"In the ups and downs, there's life.
STRONG. DETERMINED. OPTIMISTIC.
That's how people who know me usually describe me because of the hardships I've encountered. I stand firm. Yes, my life is full of twists, and I wonder what else life has to offer. I want to welcome you all to the story of my simple life, which has many lessons to be learned without judgment.
Hi, I'm Charmine Baguio, born and raised in Garing, Consolacion, Cebu. I'm 33 years old and living a simple life. I'm a daughter, sister, mother, and a good partner. Before sharing my present life, let me narrate my childhood years. I come from a family that's poor but resilient despite the difficulties. Our family isn't perfect, but we try to survive day by day. Everything seemed okay until my father started indulging in vices like gambling and drinking, which led to problems in our household. My mom and I no longer got along, and we struggled to meet our daily needs. I struggled and questioned why our life was like this. Can't we always be happy?
Despite the challenges, my siblings and I were still achievers in school. I can say that because of my mom's hard work, we were able to take care of ourselves. Fast forward, I graduated from high school as a salutatorian, which led to a scholarship offer for college. I had many dreams, but it was tough. Sadly, I lost my scholarship due to illness and couldn't maintain my grades.
My world stopped, and depression struck. I felt the pain of being poor and not having enough money for my education. I made sacrifices, but it seemed like it was all for nothing. When I stopped studying, I stopped dreaming, and I focused on working to support my family. I worked as a tutor day and night. After two years, I met the father of my first son, but he rejected me when he found out I was pregnant. It was another failure in trusting someone quickly. I thought I would win in life, but it was tiring. However, raising a child alone made me stronger. When my firstborn was two years old, I met my long-time friend, who is now my partner. I thought I was a winner this time, but I was wrong.
In 2018, my mom got sick and underwent a tracheostomy. In 2019, she was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer stage 3b. For me, happy times are short and limited. I cried a lot every day and night because I love my mom, and she's the reason I strived hard. During her terminal stage, I got pregnant with my second child. I was emotional because I felt something strange. Why did I get pregnant at a time when my mom's condition was worsening? My mom fought cancer for three years.
In 2021, I gave birth, and my mom was in and out of hospitals. Sadly, a month after my baby's birth, my mom passed away. I experienced severe postpartum depression, feeling like I was covered in darkness. It was hard to move on, but I tried my best. I was able to move on from my mom's passing because I reminded myself that life is borrowed, not mine.
Four months after my baby's birth, I noticed that my son, Prince Mehir, wasn't developing normally. After doctor consultations and procedures, it was confirmed that he has cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent movement and posture disorders resulting from brain damage during fetal development, at birth, or in early childhood." It's not easy having a child with a disability, but we're doing our best to provide for his needs. From therapies to his maintenance and check-ups, we're managing every day. Now that he's 4 years old, he continues with his maintenance, which seems to be giving him life. We're just praying that despite his condition, he'll live longer. I pray so hard to God that He'll give us longer life so that someone can take care of him." My children are my source of life.
"Despite everything, we stand tall because I know God won't abandon us. Right now, we're still struggling, but we're happy because we're always blessed. All of these experiences make us better people – not perfect, but very promising.
What else you don’t know about me? Well I forgot to mention, but I'm a book lover. In my free time, I enjoy reading stories. I also love hiking and climbing, especially when I can see nature, as it feeds my soul. At home, my stress reliever is planting, as watching my plants grow and bear fruits relaxes me. Above all, I find comfort in cooking for my family every day. At home, I find my life.
Life is tough, but I'm tougher. With these difficulties, I won't stop finding ways to earn and bring something to the table. I'm thankful to my partner's friend and coworker, @jedum, for introducing us to HIVE. This side hustle will surely help us in many ways, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to what this program has to offer. With HIVE, better chances await. I'm ready to discover its beauty. Lets build door for this as opportunity knock once, why wasted?
My story is a powerful testament to resilience and determination. This journey highlights the importance of family, support and perseverance. At last I can say, faith and prayers are our source of comfort and hope.
BEST OF LUCK, CHARMINE!