Many times she thought of quitting...but she didn't.
At present, Bae Teresita Pinao, 62, a member of Mamanwa tribe, is the senior citizen president in Barangay Maraiging, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, and the same time a barangay health worker for the indigenous peoples. The wife of tribal leader Datu Virgilio Pinao, a mother to eight children, and a grandmother to dozens of grandchildren, Bae Teresita is one busy Mamanwa woman.
In a complex society where technological advancement are taking over, buildings are replacing trees and mountains, and everything is going instant like food, gadgets, clothing and all other necessities in life, it is no wonder why people are constantly evolving with change.
She joined KALAHI-CIDSS not out of personal desire but on how she saw the lack of changes that undoubtedly stuck her community from progress.
The small barangay of Canagahan has found an ally in Wenina Rosellosa or ‘Nanay Wennie’, a senior citizen community volunteer of Barangay Canagahan, San Remigio in Cebu.
In September 2019, four lawmakers from the House of Representatives filed separate bills to institutionalize Community-Driven Development as the country’s national strategy for community empowerment and poverty reduction. Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr. of the Lone District of Mountain Province, Rep. Lianda B. Bolilia of the 4th District of Batangas, Rep. Allan Jesse C. Mangaoang of the Lone District of Kalinga, and Rep. Jocelyn Sy-Limkaichong of the 1st District of Negros Oriental filed HB 4407, HB 4470, HB 4764, and HB 5250 respectively.
We often hear other people say: “may yaman sa lupa" (there is treasure in the soil). This is not the usual treasure chest with precious gems that we see in movies, but the limitless opportunities a soil can offer. One of these is livelihood.
Through the collaboration of communities, barangay and municipal local government units, national government agencies and private sectors, the municipality of Pandan saw a greater opportunity - an alternative livelihood for the affected people of the COVID-19 pandemic.