by Anna Liza S. Butones
There are mornings when the body feels tired, when uncertainty quietly lingers, and when the journey of illness feels heavy. Yet even in these moments, many women continue to rise — not only for themselves, but for their families and their communities.
As someone living with cancer, I have learned that our womanhood is not diminished by sickness. We can still care, still serve, and still love deeply. Despite my own health challenges, I continue to do what I can to reach out and help others. Because strength is not the absence of struggle — it is choosing to move forward with purpose. This spirit of resilience is something we witness every day at Bountiful Children’s Foundation Philippines.
Across communities, women rise each day to nurture, provide, and inspire — finding strength even in seasons of healing
Why Supporting Mothers Matters
In the communities we serve, mothers are often the quiet pillars of hope. When they are nourished and empowered with knowledge, children are given the opportunity to grow healthy and strong.
Supporting mothers means giving children the strongest possible start in life.
Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding plays a critical role in brain development, immunity, and overall growth in the early years of life. Through nutritional supplementation and health education, Bountiful walks alongside mothers — helping them build better futures for their children.
These simple but consistent interventions can change the direction of a child’s life.
Stories Of Strength From The Field
Every month, Susana pushes a cart overflowing with nutritional supplements, calm and focused as she prepares to serve families in her community. She is a Community Coordinator in Lapu-Lapu and Regional Coordinator in Cebu, but what looks like an easy task hides the hard work she does behind the scenes.
Service often requires sacrifice. Susana’s monthly journey brings hope to families across communities.
Her dedication begins late at night, when she starts a journey that can take seven to eight hours, traveling by jeepney, bus, and even a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry — a ship that carries passengers and vehicles across islands. Sometimes, buses are crowded, and she must stand for long stretches, holding tightly to her determination.
By morning, she arrives at her area. Only then does she purchase the supplements, carefully packs them, and begins the distribution. Her work often takes two full days, yet she strives to finish early so she can return home to her own family. As a mother of three, including a young child who is only three years old, Susana balances her dedication to serving the community with her responsibilities at home, month after month.
Behind every successful distribution is a woman committed to reaching families with care, consistency, and compassion.
Susana’s story reminds us that behind every successful nutrition program are women whose commitment goes beyond duty. It is a labor of love, driven by compassion and the belief that every child deserves a healthy beginning.
Celebrating Women Every Day
International Women’s Month reminds us to honor women — but the truth is, the work of supporting and uplifting mothers can happen every single day.
Simple, consistent acts of care can make a lasting difference in the lives of women and children.
Each day, you can:
- Choose to prepare or support nutritious meals for mothers and young children
- Share helpful health knowledge with women in your community
- Offer encouragement and emotional support to mothers who may feel overwhelmed
- Encourage women to care for their physical well-being — to rest when needed, stay active, maintain personal hygiene, and take time to present themselves with dignity and confidence
- Advocate for programs that promote maternal and child nutrition
Celebrating women every day includes supporting their physical strength, confidence, and well-being.
These everyday actions create a culture where women feel valued, supported, and empowered.
When communities celebrate women not only in March but throughout the year, healthier families and stronger futures naturally follow.
Encouraging Women To Care For Themselves
As part of the celebration of International Women’s Month and National Women’s Month in the Philippines, mothers in the program were encouraged to take time to care for themselves — not only in terms of health, but also in how they see and value themselves.
Simple acts of self-care can restore confidence and remind women of their worth.
They shared simple moments of personal grooming and self-confidence, choosing to present themselves neatly, wearing light make-up, fixing their hair, and smiling with pride. These small acts became meaningful expressions of self-respect and renewed confidence.
Through their shared photos, we saw mothers finding joy in taking a pause from daily responsibilities, appreciating their own worth, and supporting one another in building positive habits.
These reminders highlight an important truth: when women feel confident, valued, and cared for, they are better able to nurture their children and contribute to stronger communities.
Together, We Nourish Hope
At Bountiful Children’s Foundation Philippines, we believe that when women are strengthened, communities flourish.
This International Women’s Month, we honor mothers, coordinators, volunteers — and every woman who continues to rise despite life’s challenges.
By supporting mothers today, we help create healthier futures for the children of tomorrow.