By Jovit D. Caballero

What if the people closest to you were both the source of your battles and the recollection of the miracles that kept you going? This is a story of how your family can become the very reminders that there are second chances, showing that in the hardest moments, miracles can unfold.

Irene Mantilla, a 35-year-old Contracts Admin Manager in the Tollway Development and Engineering Division, is the fourth of five siblings—three older sisters and a younger brother. She was raised in a modest neighborhood in Meycauayan City, Bulacan. Growing up, Irene cherished the close-knit bonds within her family. Her mother, a dedicated housewife, managed all household chores, while her father, a skilled mechanic, worked tirelessly in their garage, offering repair services for machinery and vehicles. Despite having just enough to get by, their family shared a connection that was truly special.

A fun fact about Irene is that she considers herself a miracle. After the birth of their three older daughters, her parents had almost given up on having a son and never expected to have another child. However, five years after their third daughter, Irene’s birth was completely unplanned. Yet, no one had thought that she would become her father’s “Daddy’s girl” and, ironically, take on the role of the “Ate” when it came to handling family matters, especially during tough times.

During her elementary years at Lingunan Elementary School in Valenzuela City, Irene observed how her parents would alternate conversations with her three older sisters, who had to pause their studies alternately each year to help balance the family’s school expenses. Though still young and innocent, Irene began to understand their financial struggles when she saw her sisters take on side jobs and explore other income sources to support their education. In her mind, she knew that someday, she too would have to do the same, especially with a younger brother who was just 11 months younger than her.

In fifth grade, Irene’s family’s financial situation worsened. With limited resources, they relied on dried fish and various canned goods to get by each day. Encouraged by her uncles who worked on ships, Irene’s father decided to seize the opportunity to become a seaman. Though they had always been together every single day, the family had no choice but to say goodbye for six long months. Young Irene often cried from missing her father, resorting to calling him on payphones to ease the sadness. During his time at sea, her father constantly worried, knowing he had four precious daughters and a very young son to care for. After her father’s contract ended, he chose to stay home and look for other work rather than take a high-paying job abroad. As a way of paying him back for all the sacrifices, Irene threw herself into her studies and graduated as the valedictorian of her class.

Irene never expected that her high school years would mark the beginning of even more challenging times for her family. While consistently ranking at the top of her class at Dalandanan High School, she devoted most of her energy to academics and less to extracurricular activities, especially since she had been diagnosed with asthma. During this time, she came to realize that being her father’s “Daddy’s girl” came with its own set of consequences, as he was very strict with her. Even as a teenager, her father would walk her to and from her classroom, never allowing her to go anywhere with her friends except for school and home. When it came to boys, no one dared to show any interest, as they feared her father’s strict, army-like discipline toward Irene.

In 2006, Irene’s mother was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, a genetic and untreatable condition characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys and was given only six months to live. At the time, Irene was still young and had little understanding of what was happening. It was only when her mother became bedridden that Irene fully realized the severity of her condition. Lacking sufficient household skills, she and her siblings were forced to take over the household chores and assist their father in caring for their mother. Through faith and the consistent use of herbal medicines, they managed to surpass the six-month prognosis, and slowly, her mother began to recover.

Contrary to her expectations, Irene’s dedication to her academics made her parents realize that it wasn’t worth interrupting her studies. For the first time in her life, she felt she could make her own decisions, and she took an entrance exam for the most prestigious private school in Meycauayan for her college years. Although she secured a full scholarship to cover her tuition fees, the additional expenses would still be a financial burden on her family. In the end, it was her family who made the final decision on where she would study and what course she would pursue—BS Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines. Although her father remained as strict as ever, Irene was now able to make quick side trips before heading home, as she was studying farther from her family. She also still felt immense pride in completing her degree on time and with excellent results.

Irene began her career as an MPTC Management Trainee in 2012, alongside her college colleagues, Elvin Cruz and Sam Escolano. One regular workday, she received a text from her eldest sister, informing her that their mother had been rushed to the hospital. Irene quickly wrapped up her tasks at work and hurried to the hospital. Upon arrival, her mother was diagnosed with a stroke and internal hemorrhage, requiring immediate surgery. Afterward, they were moved to a private room, and the doctor recommended an angiogram. With mounting hospital bills and the cost of the suggested procedure, the family found themselves sinking deeper into debt, relying on multiple loans to cover the expenses. Upon receiving the results, it was confirmed that her mother had an aneurysm—an abnormal swelling or bulging in the wall of a blood vessel, which can lead to serious health complications such as internal bleeding or even death. To treat this, another surgery, costing hundreds of thousands, was required.

One night, while Irene was watching over her mother, her heart broke as she witnessed her mother’s pain and hallucinations and heard her crying out, “Ayoko na, ayoko na!” Irene feared that her mother had given up. But then her mother continued, “Ayoko na nang ganito, gusto ko pa sila makasama!” Irene couldn’t hold back her tears, struggling to stay strong for her mother. At that moment, the family rushed to gather funds for the operation, determined to fight alongside their resilient mother. After the surgery, her mother was stable, but she had lost much of her memory, even forgetting her own children, and was unable to speak. The hospital treatment lasted for two months before they were advised to continue her care at home.

In the following years, the family managed to overcome the financial challenges while her mother’s health continued to improve. Slowly, they were able to pay off the loans incurred during her mother’s illness. In 2017, Irene met Darel, her future husband, a police officer, through one of her colleagues at Bible study. It was also during this time that they discovered Irene, and her older sister had inherited the same kidney cyst their mother had, though they didn’t pay much attention to it as it was still manageable. Just as they thought things were improving, the COVID-19 pandemic hit them hard.

One regular day after work, Irene found her father feeling weak and drowsy. When she checked his oxygen level, it was dangerously low, causing her to panic. She thought to herself, “We just paid off all the loans, and here we go again.” They tried searching for a hospital with available space, but all of them were filled with COVID-19 patients. With some help from her colleagues, Irene managed to secure a spot in a newly built hospital extension. Her father was diagnosed with severe COVID-19, and once again, they were faced with hundreds of thousands in hospital bills. Despite the financial strain, Irene truly believed that God works in incredible ways, and with faith, they overcame this battle as well.

In 2021, Irene and Darel officially sealed their relationship, and a few months later, in 2022, Irene, aware of her chronic kidney disease, decided to visit her OB-Gyne. As advised by her doctor and in agreement with her husband, they tried to get pregnant. By the end of January, they received the news that they were expecting. Unfortunately, after nine weeks, the fetus showed no signs of heartbeat or growth. Her doctor confirmed that the pregnancy was not viable due to a chromosomal anomaly. Heartbroken, Irene drove herself home as Darel was on duty and decided to let the pregnancy pass naturally. When it happened a few days later, they placed the fetus in an urn and kept it at home. With deep sorrow and disappointment, Irene prayed, asking, “Why would God give us a blessing that was never meant to be ours?”

For the next six months, the couple continued trying, though hope was nearly lost by December 2022. On a whim, Irene decided to take a pregnancy test with one of the extra kits she had on hand. She tried again with two more tests, and each one showed two lines. In a rush, they went to her OB-Gyne, concerned because she was noticing some bleeding. The following year, Irene was advised to take the APAS panel test to assess if she was at high risk for pregnancy complications. The results revealed elevated blood clot levels, higher than normal. This led her to file for a prolonged leave, and when it became clear that the baby was progressing, she decided to take an indefinite leave to focus on her health and care for her baby.

On the 28^th of July 2023, Irene gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Lemlem, whom she now considers as her greatest miracle of her life.

Irene’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and faith, a reminder that every battle we face carries with it the potential for miracles, even when we least expect them. Through heartache and hardship, Irene found strength in her family and her unwavering belief in second chances. From surviving the depths of financial struggle to enduring the pain of a loved one suffering, she experienced the true meaning of rebirth in every moment where she chose to rise again. Ultimately, it is through overcoming these challenges that Irene was reborn, ready to embrace the life that was always meant for her.

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