Men and women with supernatural powers only exist in fiction. However, for some reasons you can encounter characters like them in real life.

Everyday a hero is born but the way to becoming one is a bumpy ride.

In a span of at least fifteen (15) hours, she prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner, neaten the house, get the laundry done and completes the remaining household chores. A regular work she assumed since 1984 after her marriage with Simplicio, a farmer.

But there’s more to being a housewife.

Sometime in 2012, the course of a woman’s life changed. Crispina Cacidilla, one of the 1505 residents of a rustic village in Gainza, the smallest town in Camarines Sur, stood up for the common interest of their village.

Crispina or “Cris”, as what her family and neighbors call her; has extended her commitment to her community. From being a mother of five, she was able to herd at least 20 people in pursuing a common goal.

Barangay Malbong is an agricultural community where most of its male residents are farmers while the women are engaged in handicraft production. Given the seasonal livelihood opportunities, still unemployment was one of the causes of poverty. This was not new because the resources are not enough to suffice the needs of a family in Malbong.

Cris, a high school graduate, has witnessed the impact of this in their locality. As an aspiring teen, she wanted to get a degree in Education but her parents were not able to send her to college because of their scarce income.

This has drove Cris to initiate action in solving the common predicament in their village.

Volunteer life

“Dapat magampanan ang responsabilidad kapag inako mo [You should perform your responsibilities if you accept it],” Cris expressed.

During the barangay assembly conducted by DSWD in 2012, the villagers agreed and elected her as the head of the volunteers for the implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Cris recounted her acceptance message: “Inaako ko ang responsabilidad pero hinahagad ko man ang sa indong suporta tanganing mapagayon ang dalagan kan satuyang magiging proyekto [I accept the responsibility, however, I would like to ask for your support to smoothen the implementation of the project].”

In just a span of a year, Cris, living up to what she promised, translated her vision into reality with the help of the other volunteers and the local council.

The production center for handicraft providing more livelihood opportunities specially to unemployed women was completed in September 18, 2013. But to Cris, the events prior to its completion were more unforgettable.

Cris, being part of the group who led and managed the implementation of the said community subproject, described the experience as thorny and debilitating.

Onset of the productivity center’s construction, Cris heard negative remarks from her neighbors who doubted their group. As the head of the volunteers, she remained strong for her peers and inspired them to continue their humble cause.

“Hinikayat ko ang kairiba ko na patunayan mi na sala ang tigaisip ninda [I encouraged my colleagues to prove them wrong],” she explained.

She would regularly meet them and discuss underlying issues that may hinder the completion of their productivity center and troubleshoot these. The very common issue was the time consumed by community volunteering wherein their time for work and family are sacrificed.

According to Cris, they would usually provide reinforcement to the volunteer who cannot attend to meetings and seminars initiated by Kalahi-CIDSS.

“Nagaururon kaming volunteers para masolusyonan [We discuss to find solutions],” she added.

Her family and the community

Time is an important element in volunteering specially if you meld it with filial responsibilities. At first it was difficult. Cris divided her time as a mother to her family and as a volunteer to her community.

Cris tried her best to conform to the new challenge. She amicably adjusted her time because she is not just a housewife but also a community leader.

Subsequently, she made her children understand of her plight and asked them to support her.

“Dahil may obligasyon ako sa barangay, sinabi ko sa pamilya ko na magtarabangan kita [I told my family to cooperate because I have my obligation to the community],”she explained.

But later on, she was able to mend this inhospitable circumstance and settled her personal fret.

On the other hand, Simplicio said that he is aware of his wife’s philanthropic activities in their neighborhood and learned to accept what Cris is doing and supports her.

“Maogma ako para sa iya ta nakakaserbisyo siya sa barangay [I am happy for her because she serves our community,” he said.

Malbong women speaks out

Cris was one of those people who fought for their productivity center to get the grant from Kalahi-CIDSS of 553,743.08 added to the counterpart contribution of the local government unit amounting to 191,287.00.

“Kinumbise ko ang mga tawo nung prioritiztion na iyo ini ang kaipuhan sa barangay mi ta kadaklan ning babae samo warang trabaho [I convinced other people to prioritize our community because most of the women are unemployed],” she said.

During the prioritization of Kalahi-CIDSS in Gainza, elected residents represented their respective communities to decide on how to divide their resources accordingly. Cris together with selected volunteers won the approval of the majority and convinced them that they are worth of the funding.

The productivity center answered the people’s clamor to augment the income of the 293 households in Malbong and empower its women to contribute to its economic growth.

Lydia San Jose, also one of the volunteers, said that the productivity center is not only an edifice for handicraft making but also a place for the women and mothers to build a life outside their homes.

“May pagkakataon ang mga babae na makisalamuha digdi [There is an opportunity for the women to mingle here],” she said.

In addition, Cris wanted more out of their productivity center. Though women in Malbong are accustomed to weaving baskets and handicrafts, she would like to explore other creative ways of earning. According to her, the more livelihood opportunities, poverty will be rapidly alleviated.

“Bako sana kami nakatuon sa buri basket-making pero gusto mi man maghanap ki iba pang alternatibong pagkakakitaan [We are not only focused on basket making. We would also like to look for other alternative forms of income],” she added.

KAAGAPAY formed: empowered stewards

Just before the productivity center was completed, the Kalahi-CIDSS volunteers of Malbong organized the Kaunlaran sa Agrikulturang Pangkabuhayan (KAAGAPAY) to ensure not only the maintenance of the project but to guarantee stable employment in the community.

From being the head of the volunteers, Cris transitioned to becoming the president of the said association. She said that that they would tap other government agencies to improve the capacities of their group to cope up with latest technology used in handicraft.  They have registered the association in Department of of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in December 2012.

Months after the completion of the productivity center, the group already sold handcrafted “parols” or lanterns made out of plastic straws and sold their products in the nearby schools.

As of November 2013, more than 35 members were already registered in KAAGAPAY and according to Chirs; she is expecting its members to increase.

There’s more to being a housewife

From a woman perceived to be a mother, she was transformed into someone persitent and accepted the challenges of a community volunteer. She was able to prove that her passion to serve the people in the community is more important than turning down her detractors.

Cris believes in the law of attraction. She said that if you trust yourself that you can do it, then you would certainly accomplish it if you believe.

To Cris, there’s more to being a housewife.

Through Kalahi-CIDSS, her knowledge was enriched; she developed her leadership skills, improved relationship with others and became a good example in the community.

Contrary to what is popularly seen in comics and TV series, fictional heroes sought peace, justice and truth against villains inflicting danger and desolation while Cris pursued leadership and accountability to fight poverty together with the people in the community.