Staying strong to whatever life throws our way

Our loved ones are our inspiration and hope. Losing them is like half of ourselves is taken away.

Leah Dinglasan tried to keep strong for the sake of her three children, after her husband Technical Sergeant (TSg) Aldrin Dinglasan, sniper of the Marine Special Operations Group (MARSOG), Philippine Navy passed away fighting in Marawi on May 31, 2017.

More than a year had passed, yet time never changed her bereavement. Leah shared that the death of her husband is still painful as before.

“I knew that the best thing I could do is to accept that I cannot bring back my husband to life and we need to move on with our lives. However, I keep on remembering him whatever I do and wherever I am,” she said while tears started to fall.

According to Leah, her husband was a very thoughtful and loving father to their children. “When he went back home after his duty, he makes sure to have quality time spent with us,” she added.

In March 2017, her husband decided to put up a small retail store for their family. “It was two months before my husband died. He said he wanted to put up a retail store as an extra income for our family. But it turned out to be an inheritance he left for us,” Leah recalled.

Being in a Special Operations Group, she knew from the very start that there was a shadow of danger to her husband’s life. However, she trusted that there was nothing to worry. Everything will be fine.

“He took many years in service but nothing bad happened to him. I felt assured and I was looking forward to his retirement,” her voice trembling as she continued to share.

With what happened to her husband, Leah is also frightened that she might leave her children in an unexpected time. That is why when Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), Inc. was introduced by her relatives, she was not hesitant to become a client because of the life insurance benefit.

“I heard CARD many times before when my fellow soldiers’ wives talked about it. However, it is not my business so I let it pass and just ignored it. Until recently, my relatives who visited me mentioned CARD especially when I heard about its life insurance benefit,” Leah explained how she became a new member of CARD, Inc.

CARD, Inc. is one of the four major financial institutions of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) that provides microloans and community development programs to socially-and-economically challenged families and individuals in the marginalized sector of the society. For as low as P70, the member already has P50 for savings, P5 for retirement savings fund, and P15 for the life insurance.

Once an individual became a member of CARD, Inc., aside from access to various financial services, the member is automatically entitled to life insurance benefit from CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA), Inc. The retirement savings fund and life insurance benefit are services offered by CARD MBA, the microinsurance arm of CARD MRI. Both institutions are member of CARD MRI.

“When an undesirable circumstance comes like death, I wanted to prevent financial hardships for my loved ones,”Leah stated.

At present, Leah tried to keep strong for her children and for her husband who is watching them from above.

Losing our loved ones might feel like half of ourselves was taken away. However, we need to keep strong for our loved ones with hope that anytime soon, pain and sadness will vanish away.