Cristine Boniel, a former sponsored child of ChildFund Japan Philippine Branch, shares her story of resilience and determination. Joining our sponsorship program in Grade 4, Cristine has always aimed to fulfill her educational dreams, despite the challenges that life presented.
Cristine’s journey has not been easy. Her father, who worked in construction, passed away during her first year of college, leaving her mother—a dedicated housewife—shouldering the family’s responsibilities. To support Cristine and her two siblings, her mother took on a strenuous 12-hour daily job in a canning factory.
Thankfully, a supportive family friend offered Cristine a place to stay while she finishes her degree, in exchange for her help with chores and office tasks. In March 2018, Cristine proudly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology.
Today, Cristine has a stable job at a local bank, where she has been working for the past five years. She continues to contribute to her community by volunteering to manage the financial records for HAKAP, a parents’ organization formed through our project partner NDBRCFI Lanestin Development Center.
Cristine’s journey of resilience serves as an inspiration to her fellow sponsored children. She often shares her story with younger children, emphasizing the value of education and the opportunities it brings, especially to children coming from underserved communities.
Author/s: Hannah Quito, NDBRCFI Lanestin Development Center
