“I’m tired of being a mother.” With five children at home and an unemployed, unmotivated husband, Cheryl spent most of her days desperately trying to find a way to feed her family of six. Selling oysters, when she could find them, was Cheryl’s only job, but most days, she found only the rising tide of...
Saturday, July 16th, 2016 at 10:00 am
Arlene worked at a vending stand and made US$3.33 a week. Her seasonal job, harvesting vegetables, occasionally brought in another US$6.50 a week. If employed, Arlene’s husband Arnel could earn up to US$8.30 a week, however his carpentry jobs were erratic. The parents of three teenagers were working hard, but money was always tight when...
Saturday, July 9th, 2016 at 11:43 am
Angel found herself alone in the world after her mother died in childbirth and her father felt unable to support her. It wasn’t just the thought of caring for an infant that overwhelmed Angel’s birth father, it was the fact that Angel was born with a blocked (imperforate) opening to her anus that would require...
Wednesday, June 15th, 2016 at 9:02 am
Merlyn joined ICM’s Transform program with the full support of her family, particularly her husband, Joel. The couple decided they would divide the household chores between them and he would care for their three children when Merlyn was attending Transform classes. Merlyn worked hard to complete her domestic tasks in the morning so that she...
Monday, May 30th, 2016 at 11:21 am
A mother of a Jumpstart kindergarten student was admitted to a hospital due to complications in her pregnancy. Hinie Jean had severe oligohydramnios (deficiency of amniotic fluid) which was endangering the development of her baby. Although Hinie Jean was in dire need of treatment, she was referred to another hospital in General Santos City because...
Monday, May 23rd, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Josefa wanted to find a job that would let her support her family. With her partner, Henry, only working part-time as a seasonal carpenter, the family of six lived on a daily income of US$1.14 for the entire family. The 43 year-old mother had always wanted to find something that could supplement her husband’s income, but...
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016 at 4:51 pm
As a child, Gerlie wanted to attend school. Even at a young age, she knew that education was important. Gerlie’s parents, however, refused her request for an education because there was no money to cover the costs of transportation, shoes and the school uniform. Wanting to escape the demands of her family, Gerlie married her...
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, ICM proudly shares the stories of three women who participated in one of ICM’s programs and are able to contribute to their families’ social and economic achievement in the Philippines. Transform When asked to join ICM’s 16 week Transform program, Maria wasn’t sure how it could...
Tuesday, March 8th, 2016 at 5:51 am
Leonila had a small shop, however the paltry income made from daily sales was not enough to adequately provide for her husband and son. When asked by her local pastor if she was interested in attending ICM’s Transform program, Leonila quickly agreed. Even though it meant she’d have to close her shop one afternoon a...
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 at 10:34 am
Virginia, 40, has lived with feelings of resentment and hopelessness ever since her husband’s souvenir business went bankrupt many years ago. When cheaper, lower qualtity products from China flooded the market, Nicanor’s business simply could not compete with their low prices, despite the high quality of his merchandise. Eventually Nicanor lost his customers and had...
Monday, November 2nd, 2015 at 5:51 pm