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.
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| 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. |
The drivers protested
in the beginning, but Dolorosa was insistent, saying the church service at (the
Jesus Is Lord Fellowship in Novaliches) would take up only two hours of their time,
and that they would have to find another tricycle operator otherwise. 
