Taking a leap of faith, fulfilling a promise

Faith Famorcan-Narvasa describes herself as an island girl who spent a great deal of her childhood playing outdoors in Romblon. She was also an academic achiever. “I was always the second honor from grade one to high school.” Faith also owes this to the strict supervision of her father who instilled in her a certain kind of discipline when it comes to academics and school activities. She also remembers that her grandmother used to be her grade one teacher. “Syempre ayaw mong mapahiya, so I always come to school prepared.”

Young Faith was also active in school. She served in the student council, joined various quiz contests, and became a girl scout. “Parang lahat ‘yan, sinalihan ko.”

Faith used to dream of becoming a teacher like her grandmother, then an engineer as influenced by her father. However, she took an entirely different path in college.

One of her aunts offered to support her college education if she pursued nursing, and so she did. She took up nursing at Far Eastern University. Soon, Faith started serving in hospitals and rural health units. “It was challenging, physically and emotionally demanding,” Faith shared.

Paradigm shift

While serving as a nurse in a hospital, Faith witnessed how some patients were treated poorly. “Doon nagka-paradigm shift ako. Doon ko naisip na kung ipu-pursue ko ang nursing, parang ayoko sa Pilipinas. Hindi ko kaya yung mga nakikita ko. Parang helpless ka. Alam mo kasi na ito lang ang kayang i-provide ng hospital. Somehow, you feel guilty kasi you want to provide what is best for the patients. It’s just that, you can’t. Not all the time.”

So, Faith gathered all her documents to apply for a job abroad. Everything was in place. She was just getting all the experience she needed. She even worked at a call center to enhance her English proficiency.

Faith applied for the training assistant post at the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) in 2012 thinking that it would allow her to earn while having enough time to finish her Master’s Degree.

But life took a different turn. 

“When I finally started working at ZFF, I realized hindi pala siya madali.” Faith found herself more occupied with work more than ever, but she also felt a certain kind of fulfillment. “Mas busy pala kasi maraming activities. Pero fulfilling kasi you know you are helping the team sa pag-train ng local chief executives.”

Faith also had hopes in improving the health system in the country. “Na-excite ako when I found out that there are organizations like ZFF that do this kind of work. May ginagawa palang ganito to address the challenges na nakita ko sa mga hospitals and RHUs na napuntahan ko before.”

Faith continued her Master’s Degree and took up International Health at the University of the Philippines Open University. This time, though, it was not for a job abroad but to improve her skills and be more relevant to ZFF.

Faith’s first project at ZFF was the Barangay Leadership and Management Program in the outskirts of the Zamboanga Peninsula. “Para makapunta ka doon, tatawid ka talaga ng ilang ilog.”

When she became a parent in 2013, Faith loved her work more deeply and appreciated ZFF’s work in maternal and child health. “Na-realize ko yung importance that we make sure na may nanay ang mga batang ipapanganak, i-ensure yung safety nila.” She also had a delicate pregnancy and delivery. She remembered making the promise, “Mabuhay lang ako at ang baby ko, I will do everything to help other mothers and children.”

That is what she did.

She continued her work even when it meant crossing rivers just to get to their target communities, and even if it meant putting her life at risk sometimes.

Faith is aware that there is more to be done, especially whenever she hears people telling them their stories of everyday survival. “‘Pag pinakinggan mo yung community members, ang sasabihin nilang priority problem nila e walang tubig.” For some, maternal health, tuberculosis, or family planning concerns are not a priority.

But Faith gets inspiration from the lives of people they touched. She recalls one instance when one of her guides thanked her for going to the most isolated area of their locality, that not even their health workers would dare go. “Thankful sila na may bumababa to help the community.”

Her heroes

As a kid, Faith remembers tagging along with her father on his socio-civic missions. “Ang father ko madalas nakasalamuha ang mga tao na nasa malalayong lugar. Halos every Sunday, umaakyat kami ng bundok kasi may mission ang father ko. I feel the same satisfaction dito sa  ZFF doing this kind of work. Hindi man ako directly nagde-deal with LGUs (Local Government Units), I know that if I do my work with quality, malaki ang impact sa kanila.”

In ZFF, Faith finds inspiration from two empowered women: Dr. Ellen Medina and Dr. Heidee Buenaventura. These women amaze Faith with their excellent work and their kind leadership. “They are mothers, too. I feel supported by them.”

She also gains strength from her children, who always remind her why she’s here in the first place. One time, her son asked “Ilang tulog ka mawawala?” It was a line that crushed her heart, but she knew she had to continue the work so more children will have the privilege of growing up with a mother.

Having spent years in the Foundation allowed Faith to be aware of her strengths and weaknesses. But more importantly, it allowed her to continue learning, improve herself, and unlock more skills. 

“Naitanong ko na rin sa sarili ko na kung anong contribution ko sa community. Now I know that it is about living beyond self and family, but also extending to society.

I am prepared to serve,” Faith shared.