My experience can be likened to many Filipinas struggling for a better life in the countryside. Formerly an employee of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur, I, together with hundreds of others, was terminated and separated from service without due compensations. This sad and lamentable experience, nevertheless, became a blessing in disguise for me. Having completed secondary education a
t the Southern Christian College in Cotabato City, I proceeded to take up Midwifery at the Notre Dame Hospital in the same city. Shortly after becoming a licensed midwife in 1986, I ventured to Pagadian City, the capital of Zamboanga del Sur, where I became employed as a casual worker at the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Hospital. I received a meager pay of P42.50 per day but my job order had to be renewed monthly, as I was not a regular employee. Finally, after a few months of working, I became a contractual employee. While my pay was still the same, I was happy to at least know how long my employment would last. After two years of working hard as a contractual employee, my efforts were rewarded when I was issued a permanent appointment as hospital midwife with an initial monthly salary of P4000. With each year I earned a little more until I eventually received an annual salary of P109,000. It was during this time that I was able to buy the basic furniture and appliances necessary for convenient living. Unfortunately, my blossoming career as a government midwife was confronted by a setback when a superior officer at the provincial hospital began making things difficult for me. I was harassed and persecuted no end, due to dirty and ugly politics. It was at this time that I finished my masteral degree in Public Administration, which I endeavored to take for career advancement. In 2001, when the sister of the said superior hospital officer became provincial governor, I became among the first employees listed for retrenchment. At this time, I was already receiving P9900 / month and have already spent 20 years in public service. All of a sudden, my livelihood was taken away and food removed from the mouth of my family. For months I desperately tried to find a living, until I learned of the Well-Family Midwife Clinic program. I immediately enrolled because training was to be shouldered by USAID. I worked hard and in November 2002, two years after I was removed from public service, I was able to establish my own two-bed Well Family Midwife Clinic. I provided the clinic space while my American sponsors provided all the equipment and facilities. Today, I earn an average of P100,000 per month, the salary I used to earn for an entire year's work at the government hospital. As a WFMC manager, I have served far more numerous pregnant women, particularly during their delivery. I am very grateful to WPFI, to its officers, and to God, for the better life my family and I enjoy. I hope to continue serving people in my community through WFMC, and I hope to build a newer and bigger clinic in the future
