MOMS' VICTORY – The greatest achievement of Janette Salvador (left) and Marivic Capuz (right), both single mothers, was the graduation from college of their children. (Photos courtesy of Tricia Salvador and Antoinette Capuz)
Tears of joy are the landmarks of achievement in the lives of two single mothers. Marivic Capuz, of Cavite, still remembers that “during the graduation of my eldest daughter, I was crying almost the entire time. It was unexplainable joy!” Janette Salvador, from Navotas, said she tried to hide her tears, “pero hindi pa rin kayang pigilan kapag nandoon ka na sa venue (I could not stop the tears when I reached the venue), watching my children march to the stage in their togas.”
After years of working two to three jobs at a time to provide for their children, sometimes missing meals to save for other expenses, Capuz, now 51, said: “I made it! I was all alone but I did make my daughters’ dreams come true, with God' s provision.”
MARIVIC'S FAMILY – Marivic Corpuz raised two daughters, An Mari, 25, (second from left) and Antoinette, 23, who both finished college with honors. (Photo courtesy of Antoinette Capuz)
And she experienced that kind of joy not once but twice, with her two daughters graduating from private colleges: An Mari, 25, graduated cum laude with a radiologic technology degree from De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, and Antoinette, 23, graduated cum laude with a journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
“My daughters' diplomas will forever be a reminder of my victory in life,” she told Manila Bulletin in an online interview.
Like all mothers, Capuz’s victory came after many difficult times, more difficult for one who was facing life with two children without a husband. (The couple had separated when she was 30 years old.)
“I remember there were days when I missed a meal because I had to save. Those days were some of my most difficult times.”
Marivic’s main job was a private school teacher. On the side, she was a private tutor to three, sometimes five students, just to earn more to pay for the necessities of her children. When she lost her job for five months, her elder daughter was in first year college.
“I woke at dawn to cook champorado, sopas and pancit to sell. In the afternoons, I sold pork barbecue. And in the evenings I was a tutor to three, to sometimes five, private school students.”
“There were days when I hardly slept, days when there was not enough money to buy food for everyone. So I would not eat a meal,” she said.
Through all that, she said it was her daughters who kept her on. “I never thought of giving up,” she said. Her daughters helped her sell food, and they looked for scholarships to get their education. “They had entrusted their lives to me, I could not fail them,” Marivic said.
Faith gave her the push to go on. “During those times, God showed us his goodness and mercy. He sent us angels to help us, people who gave scholarships to my daughters; my parents who took care of my children in my absence.”
To single mothers struggling with the many expenses to raise children, she advises: “When facing a difficult time, you need to surrender to God. I have been a witness to God’s goodness. Everything my children achieved is with the help of God.”
“I am thankful my daughters showed me so much love, trust and faith that is what I hold on too,” Marivic said.
Today, life is better, Marivic said. “Life is really better now with my daughters helping me now. I don’t do tutorials anymore. We can go to places we want, and even our celebrations of the different occasions are more festive.”
Janette Salvador
Another single mother, Janette Salvador, also went through many difficulties to lead her two children to graduation day – the younger one with a magna cum laude.
“That is my greatest achievement and reward as a mother,” Janette, 50, said. Her children, Christian, 27, graduated with a Business Administration major in Financial Management degree from the University of the East-Caloocan; and Tricia, 22, graduated magna cum laude with a communication degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
JANETTE'S FAMILY – Janette Salvador with her two children, Christian, 27, (left) and Tricia, 22, (third from left), Her son now has a family of his own. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Salvador)
“I am so proud of my children, and also of myself, for raising such good and responsible children who are now adults,” she said.
Fighting back tears, she said: “It’s hard to raise two children who are very smart, intelligent, and kind,” said Janette, who now works as a manager of a bank.
“My children never asked for much. They were always so appreciative of what we have,” she said.
Christian currently works as a product manager in an Information Technology (IT) company, while Tricia is an account executive in a public relations agency.
Salvador, who was in her early 30s when she separated from her husband, was a bank employee.
“The most challenging part of being a single parent is dealing with financial difficulties. I had to juggle my full-time job as a banker and selling macaroons, brownies, cookies, bread; pasta trays, homemade vinegar, doormats, bags, wallets, perfume, and many more,” she said.
Her kids were her inspiration. “Hindi pwedeng mapagod hangga’t hindi pa naaabot ‘yung desired income to cover all our expenses (I could not get tired until I reached the desired income to cover our expenses),” she said.
But she never thought of giving up. “I will never get tired of making a living for my family. I will not surrender and I will continue working hard for my children. Sila ang pinaka-importanteng reason kung bakit ako nabubuhay (My family is the most important reason why I continue to live),” she said.