Women who spark change: Inspiring Filipinas shaping their communities for the better

In many rural areas in the Philippines where challenges loom large, many still struggle with lack of resources, including their most basic needs. But there are many hardworking women quietly fulfilling essential roles and going the extra mile with unwavering determination and strength, showing that empowered, capable women are the cornerstone and driving force of thriving communities.

Driven by its commitment to spread the light far and wide, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), initiates programs that bring positive impact to underserved communities. Through various community electrification initiatives, OMF enables citizens to be active in improving the lives of others — including women like farmer Maricel Gagarin, teacher Neljoy Bohol, and indigenous barangay health worker Vicky Lani — to help shape these communities for the better.

Through their dedication and resilience, these three inspiring Filipinas prove that given the right support that enable them to perform their duties, women can start ripples of change benefiting their communities now and in the future.

Cultivating hope through farming

Gagarin is a proud, empowered farmer who benefited from One Meralco Foundation’s donation of a solar-powered irrigation pump to their cooperative in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

Gagarin is a woman on a mission. The Novo Ecijano grew up on their farm in Lupao that her grandparents cultivated for decades. But when her family sold it, she thought of a way to buy it back. Driven by her desire to reclaim her family’s land, she shared: “Nag-abroad talaga ako, nagpunta ako sa Dubai. Sa two years na ‘yun, nakaipon ako para matubos ang bukid namin.”

She returned home with funds to reclaim their farm; however, her journey was far from over. She has to focus on managing the farm and being a mother to her two children, Brandon and Kobe. Gagarin admitted that she had to find a way to be present both at the field and at home, where her son Brandon, who has cerebral palsy, waits for her. With her husband working away in Metro Manila, she also takes on occasions, the dual role of father and mother to their children.

“Kailangan malapit lang ako sa bahay palagi, pero gusto ko pa rin kumita at gusto ko pa rin makatulong. Kaya kahit nagsabay pagiging mother ko at pagiging farmer ko, nagagawa ko naman siya i-manage.”

To become more knowledgeable about farming, Gagarin joined the Lupao Pag-ahon Agriculture Cooperative (LPAC), where she, along with other farmer members, are learning how to maximize their yields through best practices and optimal crop choices. This includes the planting of black rice, a specialty rice variety with a growing demand yet only a few produces.

To empower Gagarin and other LPAC’s farmer members, OMF and Meralco employees from its Customer Retail Services group and the Meralco Employees’ Fund for Charity Inc. (MEFCI) donated a solar-powered mobile irrigation pump to the cooperative to eliminate the farmers’ reliance on expensive diesel-powered water pumps for their crops. This will not only help Gagarin and other farmers cut costs, but also allow them to irrigate their fields adequately, ensuring they yield quality produce to sell. With this support, the emboldened woman farmer Maricel is now exploring other cropping options that would allow her to earn more for her and her family.

Gagarin is carving her own path in the field of agriculture with the support of the cooperative Lupao Pag-ahon Agriculture Cooperative and partners such as OMF.

“Feeling empowered ako bilang isang woman farmer, kasi ako nagdedesisyon sa lahat pagdating sa farming mula production hanggang marketing. Bilang isang farmer, masasabi kong walang imposible sa isang babaeng nagpupursige,” she declared.

Gagarin’s journey proves that with determination and community support, even during the most challenging circumstances, can yield extraordinary results. She’s not just growing crops; she’s cultivating hope for her family and her community.

Igniting the minds that will redefine tomorrow

Teacher Neljoy Bohol, the “ilaw ng tahanan” at home and in school, served as a teacher-in-charge of an off-grid public school in a remote barangay in Palawan which OMF energized.

Bohol manages her time between two homes: the one where she is the “ilaw ng tahanan” (light of the home) and the other one where she leads more than 170 children, mostly indigenous peoples, in their education. Neljoy, the teacher-in-charge of Calupisan Elementary School in Rizal, Palawan, is just one of the five educators handling the many students there.

With no electricity at their remote public school, learning was a struggle. Teachers like Bohol lacked multimedia tools to engage students, particularly those who couldn’t read yet. Determined to provide quality education to the best of their abilities, she and other teachers prepared learning materials at home, sacrificing precious family time to provide printed resources for their disadvantaged students. Bohol would then have to think of ways to compensate for the time spent preparing learning materials so she can spend her limited free time with her own children.

Despite being a woman balancing her time to manage two groups of children both close to her heart, she still finds her situation incredibly rewarding. “Hindi po madali ang pinagdadaanan ng nanay sa araw-araw, lalo na sa mga working mom tulad ko. But we choose to keep on moving and fighting. It is one of the most beautiful roles we play in this life. We are stewards of our own children and the young minds of this generation, safekeeping them to have hope and a good future.”

The challenges the teachers and students faced for years came to an end after OMF energized their facilities using a solar PV system through the School Electrification Program. Light has come to Calupisan Elementary School and with it comes the capability to use gadgets that can engage students in learning. A jubilant Bohol said that students are now more attentive and enthusiastic during classes, with some started to learn how to read. The electrification project also benefits the teachers, who can now prepare lessons and learning materials at school.

With OMF’s help, Teacher Bohol can now do her work at school, helping her find balance in her dual role as teacher and mother to her children.

“Before, I need to print at night pag-uwi sa bahay dahil doon may kuryente. Ngayon gumaan na, kasi sa school ko na nagagawa ang work. I can limit myself from doing school work at home,” she shared.

Bohol’s dual role as “ilaw ng tahanan” and educator has now found a harmonious balance. She has not only illuminated the minds of students but brought lasting light to their lives and her own.

Healing the community one patient at a time

Barangay health worker Vicky Lani from the indigenous T’boli tribe is among the first responders in Sitio Kolonbong in Barangay Lamfugon, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato and is one of the many beneficiaries of One Meralco Foundation’s Rural Health Center Electrification program.

Barangay health worker Lani is counting six more years until she lives a life in retirement. But in Barangay Lamfugon in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, she says that helping others would continue to be her mission beyond her 60th birthday.

The 54-year-old health worker who belongs to the T’boli tribe jumps from one community to another in the vast mountainous land where Lamfugon is located. Among the many places she visits from time to time is Sitio Kolonbong where indigenous peoples from the T’boli, Manobo and Blaan tribe reside, some one hour away via motorcycle or about 16 kilometers away from the nearest hospital.

The off-grid community, one of the farthest ones in Barangay Lamfugon, had no access to electricity, hampering and limiting the health services available to residents. Lack of equipment meant lack of vaccine storage, so she and the other barangay health workers had to carefully bring them up the mountains so as not to spoil them.

Because there’s no signal in the area, Lani can only monitor the residents’ health when she and the other health workers visit them.

Despite these, Lani persevered and continued delivering essential health services benefiting the sitio, whom she said was among with the least access to health services. “Maaawa ka kasi sa mga pasyente dahil sa kalayuan at sa hirap, hindi sila nabibigyan ng maayos na serbisyo.”

Through OMF’s Rural Health Center Electrification Program, the solar electrification of the health station in Sitio Kolonbong made it a more conducive facility where Doctors-to-the-Barrios and barangay health workers can use essential medical equipment like nebulizers and fetal dopplers, electric fans, and vaccine storage that require electricity to work. Communication is now easier, as health workers in Sitio Kolonbong can charge their hand-held radios used to contact those at the barangay in case of emergencies.

Barangay health worker Vicky said her mission to heal others, especially those in underprivileged communities like the residents of Sitio Kolonbong, continues to be her life mission.

Healing the indigenous community of Sitio Lamfugon is now easier for Lani, who, despite her 33 years of service as barangay health worker, looks forward to more years of serving those who need her healing hands.

“Masarap sa pakiramdam na nakakatulong ka, kahit sa simpleng paraan lang na napapagaan ang pakiramdam ng pasyente. Masaya ako na naging misyon ko na sa buhay ang pagtulong. Kaya kahit anumang oras na makakatulong ako, handa ako magserbisyo.”

Gagarin, Bohol, and Lani embody the resilience often found in women in rural communities, who, despite limited resources, find ways to light the path toward a brighter, more equitable future for all. They prove that empowerment — nurtured by dedication and community support such as that from One Meralco Foundation — sparks change that ripple through generations.