass On Ceremony ‘we are committed to take care of the gift given to us and are willing to pass-on to other needy families when time comes’.

Today Chubby has put the broken pieces of her life together with the help of the project. She is very thankful because her family was chosen as one of the partner families. Her life was transformed, her heart settled and forgiveness reigns and she finds peace and contentment. She is now very inspired to move on and keep striving.

At the Pass On Ceremony held last July 10, 2008 ‘Chubby’ together with her family was able to receive two heads caraheifer, 10 ducks, shovels, fruit and forest seedlings, and assorted vegetable seeds.

Shy to get out to even attend Mass, ‘Chubby’ now never misses Sunday services, as a result she was warmly received by the bishop during the feast of St. Luke’s the Evangelist.