Mabuhay!

Welcome!

At long last we have made it to the Matatag na Republika, the Strong Republic of the Philippines!

Looking back, it all began with a vision – a vision to use our gift of higher education to help those who need it the most. Throughout our journey as GLOBE Managers, we encountered several borrowers through the lenses of their loan applications. No matter where they were in the world, each borrower had a unique story to share – of a struggle to rise up out of poverty. In one short semester, we managed to ignite meaningful changes in the lives of these people. The funny thing is that, throughout our education, we are often told that it is just “theory” – that the things we are learning are just in preparation for what awaits us in “the real world.” The beautiful thing about GLOBE is this is no theory. This is real; it’s real lives and real money that we’re dealing with. Although our interactions with our borrowers during the semester were mainly abstract, everything changed when we immersed ourselves into their communities as GLOBE Fellows.

Meet Olive Cerro, the single mother of 8 children, living in Navotas City, Manila. 

Olive took a loan with GLOBE in order to start a business selling cooked meats and a Sari-Sari (Convenience) Store. Once a face attached to a loan application, Olive’s story was brought to life when we visited her in Navotas City. She gave us a warm welcome, introduced us to her business operations and invited us into her home. Her family had modest means, but she was full of life and eager to share with the GLOBE Managers. A truly diligent worker, Olive rises at 3 o'clock each morning to begin preparing food for her business and family. Her children are proudly pursuing their education and one of her daughters even works while studying - an all too familiar reality for us college students.

Here's what her store looks like now:

Previously, three of Olive’s children were housed at Hospicio de San Jose, operated by the Daughters of Charity, due to her inability to adequately provide for them. Imagine what the lives of the children may have been like at this time, wondering where their mother is and when they were going to se her again. Imagine the disappointment Olive must have felt, explaining to her other five children why their siblings could not be with them. However, Olive would not be deterred. She decided to take control of her life and start her business so that she could earn a suitable income to be reunited with her children. Through her hard work and dedication, the family is now fully united.

See for yourself how happy she is with her babies:

Call it theory, I call it a life we changed. 

Meet Cindy Agpaoa. Cindy applied for a loan with GLOBE in order to start a bag sewing business. At the time of application, she was residing in the Rosalie Rendu Community Center in Pasay City, Manila.

However, due to unfortunate circumstances concerning her former living partner, she now resides within Hospicio de San Jose with the Daughters of Charity. Now a single mother of three children, Cindy exemplifies a strong, independent woman. She initially approached GLOBE for a loan in order to establish a bag sewing business and she is one of two of our special borrowers that does not possess a home of her own.  Luckily for Cindy, GLOBE Cares for women! Her loan was recently approved at a reduced interest rate of 3%, as opposed to the usual 5%, to reduce the financial burden of her loan payments. However, due to her relocation, she decided to use her newly acquired capital to operate a small bakery within the Hospicio de San Jose. Despite her circumstances, she wears a radiant smile and continues to persevere.

So, who are the Daughters of Charity? Founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, these are women dedicated to serving the needs of the poor and marginalized. Their work in the Philippines and abroad highlights the importance of seeking the full development of the human person. They serve groups including children, the sick, poor and disabled. They operate two orphanages, 3 schools and provide education, health services, social services and pastoral services. In the midst of their many and varied duties, they still manage to provide invaluable support to GLOBE. We spent our first day visiting their missions and learning a great deal about the services they perform.

St. Vincent de Paul's legacy continues to live on and we are truly blessed to be able to learn from him through the teachings of others.

Next stop: Habitat for Humanity and an interesting perspective on micro-finance.

As they say in Manila, Paalam!, or Goodbye!