“𝙎𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨.”

It may sound like a worn-out mantra to many, but for Anisa Dagandangan, it is a truth she lives by –  a torch that guided her through darkness and helped her rebuild a life once torn apart.

Gena grew up in the conflict-affected town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur – a place where the sound of gunshots and the sight of displacement were sadly normal. Her family often had to move from one place to another, seeking safety and peace. That instability left deep scars, not only on her but especially on one of her children who remains traumatized to this day.

Her husband, a humble driver, was the family’s sole breadwinner, and together they struggled to raise five children amid poverty and conflict. Life was, in her words, “mahirap na nga, delikado pa.”

But everything began to change when Gena became part of the Project WEM 2.0 (Women Empowerment in Maguindanao) initiative of the Moro Women Development and Cultural Center, Inc. (MWDECC)– a project funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Inc. (PBSP). The project aimed to strengthen the operational functionality of six GBV survivors’ cooperativesin Maguindanao del Sur.  

She was introduced to capacity-building activities that rekindled the fire of hope inside her. “Hindi dapat manatili sa ganitong kalagayan,” she told herself, realizing that her family deserved a better life.

Gena took part in every training she could. From being timid and fearful, she slowly began to find her voice. It was in one of these trainings that she first encountered the idea of financial literacy particularly, the concept of pagtitipid. 

“Tipid din ang susi sa tagumpay –  basta marunong kang magsakripisyo,”she said with a smile.

Empowered by this new mindset, she started small. With the support of MWDECC’s livelihood assistance, her cooperative was given 50 ducks. Eventually, they were able to raise chickens and goats as well. What began as a single step slowly turned into a sustainable livelihood.

Her sense of success is simple yet profound. For Gena, it’s in the everyday work she does – raising their livestock that helps sustain the family’s needs. Each duck and chicken she tends to symbolizes not just livelihood, but the quiet triumph of perseverance. Through patience and sacrifice, she has learned that success isn’t always about wealth, but about finding stability and dignity in honest work.