Soroptimist International of the Americas
Philippines Region (A Foundation),Inc.
2025 LYDA Federation Winner
MY UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT: A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE AND TRIUMPH
My story is not just about survival—it is a testament to unwavering resilience, boundless determination, and the unbreakable spirit of a woman who refused to give up.
I was born with a disability, and from a young age, I learned that the world could be unkind. I faced relentless bullying and cruel shaming, so much so that my own father hesitated to send me to school. He did not want me to endure the ridicule of classmates who saw me as different. But I wanted to learn. I hid my tears from him, afraid that if he knew how much I was suffering, he would stop me from going to school altogether. Then, tragedy struck. My father—my greatest protector—died in a motorcycle accident, leaving me to face the world without him. But fate was not done testing me. The weight of exhaustion from working and studying, combined with poor working conditions, took a toll on my body. One day, I lost my sight. For months, I lived in complete darkness, forced to abandon my education. It felt as though my dreams were slipping away, but just as suddenly as my vision was taken, it miraculously returned. It was a second chance—one I refused to waste. Determined, I went back to school. I pushed through every hardship, but by my third year of high school, I could no longer continue. I had to make the heartbreaking decision to stop.
​
​Life, however, had other plans for me. I met a man with no formal education—a husband who, despite his own limitations, loved and supported me selflessly. He became my strength—bathing me, cooking for our family, and carrying me up to my third-floor classroom when I returned to school. While he took care of me, I took care of our future.
Photos of Leonora Palabrica
To provide for my family, I found ways to turn waste into something beautiful. I crafted and sold hats, bags, ornaments, and home decor made from recycled plastic soda bottles, straws, and other discarded materials. On the side, I tended to a backyardvegetable garden on a plot of land lent to me by kindhearted friends in the community. The vegetables I grew not only provided meals for my family but also a small income to support my children’s school allowances.
​
I worked tirelessly, seven days a week, without complaint. Even while at school, I sold homecooked meals made from my backyard harvest to my classmates. Whatever I could grow, I sold—fresh vegetables, homemade dishes—anything to make ends meet. But my heart was not just focused on my own survival. I saw beyond myself, beyond my struggles.
​
In 2022, during the elections, I witnessed the difficulties that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in Polomolok faced, especially in accessing proper assistance. I could not stand by and do nothing. Compelled to act, I founded the Empowered Women Organization, advocating for the needs and rights of marginalized individuals in my community.
Despite every hardship, I raised two exceptional children—my daughter, Pamela, a Medical Technology graduate, is currently reviewing for her board exams this March 27. My son, Gezler, is now a third-year Engineering student. I am determined that my children will never have to endure the same struggles I did.
​
I make ends meet through sheer grit and determination. I have rummaged through every garbage pile, dug through every refuse site—because for me, there is no shame in hard work. Where others see trash, I see opportunity. Where others see limits, I see possibilities.
Now, I stand at the threshold of my greatest victory yet—earning my college degree.
Winning the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award at the Federation level would not just be an honor for me—it would be a recognition of every woman who has fought against the odds, refused to be defined by limitations, and chosen resilience over despair.
I am not just a survivor. I am a warrior, a leader, and a beacon of hope.
