DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- With determination, hard work, and an iron will, a woman overcame her disability to achieve her dreams. 

Jerlyn Cabugnason, 43, from Manjuyod town has been wheelchair-bound for 27 years after a vehicular accident in Manila that severely damaged her spinal cord. 

During the first few years after the accident, she was struggling to find meaning in her life. It was in this dark period that she discovered she had a talent for cross stitching. 

“Nuon, madalas kong tinatanong ang Panginoon bakit ako naghihirap sa sitwasyon ko na pabigat sa pamilya. Since may talent naman ako in cross stitching, so hiningi ko sa  Diyos na sana merong magpagawa ng cross stitch the least I can do for my past time,” said Jerlyn. 

(I used to ask God why I became a burden to my family due to my situation. But since I have a talent in cross stitching, I prayed that someone would hire me to do cross stitch work so I can have something to do.) 

Jerlyn was one of the two women who served as inspirational speakers during the kick-off program of National Women’s Month celebration of the Negros Oriental provincial government. 

In her speech, Jerlyn shared how she faced her life’s challenges with courage and determination to become an entrepreneur using her talent. 

Determined to develop her cross stitching skills, she sought the help of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Manjuyod for training and to see where she could avail of livelihood assistance. 

“Dako nakong pasalamat sa lokal SWDO o gobyerno na nakadawat ko ug P4,000 pang puhunan gikan sa livelihood assistance,” said Jerlyn. 

(I am deeply thankful to the local government for giving me a cash grant of P4,000 as livelihood assistance.)

She used the financial assistance to buy additional embroidery materials and finished some cross stitching designs that she posted on Facebook. As more people appreciated her hand embroidery skills, she soon received several orders online for cross stitching projects, with some orders coming from overseas. 

Between 2018 and 2019, her income from her monthly orders allowed her to renovate her family’s dilapidated house.

Aside from this, Jerlyn eventually was able to open a sari-sari store that became her family’s source of income. 

She is also an active member of the person with disability (PWD) association in her town where she currently serves as the treasurer.

In 2023, Jerlyn was recognized as the Babayeng Garbo sa Katilingban winner. This is an annual search conducted by the Provincial Commission on Women to honor outstanding women individuals and women’s groups working for women empowerment and gender equality.  

Women’s role in economic growth

The provincial government marked this year’s National Women’s Month with a kick-off ceremony attended by hundreds of women’s groups in the province. 

During the program, Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Maisa Sagarbarria said women play an important role in the overall survival of the economy.

“I see women’s groups help our local economy,” she said.

The vice mayor said she endorsed women ambulant vendors to avail of government livelihood aid to serve as the capital for their group’s business. 

Sagarbarria added that women remain strong despite their challenges. 

“Despite the challenges that women have been facing and some discrimination because we are in a patriarchal society, we emerge stronger than ever,” she said. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)