At a very young age, Redilyn Gubio’s life was marked by hardship and trauma. She and her family fled their hometown in Dinagat Island after narrowly escaping an attempted sexual abuse that forced them to resettle in Surigao City. Together with her mother, she sold goods at the local market to cope and make ends meet.

In search of a better life, she moved to Cagayan de Oro City to live with her brother. 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 using 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, for Redilyn, became a redirection from God.

Within three months of admission, she was recognized as Best Client. 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.

“Na-acquit naman 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 City 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, an initiative 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. Redilyn, ever resourceful, worked part-time jobs and sold apparel and 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. She worked for more than four years, first as a Houseparent 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 earns a steady income as a virtual assistant. She enjoys peace and security alongside her partner on their humble farm, where they lovingly cultivate fruits and vegetables and raise a hundred chickens along with ducks and quails. Together, they are building a cozy home, hoping to one day settle there and start a family of their own.

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.

“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.

“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’s currently setting aside to prioritize her sister’s future. A dream that is just on hold but is determined to unfold. ###