Gratitude Changes Lives
Ms. Rosalia was a beneficiary of BCFI and a parent volunteer before officially becoming a regular staff member for the organization. Her children are also recipients of the educational sponsorship program. In this story spotlight, Ms. Rosalia shares how BCFI has changed her life for the better and the role of gratitude in her journey.
Tell us about yourself.
I am Rosalia G. Pabilona, 43 years old, and currently working as one of the eight fieldworkers of BCFI.
I have been in the institution even before the sponsorship started. I was once a parent volunteer of the feeding program of then Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin De Porres at Brgy. 286 San Nicolas, Manila wherein one of my eight children benefited not only from the food that they serve every day but from the tutorial lessons that they conducted in the area. The organization also had medical check-ups twice a week where the community availed of free consultation and medicines. A lot of residents were treated from different illnesses. It was 2011 when my daughter who was Grade 1 at that time, applied for sponsorship in ANCOP which is the first funding agency that supported BYSMP. I continued helping voluntarily in the organization.
When CHALICE came as the second funding agency of the organization for the sub-site in Bulacan, another child of mine also applied and was granted a sponsorship. My son was in Grade 4 then. My desire to extend help voluntarily in the daily activities of the organization overflowed until I was elected as one of the group leaders among parents of sponsored children. I led them for more than two years before I decided to apply as Fieldworker
It was March 16, 2015 when I officially became part of the staff of BYSMP. on March 16, 2015. The organization was later on renamed as BYSMP-Bless The Children Foundation Inc. and is truly blessed to be one of the sites of CHALICE worldwide. Finally, after five years of voluntarily helping I was given the opportunity to further help in the implementation of the programs of the organization. This is such a life changing opportunity for me and my family for our life became better little by little after I got employed.
Can you tell us about your goals and dreams in life?
Being a parent, my ultimate dream is to see all my eight children succeed in their individual endeavors. My goal is to be able to send them all to school until they all finish their dream courses.
What would you like to achieve this year?
Being a Fieldworker, my goal is to be able to bridge the programs of BCFI to all the families that I am serving. I want to help in empowering all the parents in the community so that they get a chance to change their lives and become self-sufficient.
I also aim to impart good values to the families and the community I serve. Most especially, to help them realize that they are blessed enough to learn to share whatever they can when their fellows need help, and to show compassion and empathy to whoever needs it.
For this year, I just want to continue supporting the initiatives of my CSG officers. I will also extend my support to the youth group that I organized who extends assistance to sponsored families. The activities of the youth group helps create and conduct activities that augments some aid to non-sponsored families in the community. Finally, I would like to make sure that the parents in the community utilizes the skills and knowledge they received from the trainings and seminars given by BCFI. It’s time to apply what we have learned and make an impact!
What is the hardest challenge you have encountered this past year?
This past year, there were many challenges and obstacles that I needed to overcome and surpass.
First and foremost, there is the risk of getting sick of COVID-19 since my work most of the time is community based. Second was the struggle of being a mother of 7 students who needed guidance with their online studies since this is their first time to attend such a difficult and challenging learning system. And lastly, the unexpected pregnancy of my 4th child. She is the first who got a sponsorship among my 4 children who are beneficiaries of the program. She is also the reason why I am with BCFI for more than 6 years now.
What is your #BLESSED story with BCFI?
Bless The Children Foundation has been blessing me and my family for years already. I have so much gratitude for all of the things that I have received. More than the financial aspect, I appreciate every chance of learning that I had from being a volunteer parent to a regular staff.
The job that I have been doing for years really uplifted my self-confidence, improved my attitude towards people, enhanced my skills, talents, and knowledge in dealing with different people with different behaviors, in different circumstances. Moreover, receiving simple messages of gratitude from different people whose lives I unconsciously touched really makes my heart fonder. It is more than a cash reward for me. To be able to build a strong relationship with the people I serve is a great fulfillment that continuously ignites my courage and determination to further back them up and bridge them to every opportunity available. I wish for everyone to have better their lives in the future.
I am truly #blessed with all the fruitful experiences that I had in this organization. I am also grateful because one of my children who are beneficiaries of the sponsorship program is already in college taking up Electronic Engineering in one of the universities in Manila. He started in the program when he was in grade 4. Meanwhile, my child that started when she was in grade 1 is already in senior high school and two of my other children who also received sponsorship from BCFI are in Grade 7 and 6. I cannot imagine them reaching these grade levels without the support of the program and their generous sponsors in Canada.
Let us share the hope around! What is your message for everyone who will be reading this?
To everyone who reads this story, I want to remind you that we are God’s masterpiece and each one of us was created with a purpose. It’s our hearts that will tell and lead us to whatever we are created for.
Our life would be more meaningful if we share it to others as Christ wants us to. If you see anybody struggling, be their light and hope. Whenever there is an opportunity to help and salvage one’s life, don’t hesitate to do so. And when you are the one who is experiencing darkness and difficulty, don’t lose hope, work hard, strengthen your faith in the Lord, be blessed, and later on you can be a blessing to others too.
Lastly, always bear with you the essence of gratitude as sharing what you have to whoever needs it, to whenever and wherever it is needed. May it be in the form of money, material things, service or even just by showing empathy to those who are experiencing hardships.
Ms. Rosalia reminds us of the importance of being thankful and paying it forward. Life is a challenge that we can’t survive on our own. If able, let us make sure to extend a helping hand to those around us.
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Have a Blessed Day!