88-Year-Old Grandma Climbs Mountains to Gather Materials for Selling Baskets
An 88-year-old grandma from Cebu touches many hearts for risking her life climbing mountains to gather materials for selling baskets.
Owa Minay, an elderly woman from Cebu continues to risk her life by climbing mountains to gather materials for making and selling baskets. She was driven by the need to provide for herself and her younger siblings.
Three times a week, the old lady climbs the local mountains to collect “nito,” a type of vine used in basket weaving. This dangerous journey is essential for her livelihood, as she uses these materials to create baskets which she then sells to buy basic necessities like rice, dried fish, and other food items.
In her old age, Minay faces great physical hurdles. She’s hunched over, making walking difficult, and she gets out of breath easily. Despite these challenges, she continues her work barefoot, as the paths are slippery and shoes make the climb more dangerous.
The senior citizen wants to have their own money to buy things and don’t want to depend on others, even their younger siblings.
For over five decades, Minay and her siblings have relied on each other, especially after the death of their parents and three other siblings. Basket-making has been their family’s livelihood for generations.
Before each trip, the grandma prays that God will give her eyes a little light because she can’t stand up much.
“Ginagawa ko ito kasi mas mabuti na may sarili kaming pambili. Hindi ‘yung nakadepende kami ng mga nakababata kong kapatid sa iba. Tuwing umaga, bago ako umalis, nagdadasal na lang ako sa Diyos. ‘Pagalawin Mo ako. ‘Yung mata ko, bigyan Mo sana ng konting ilaw.’ Matanda na kasi ako,” she said.
In another story, a 71-year-old grandma from Dolores, Quezon graduates from elementary
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