A life of poverty
Bertche is 32 and a graduate from the Sisters of Mary school in Talisay, Cebu, the Philippines. She grew up as the second of 10 children, in a poor family dependent on fishing for their livelihood. They were often without enough food to eat.
“My early life was a nightmare. I grew up in a very poor family. My father is a fisherman and a drunk, my mother a housewife and I have witnessed all the hardships our family went through.”
Despite being a keen student Bertche often had to miss school to help raise money for food. “My sister and I had to walk through the mountain areas to sell fish, enduring the heat, just to sell or sometimes exchange them for rice or other root crops. I can still remember the feeling of almost fainting due to extreme hunger and thirst that we had to rely on guavas just so we can fill our stomach while selling.”
Struggling to access education
With no money, Bertche could not afford uniform or notebooks for school, even the most basic school supplies to sit her exams were out of reach.
“When I was in Grade two, we could barely even afford a sheet of paper, one instance, in my exam my teacher had to let me out to scavenge through the trash looking for a sheet of paper where I can erase some writings to make it clean so I can write on it.”
Bertche endured years of being beaten by her father and working long hours after school as a housemaid to raise the money she needed to finish school but despite these difficulties she remained determined to lift her family out of poverty and ensure her future children never faced such difficulties.
“As young as the age of seven, I have vowed to be someone who’ll lift my family from extreme poverty. I didn’t want to be a house maid forever, I wanted a better life. For sure I knew if I stayed there, I would have married at an early age, having a husband with no secure income. I didn’t want that kind of life for myself nor for my future children. I didn’t want that kind of life forever”.
Finding hope in the Sisters of Mary
In 2006 she met the Sisters of Mary. On hearing that they provided quality education, with free food and lodging, she felt she had the answer to her prayers.“I thought finally!! This is it!! This is my chance to achieve my dreams.”
The Sisters were moved by her difficulties and she was offered a place at the school in Talisay but her challenges didn’t stop there. Her father couldn’t afford the bus fare to get her to the school and so she continued working just to save enough to make the trip. She was welcomed by the Sisters in 2007.
Thriving at school
Bertche thrived at school with us. She made the most of the precious learning opportunity, loving her academic subjects and studying hard. She was successful in and out of the classroom, excelling at maths and science, learning valuable new vocational skills which would help her to find employment but also loving her new hobbies like dancing and the joy of being a child again.
“My life in the Sisters of Mary was the most amazing four years of my life. Receiving quality education that other schools cannot provide, I am extremely proud of this school. I also love the fact that the school does not only focus on one thing, but provides a balanced life. It has been so amazing that I keep coming back even if 15 years have passed since I graduated. But I am beyond grateful for all the skills I have acquired, for the quality education I have received and the values I have learned.”
A new life
After completing school with the Sisters, Bertche secured a scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering at University and the quality education she had received made a lot of difference. “It made me excel in College. Made me graduate with flying colours and secured a better paying job”. She graduated Cum Laude, DOST(Department of Science and Technology) Scholar of the year, PSME (Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers) Scholar of the year and Ambassadress of the YEAR for having represented the school in a lot of competitions.
She was recruited by JP Morgan Chase, working for six years starting as customer service rep progressing eventually to become part of the Technology operations team for Merchant Services. In 2023 as a new mother she was appointed by a US company to run their customer care (a virtual role) and then most recently secured a role with a real estate company as their Executive Assistant/Operations. She earns a good salary, is able to be an active wife and mother and support five of her siblings, paying for their food and education. She has recently built her parents a new house after the old one got damaged by the Typhoon last year.
Giving Back
Bertche cannot do enough to support the school that helped her so much and the Sisters who made her chance possible. “No words can express how much The Sisters of Mary helped me . They helped me achieve the kind of life I am now living. The type of education and skills this institution provides is something that’s worth protecting. This isn’t just simple charity. It’s an institution shaping the lives of poor children, unable to send themselves to school, equipping them with skills so even if they won’t get the chance to get to college, they’d still have a skill they can carry with them that will allow them to thrive in life and make use of it to make a living.”
A grateful heart
“I believe that the kind of life I have now, not only mine but of all other graduates who had experienced the same and whose lives have been changed are living testimony that shows exactly WHY we should continuously support this institution. Ending poverty through Education… a mission beyond words… consistently proven for years by The Sisters of Mary. And as a graduate full of gratitude, I continuously fervently pray, that our testimony will touch the hearts of many to donate and continue changing the lives of a lot of poor children. The Sisters of Mary will forever hold a special place in my heart. I will do my very best to help in every possible way I can to continue the legacy. Thank you so much, World Villages for Children, for making a lot of poor children’s dreams come true with your support. We are forever grateful for your generosity. May you and all our donors be beyond blessed. Thank you so much!!”