From Slums to Success

From Slums to Success
A testimony of a former sponsored child of World Vision International
delivered at Network 21 - (2003), Toyota Motor Phils., Sta. Rosa, Laguna - (2006)

I am Adora Mota Mendoza, a child from the slums (one of the rural areas in Cavite City) where people built houses on stilts by the sea, a former sponsored child of World Vision International.

I am the youngest child, the only daughter of Mr. Apolinar I. Mota and the late Mrs. Felicisima R. Mota. I got 2 elder brothers, Polly and Benny, who are 8 and 7 years elder than me, respectively. My father was a fisherman and my mom was a plain housewife. We didn't have much in the way of food and other basic necessities. My brothers and I even experienced sharing one egg among ourselves while my parents are just watching us, waiting if we will have some leftovers. We did not have electricity at home, I was using candles and/or gas lamp when studying at night. During my first grade in school, I had only one skirt which my mother washed everyday. On my second grade, I was able to acquire another skirt and survived the rest of elementary with those 2 skirts. You would wonder, yes, those two skirts became mini-skirts as I grow till I graduate as Valedictorian in elementary. We do not have electricity at home so I was using candle light to study at night. I even experienced selling snacks from one house to another during school vacation just to be able to buy new school supplies. Naalala ko pa, hinabol ako ng luko-luko saka ng aso habang naglalako ako ng meryenda. I was just relieved from the pain of reusing old notebooks when I became a sponsored child of World Vision International, that was vacation of 1985, before I go to the sixth grade, I was given free school supplies then. I will never forget when I was invited in the church where I stayed until now to attend Sunday School, where I accepted Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour, that was May 9, 1985.

My high school life was not that tough anymore because I experienced having new uniforms and new school supplies every year. I was also provided with my first pair of eyeglasses with a grade of 250 when I was first year High School. It was only then that I realized that the world is bright and that you can see even far objects in details. I wasn’t aware of that when I was in grade school because I haven’t experience using eyeglasses. I just thought that it was just normal having a blurred vision. I was able to move the same way as other students who can afford to get the normal basic necessities. We were able to have electricity supply at home when I was in third Year High school. With God's blessings, I also graduated with honors in High School, fourth honorable mention. I thought I might not be able to continue my studies then because my father did not allow me to study in the far UP Los Banos, which is the only school where I took entrance examination for college. I never intended to have a second option. World Vision International, through the courtesy of Children's Helper Project gave me the chance to take One Year Integrated Programming Course at Philippine Women's University where I graduated as the top student. I took up Computer Engineering Technology at Technological University of the Philippines after that course. Driven by circumstances, I got married at an early age, 18. I was pregnant that I can no longer travel from house to school. Still with God's help, I was able to use the knowledge I gained in the One-Year Programming Course I took. I was hired as a computer instructress at Computer Technological Center in Noveleta, Cavite. It is also where I decided to continue my studies, my students are my classmates too. Thank God, I was able to finish electronics computer technology. With God's help also, I was given the chance to become junior programmer, then programmer, then systems analyst, later on, senior systems analyst, and now a systems specialist functioning as a project manager at Astec International Ltd.

In my present job, I was able to travel to different places like China, Hongkong and the United States, went to Disneyland which is one of my childhood dreams, a dream come true. Now, though I am not that 'financially stable', God provides for my family and all our needs, I have a house of my own, a car loan from our company.

I still have other great plans in my life, one of which is to start a foundation someday, because I am a product of God's people who shared His blessings to others. With God’s help, had started to send two high school students in Cavite National High School as scholars of a just started mini-foundation.

What you can see now as a woman of faith standing in front of you was once a child of slums, one you would never forsee to have this kind of blessed life I'm having right now. God used World Vision International to change my life. And you, each of you can help make a change....change the life of a child from the slums into strong, courageous and successful men and women, upholding each others rights, loving and helping one another.

Outline

I. Introduction
II. Family Background
III. Elementary days
a. Shared on 1 egg as viand with my 2 elder brothers
b. Used only 2 skirts from Grade 1 to VI
c. Used to sell snacks from house to house to earn for school supplies
d. Did not have electricity at home, used candles/gas lamp in studying
e. Graduated as Valedictorian
IV. High School days
a. Was provided with my first pair of eyeglasses with grade of 250
V. College days
a. Supported by World Vision to finish Integrated Programming Course at PWU.
VI. My Work Experiences
a. A part-time data encoder at the University Registrar’s office while a student at Philippine Women’s University
b. An all-around staff at ChildHope Phil-Asia
c. A computer instructress at Computer Technological Center
d. A computer programmer/computer technician at Dae Ryung Industries Inc. now RADIX
e. A Systems Programmer, Systems Analyst, Sr. Systems Analyst at Astec Power Inc.
VII. My Current Work
a. Systems Specialist I at Astec International Limited now Emerson Network Power – Embedded Computing and Power
VIII. My Family Now
a. I have three children, well-provided with all their needs, my father is living with me
IX. My Accomplishments
a. Was able to break the chains of poverty with God’s help and World Vision’s support
b. Was sent to Hongkong, China, and US for business trips to handle projects
c. Aside from graduating with honors, will still be pursuing higher level of education
d. Started a mini-foundation with 2 scholars
e. Started a general merchandising business early this year
X. My Vision
a. Establish the college education of my sponsored child
b. Increase the number of scholars in my mini-foundation
c. Allocate 30 to 40% net income of my general merchandising business as additional fund for the mini foundation
d. Conduct a free medical mission in Cavite City by next year
e. Increase the number of my World Vision sponsored children next year
f. In the next three years, be able to register the H.E.A.L (Health and Education Advocacy for Life) Foundation Inc. as a legal entity
g. In the next five years, build a building for the HEAL Foundation and provide shelter for more unfortunate children.
h. Start a Child Care business and build a school that will promote Values and good will to men and will likewise support the finances of the Foundation with all the Vision, Mission and Goals aligned to develop a better community and defeat poverty.