Once a vulnerable young girl from Dinagat Island, Redilyn Gubio’s early life was marked by hardship and trauma. At a very young age, she and her family fled their hometown after after narrowly escaping an attempted abuse, forcing them to resettle in Surigao del Norte. Despite the difficulties, Redilyn remained resilient. Even as a child, she showed remarkable resourcefulness, selling goods at the local market to help her mother make ends meet.

Eventually, she moved to Cagayan de Oro City to live with her brother, where she balanced her time between taking care of his children while pursuing her education. However, like many curious teens, she stumbled. Influenced by the wrong crowd, she found herself trying illegal substances. At 17, she was apprehended and classified as a Child In-Conflict with the Law (CICL). She was placed in the Home for Girls for a month and was later transferred to the Regional Haven for Women (RHW) upon turning 18.

What could have been the lowest point in her life became an unexpected turning point. For Redilyn, being admitted to the center was not a punishment but a redirection from God.

Within three months, she was recognized as Best Client, a distinction that affirmed her commitment to change. She eagerly participated in various skills training and self-improvement programs, taking pride in her growth and proving that she was more than her mistakes.

“Pagtransfer nako, na-acquit naman gud to ang kaso pero naa may proseso kung makasulod ka sa Haven. Ila kang i-andam kung ready na ba ka muatabang, kung okay na ba ka musagubang sa mga pagsulay nga imong atubangon in the future ayha ka makagawas,” Redilyn shared.

After seven months of stay at RHW, Redilyn was successfully reintegrated into the community in 2017. She returned to Surigao del Norte and used the financial assistance provided by the center to install a water connection for their home, as access to clean water in their area was extremely scarce. Word soon spread in their neighborhood, and people began asking if they could buy water from them. What started as a simple household connection eventually became the primary water source for their neighborhood. Motivated by compassion, she has continued to share this resource with her neighbors to this day.

Redilyn’s journey didn’t stop there. In one of RHW’s post-care “Kamustahan” sessions, initiatives meant to check in on former clients, Redilyn was offered another life-changing opportunity: the chance to study caregiving. Without hesitation, she returned to Cagayan de Oro City to pursue the program.

Although the tuition was free, the daily expenses for transportation, food, and basic needs were challenging. But Redilyn, ever resourceful, worked part-time jobs and sold kakanin, a skill she learned at RHW, to support herself and send financial support to her family.

She successfully completed the program and landed a job at J.R. Borja General Hospital, where she worked for more than four years, first as a House Parent for elderly women and persons with disabilities, and later, as a nursing aide. Her stable income allowed her to support her younger sister through college and regularly send money to her mother. Today, her sister is a licensed professional teacher, one of the many fruits of Redilyn’s sacrifice and love.

Now in a new chapter of her life, Redilyn enjoys peace, stability, and a comfortable life with her partner. She works as a virtual assistant, earning a steady income from home during the night. In 2024, her partner bought a piece of land in San Simon, Cagayan de Oro City, a new opportunity that opened more doors.

With the space available, Redilyn pursued her interest in raising chickens alongside her partner’s father. What was originally meant to be land solely for poultry turned into something more. Given the spacious area, they began to gradually build a cozy rest house with the hope of eventually settling there and starting their own family.

Her love for gardening also rekindled. Supported by her partner, she began planting fruits and vegetables, both as a practical necessity, since markets were far from their place, and as a step towards sustainability. What started as a hobby is now evolving into a potential source of income.

Redilyn now raises over a hundred chickens of various breeds, including Brahma, Rhode Island, and Heritage, as well as ducks and quails. With growing interest from buyers, she plans to eventually turn this passion into a sustainable business once they have enough supply to meet demand.

Looking back, Redilyn acknowledges that her past mistakes were the result of her own choices, not her family’s nor her circumstances. She hopes her journey serves as an inspiration to others, especially those currently under DSWD’s care.

“Sa tanan nga naay pareha nako og experience ug sa ubang klasi nga biktima nga naa sa DSWD karon, dili lang nato hunahunaon nga diha lang ta kutob. Dili gyud mag-end atong life diha lang. So kinahanglan gyud ta magpadayon kay kung maghunahuna ta nga dira lang ta, dili gyud ta mu-grow, dili ta maka-move forward, wala pud tay self-improvement kung atong hunahuna dira lang. Harohay ang kinabuhi kung brighter side lang ang imong tan-awon, dili ang sitwasyon nimo nga kung naunsa ka karon,” Redilyn said.

With humility and gratitude, she credits DSWD Field Office X particularly the Regional Haven for Women, for helping her rebuild her life.

“Dako kaayo ko og pasalamat gikan sa pagsulod nako sa Haven hantod nga nakagawas ko. Dako kaayo siya og kabag-ohan sa akong kinabuhi, sa akong pamilya, ug sa estado sa kinabuhi namo karon. Pasalamaton gyud ko kay daghan kaayog trainings, support – mental health, progress sa livelihood, self-improvement. Paggawas nako, wala gihapon didto nag-end ilang support, gamonitor gihapon sila sa amoa. Dako kaayog impact sa akong kinabuhi ang Haven,” expressed Redilyn.

As for what lies ahead, Redilyn hopes of finally completing her college education, a dream she set aside to prioritize her sister’s future.

Redilyn’s story is more than just a tale of survival. It’s a celebration of courage, resilience, and growth. Her journey reminds us all that no matter how dark the beginning, a brighter future is always possible, one where you can finally say, “harohay ang kinabuhi.” ###