Some people end up frustrated when they cannot make both ends.
But for 71-year-old Crescenciana Jamero, her spirit of volunteerism is a living testament to a life well lived.
Jamero, who hails from the coastal barangay of Tangil in Dumanjug, southwest Cebu, is looked up to by her neighbors as their second mother. Her motherly personality and soft voice make her a friend to everybody.
Being old does not stop Jamero from spearheading alternative livelihood trainings for fellow mothers in the barangay.
Jamero inherited her hardworking nature and her being business-minded from her mother. At a young age, she would go with her mother to sell rolled fresh tobacco leaves. For Jamero, small business should be coupled with hard work for it to grow.
Last March, Jamero and 30 other mothers underwent 13 livelihood training sessions by International Mission Board, in partnership with their barangay, on making puto cheese, puto pandan, and cassava cake, among others.
After completing the trainings, Jamero felt the need to share what she learned with others.
“Some mothers in the barangay are tending to their children at home. Some are gambling and others doing nothing. I see these livelihood trainings as an opportunity for mothers to become productive,” she said.
Jamero conducted the first leg of her livelihood trainings to around 60 mothers from the upland barangays of Pawa, Katang-as and Lamac in Dumanjug.
Mothers gathered around Jamero while she demonstrated how to make puto cheese.
“I felt relieved that I got positive response from the participants. All my efforts paid off,” she said.
A few days after the training, the participants started to make puto cheese and sell them in the neighborhood.
Jamero conducted another set of training sessions once a month in her own backyard. At least ten mothers would gather every session.
“Mothers are excited to learn. They would always ask me when our next training session. Each of them is looking forward to another training,” she said.
Jamero, together with six mothers in the barangay, formed a group called the Apple Group. The group receives puto cheese and cassava cake orders.
The profit is divided among the members.
For her, married life is not easy. When she and her husband got married, they started from nothing.
They once lived in a small nipa hut as her husband was unemployed.
She advised couples not to marry unless they are financially stable.
Jamero has been a client of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation’s micro-finance program for five years. The program has helped expand her small sari-sari store business from selling toothpaste, shampoo and soap to now include water and woods for cooking.
“I set aside part of the profit of my store for my nephews and nieces’ education. I want to help them have a better life,” she said.
Her home is like a sanctuary to many. Jamero said troubled wives also seek from her enlightenment and guidance.
In 2004, Jamero donated a parcel of land for the construction of Tangil Water System.
Despite her being helpful, she said she still could not please everybody.
She said some of her neighbors would say that her trainings are just a waste of time and resources.
“We cannot please everybody. What is important is to continue doing good. After all, it is up to the people to judge,” she said.
Her father, Santos Dupal-ag, is a former councilor of Dumanjug. She said she never sees it as an advantage to enter politics.
Her only child, Ameil, is a marine engineer.
“Helping others does not require one be a politician,” she said.
Jamero said she would devote her entire life helping other people. For her, leaving good deeds to others is a life worth living.
Jamero is also active in religious affairs wherein she leads the chapel preparation during a fiesta in their barangay.