ILOILO CITY — A solo parent from Mandurriao district here was hailed as this year’s “Bulawanon nga Nanay” (Exemplary mother) , an annual activity undertaken by the Iloilo City Task Force on Street Children (ICTFSC) that recognizes mothers who were able to overcome poverty and even raise successful children.
Jesica Estrada, 49, from QMF Subdivision in Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao, was named “Bulawanon nga Nanay”, besting 13 other hopefuls coming from various districts of Iloilo City.
She went home with an PHP11,000 cash prize during the awarding ceremony held in SM City here on Wednesday.
The annual search started in 2009 to recognize mothers, who amid hardships were able to overcome poverty, raise successful children and help their family achieve better economic condition.
They are expected to serve as inspiration to their fellow mothers.
The winner shared that she was only 29 years old when she became a widow with four children to take care of.
She experienced being jailed for 10 days while she was nine months pregnant with her youngest child because of debts. The loan was paid off by her siblings and she was able to get out of jail.
“There is nothing wrong if you are borrowing money for as long as you can pay for it and you have a good purpose in using it. Just like my case, I borrow from someone because I used it for the hospitalization of my husband who suffered from brain cancer,” she said in an interview.
Of her four children, her second child Leo Nathaniel is now a medicine intern at the University of the Philippines Manila, third child John is a seaman and the youngest Dianne Niñalyn has just graduated with an Accounting Technology degree from the University of San Agustin.
The eldest, Jesse Rey, has resumed school after he stopped temporarily to help send his siblings to school.
Also landing among the top three super moms were Gregilda Benal from Barangay Baldoza, La Paz who bagged PHP8,000; and Elma Patalen from Zone 3, Barangay Calumpang, Molo who won PHP5,000.
Other finalists who received PHP1,5000 were Eva Nacuspag, Evelyn Gumalid, Melody Bensorto, Teresa Lopez, Nory Trabuco, Ma. Elena Joven, Jocelyn Busayong, Rebecca Azucena, Marites De La Cruz, Melanie Cabalonga and Teresita Villaruel. (Perla Lena/PNA)
