Thurman Awardee Mardy Cabalo Receives Prizes

 Mardy Cabalo, micro entrepreneur from Quezon City,
 receives her trophy as 2013 Thurman awardee from Christian businessman Carson Tan, representing
CCT and Hope International .

Mardy Cabalo received her prizes as 2013 Thurman overall awardee during the joint corporate worship service of Center for Community Transformation branches in Luzon on June 8, 2013.  The prizes are a  trophy and $500.00.  Joining Mardy during the brief ceremony were her daughters Chloe May, Jodeline, Jesusa, and Hannah,  staff from the Araneta, Quezon City branch, and her business mentor Carson Tan.

The Thurman Award recognizes microfinance and savings partners who demonstrate the values of perseverance, compassion, strength of character, and creativity. It was established in honor of Eric Thurman, the first CEO of Hope International, and his wife, Pennie. Hope International is a ministry partner of CCT based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.  Its network operates in 16 countries around the world.

Winners of the award for 2013 were announced in April 2013 following a nomination period that began late in 2012. Vicky Nevado, regional peer servant, representing CCT, accepted the award on behalf of Mardy during Hope International's annual dinner held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on May 16.

This is the first time a CCT community partner has been chosen as the overall Thurman awardee.  Abegail Yape, a junk shop owner from Payatas was named honourable mention for Asia in 2008, and in 2010, Linda Rondina, owner of five panciterias in Rizal, was also named honourable mention for Asia.   

Ruth Callanta, CCT president (holding trophy), encourages micro finance staff to nominate community partners 
for  awards such as the Thurman Award, while Bertram Lim,  CCT chair (right), listens. 

Mike Salili, regional peer servant for the national capital region, hands Mardy her prize of $500 in cash.

(L to r)  Carson Tan, a volunteer with CCT's business mentoring program and Mardy's business mentor;
 Ruthie Monterde, area servant leader NCR 1; Mardy; Janice Ondrade, team servant for the Araneta,
Quezon City branch; Mike Salili; Gabriel Ortiola, covenant community builder. 

Photos: Michelle Taway

CCT's Mardy Cabalo is 2013 Thurman Awardee

Mardy Cabalo, a community partner of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Savings and Credit Cooperative  Araneta, Quezon City branch is the Hope International Thurman awardee for 2013. She is a dealer of beauty products.

The Thurman Award recognizes microfinance and savings partners who demonstrate the values of perseverance, compassion, strength of character, and creativity. It was established in honor of Eric Thurman, the first CEO of Hope, and his wife Pennie. Hope International  is a ministry partner of CCT based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.

One of the judges said, “Mardy demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit, is others-focused, and expresses a love for Christ through her work.”

Mardy’s story is one of triumph over difficult circumstances. 

She was just 12 when her mother, a handicrafts dealer, passed away. Her father, who had seldom been at home anyway, remarried within that same year, leaving Mardy, the middle of three children -- and yet the most mature emotionally -- to look after her siblings.

“Wala akong inaayawang trabaho.  Andiyan yung magbubuhat ako ng palay, ng mais para may maipakain sa mga kapatid ko.  Pagdating ko sa high school tumutulong ako sa mga teacher kapalit ng pagkain namin.” (“I wasn't choosy with jobs. I would carry sacks of rice or corn if I had to, to be able to feed my siblings.  I would help my high school teachers in exchange for food.”)

Her father’s desertion left Mardy with a deep hurt in her heart.  Then God sent Christian missionaries to the town where they lived and  she came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit  began helping her deal with her feelings of resentment.  

Mardy was in her late teens when she was told that it would be easier for her to raise her siblings if she were to get a job in Manila. She moved to the city and worked at a series of low-paying jobs: as  helper at roadside eateries, as sales clerk for a bakery, and other simple jobs. She continued sending money home to help her younger sister.   

Soon she married a friend from high school. Even after four daughters came, their home was always open to relatives coming to Manila needing a place to stay while they looked for jobs and got established in the city.

Meanwhile Mardy’s daughters had begun school.  As is often the case with stay-at-home moms, Mardy brought the girls to school and would wait until it was time for them to go home.  To pass the time she sold beauty products to other waiting mothers. 

Also around this time she began attending CCT fellowship meetings in her neighbourhood.  After all her years in Manila, Mardy had not found a church family.  What drew her  mainly was a chance to attend Bible studies again, and not just an interest in joining the co-operative for additional business capital.  She decided to become a member of the co-operative  only when she learned that scholarships were offered exclusively to children of members. 

From there Mardy decided to keep her direct selling business going, expanding her network of dealers to about 40 women. It was a way of helping other mothers who, like her, lived on very slim budgets. She also became involved in CCT’s work, opening her home as a venue for meetings and Bible studies, and inviting other micro entrepreneurs to join the co-operative. Today she finds joy in serving God by leading a group of women actively involved in community work such as feeding sessions and medical missions.  

Whenever she recalls not having the love of a father when she was young, Mardy still gets teary-eyed, but God’s love has allowed her to forgive. After he was diagnosed with a heart problem a few years ago, she has faithfully paid for his maintenance medicines, clearly demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus. 

Watch Mardy tell about her life in this short presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqAcSRnEIPU

Mardy and eldest daughter Chloe May.

Mardy with three younger daughters
Hannah, Jodeline, and Jesusa.

Mardy with her husband and a nephew whose parents
live with them. 

Mardy in a once-a-month mentoring meeting
with business mentor Carson Tan...

...and with Ruthie  Monterde (left), CCT area servant leader.

Photos:  Michelle Taway

Fresh Hope for Families-Philippines Has New Building

Ribbon cutting ceremony: Angeles City Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting (in red blouse);
and (left to right) Bro. Leon Chang, FHFP chairman; Pastor Jesus Macaraeg, IAM senior pastor;
Ruth Callanta, president of FHFP and CCT; Sis. Carmen Nunn, FHFP board director,
and Sis. Jane Tan, FHFP co-founder. 

The new four-story building of Fresh Hope for Families-Philippines at 2192 New York St.,

Villasol Subdivision, Anunas, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines.  

Fresh Hope for Families-Philippines, a ministry organization based in Angeles City, Pampanga dedicated their new building to the Lord on March 17, 2012.  The event was attended by leaders and staff of both CCT and FHFP, some Angeles government officials, leaders and members of the International Agape Ministries, and guests from Australia and Papua New Guinea. 

 Fresh Hope   provides relief and prevention programs for young girls and their families. In its relief program, Fresh Hope ministers to young girls who are neglected, abandoned, abused, or sexually exploited. It employs house parents and social workers who attend to the girls’ physical and emotional needs, and provide them with counseling, Christian teaching and nurturing, and literacy and social skills training. 

CCT works  with Fresh Hope in its prevention program where it assists ‘at risk’ families—very poor families probably in debt and who are likely to offer their daughters to the entertainment industry for survival and debt repayment. The goal is to help the families overcome poverty and eliminate the need for their daughters to go into prostitution. CCT  offers these familes services such as microfinance, a pre-school, a generics pharmacy, and free medical check-ups.   

The following are highlights of the dedication program: 

The CCT Magdalena drum and lyre corps(above) lead FHFP and CCT leaders, staff, and guests (below)
 in a parade down New York St.  

Pastor Jesus Macaraeg says the opening prayer. 

Sis. Grace Macaraeg leads praise and worship singing.  

FHFP girls do a dance interpretation.

Angeles Vice Mayor Cabigting relates several instances in her life
where she, "Received fresh hope from God." 

Sonia Cueta speaks of God's work in her life.

Margaret Balsom, a friend of the founders of FHFP, sings Andre Crouch's
My Tribute:
"How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me? 
Things so undeserved yet you gave
To prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to thee." 

Bro. Leon Chang, FHFP chairman, shares a message from God's Word.

Ruth Callanta reflects, "Why would these people from other countries come to bless the children of Angeles?
It is because they were compelled by the love of the Lord."

Sis. Carmen Nunn thanks God for the new building and for those
who made its completion possible.

Eve,  Eunice, and Esabel, daughters of Pastor Kane Tan, sing,
 "Every time I close my eyes,
Im filled with awe at all you've done
Every time I think on You,
I'm grateful for Your love."

Sis. Dina Toquero, HFHP director and Bro. Leon Chang unveil the House of Fresh Hope plaque. 

Plaque here is in honor of Pastor Kane Tan, co-founder of FHFP, who passed away in May 2011.
 Here, one of his daughters shares memories of him.  

Eight  ladies  from Australia and one from Papua New Guinea  traveled to the Philippines
to attend the dedication ceremony. 

Froi Parado, CCT corporate secretary,  master of ceremonies. 

Photos by Ciara Tan and Elmer Valencia