by Tish Chavez-Lindaya
Reflection from Feast SM Southmall (2020-03-08)
Published in FSM Weekly Bulletin

Penny is one of the bravest women I’ve ever met. She’s the eldest of three siblings.

She worked as an OFW in Singapore, fought homesickness for almost a decade, built a strong career, and helped her parents send her twin sisters to college.

Then tragedy struck. Penny caught tuberculosis and had to return to the Philippines. Sadly, her condition worsened into lung cancer. After intense treatments and an operation that gave her just a 50% chance of survival, she pulled through—because of her strong faith.

When recovery came, she took the bold step to start over. With her health history making it difficult to rejoin corporate work, she became an entrepreneur.

She created and sold handmade jewelry, held garage sales, repacked food for bazaars, and tried opening a stall in their village plaza. When these didn’t last, she explored baking—something she discovered she loved deeply.

She put up a small sari-sari store at home, accepted party orders, and kept experimenting with new ideas. But still, money was hard to earn. She struggled with fear and rejection and often felt like a burden to her family.

Still, Penny didn’t give up. She carried on with a brave heart and kept moving forward.

With every pain, Penny believed God was preparing her for her life’s purpose.

Her faith deepened. Her bond with her family grew stronger. She became their go-to source for baked sweets during special occasions—building both joy and reputation through her hands and heart.

Five years ago, Penny suffered another illness. This time, God called her home.

She may be gone from this world, but her story, strength, and sweet legacy remain. Her life became a lasting inspiration—especially to her sisters.

Whenever challenges arise, Penny is remembered—not just for her courage, but for her heart and her sweets.