I was born into one of the first and few Methodist families in San Carlos, now a city, in the province of Pangasinan, located in Central Luzon, Philippines. My father, the Justice of the Peace of our town (for 30 years) was one of the first Methodist converts and my mother, a public health nurse (for more than 50 years) was one of the first graduates of a Protestant mission school of nursing, the Mary Chiles Hospital. My father was a widower with six children when he married my mother, 22 years his junior. Their marriage was blessed with eight children, three of whom died during their infancy.
All the children grew up in a nurturing family with love of God, education, respect for elders, altruism and social justice as our core family values. I was baptized at the age of five by two bishops, Bishop Edwin Lee and Bishop D.D. Alejandro of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our home was open to Methodist church workers. Hence, I grew up under the influence of pastors and deaconesses who took care of me and who nurtured my faith in a loving and caring God.
After I graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1952, I got married to my campus sweetheart and was blessed with eight children (one died in infancy). I backslided. I was no longer involved in church activities. I was focused in my career and became very successful. I rose from the ranks in the Philippines’ Department of Health as Senior Health Education Adviser (1953-72). I transferred to the newly created Dangerous Drugs Board (1972) and was the first to be appointed as Chief of Preventive Education and Community Information of the Dangerous Drugs Board. I was a trail blazer in the field of drug abuse prevention education, having been granted a UNESCO fellowship to study the problems associated with the use of drugs in Switzerland, France, Netherlands and Denmark. I was riding high as consultant of United Nations entities – WHO, UNESCO, UNFDAC. But one day, I lost all these.
I went to see the Secretary of Health to seek what I thought was a well-deserved promotion but he told me, “I can’t appoint you because you are a woman” (I was his speech writer and policy adviser). I blew my top. I banged his table with my fist, pointed a finger at him as I said, “When did you ever think that I am doing all the things I am doing because I am a woman? If you won’t promote me, you retire me!” He looked at me and said “prepare your retirement papers and I’ll sign it.” Retire at the age of 45 with all my training and experience? That was unthinkable and in fact, not allowed by our retirement laws. But I was too proud to apologize for my action and for the worst attitude I ever displayed before the Secretary of the Department of Health or anyone for that matter. I left the room, confused and devastated. I lost my bearings. It was the darkest night of my soul.
With the help of friends I was able to retire. However, I remained so unhappy and was on the verge of depression. One night, for the first time in many years, I knelt beside my bed in prayer. I started to read the Bible which had gathered dust in our small library. I found this verse, “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these thing will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33) I claimed this promise. I got involved in the life and ministries of our local church and I participated in the work of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and the Young Women’s Christian Association.
One Saturday, I attended for the first time a WSCS rally held at the Knox United Methodist Church. I heard several women speak about their relationship with God and how He touched their lives. I was deeply inspired by their personal testimonies so I stood up expecting to say how much I appreciate their testimonies, but what came out of my mouth was, “I am a sinner and I have fallen short in the glory of God”. After publicly confessing my sinfulness, “my heart was strangely warmed.” Since then I have sought the company of spirit-filled women.
I was in a YWCA gathering when one woman said, “Problems? I do not have any problem. I have a hotline with the Lord”. I asked, “What is your hotline?” Jeremiah 33: 3, she replied. I was embarrassed; I didn’t know what it was all about and I didn’t asked. When I reached home I opened my Bible and it says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unreachable things you do not know”. I devoted myself in the study of the Bible. I joined the charismatic movement. I was so enthused by the sharing of personal testimonies, the caring of friends in the charismatic movement that I thought I’d leave the Methodist Church. I became critical of its liturgy and the way some sermons are prepared by the traditional pastors. I wanted a church where you can make a joyful noise unto the Lord and where you come out inspired and uplifted after the Sunday service. It was a struggle for me. I fervently prayed about leaving the United Methodist Church, but my steps were held back by the Lord. My attitude changed. Instead of being critical I worked with my Pastor, and then a new charismatic Pastor was assigned to our church. He nurtured my faith and I got more deeply involved in the life and ministry of the Congressional United Methodist Church in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Blessings upon blessings poured on me. I was able to land two jobs and to pursue a doctorate in public health with the help of the Crusade Scholarship program. My life and ministry within the structure of the United Methodist Church also grew. I was elected to positions I never dreamt of. I was elected successively in the charge conference: President, WSCS; Chairperson, Administrative Board; district conference: Chair, Christian Education, District Lay Leader; annual conference: Conference Lay Leader; and as delegate to the Central conference I was eventually elected as Chair, Board of Christian Education and Communication (1984) then President, Board of Women’s Work (1988). I was even elected as alternate delegate to the General Conference where I served as Marshal in Louisville Kentucky (1992); part of the delegation to the Methodist Conference in England; General Board of Global Ministries events in Singapore and in the United States. I was the apple of God’s eyes.
I came to the United States after I was elected as World Secretary of the World Federation of Methodist Women (1991-1996). This position took me to several countries around the world. I was blessed and humbled by my association with great women church leaders of deep faith from 67 countries.
Looking back, I lost my well-earning job and my prestigious position. But God restored all these ten-fold when I sought Him, called on Him and served Him. “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” I had no plans to come to the United States but I followed my heart when, in 1993, I decided to settle in Chula Vista. But this is another story of God’s faithfulness and love.