My Journey

My name is Cecille Pauline S. Montenegro, 35 years old, a mother of 2 children, both are abandoned by their fathers. I was an OFW and also was a wife of a Japanese before. I had a terrible life experience in Japan, so I decided to stay and live for good here in Philippines. As of now, Iam working as a Makeup artist , Painter, visual artist, freelance book illustrator and also, volunteering as a President of a small community organization or peoples org. Batis AWARE (Association of Women in Action for Rights and Empowerment) We are a group of returned migrant Filipino Women who are most of us were victim-survivors of Human trafficking, slavery and Domestic Violence. Our mission is to expand the members, to empower women, to advocate our rights as a Woman here locally and internationally, Batis AWARE also focuses on economic justice for women and girls. Batis AWARE has four programs, Education and Training, Membership and Organizing, Networking and Advocacy and Social Enterprise Development. In an organization, funding is one of the biggest challenge, most of our members are economically unstable and we are still in our recovery as an organization. Another challenge is the willingness and commitment of the members to volunteer on every activity. Some of the actions that I made, one is as an artist , I sell my paintings and give 10% of my net to the organization, I also do the concept and proposal letters with the help of some friends. I organize women in every activity and gave everyones task to help our organization. Mostly I do exhibits with some partner organizations, do networking while selling some of our Social enterprise products like bags, accessories and paintings. Iam supporting my organization and some of our partner and friend and helping and supporting me and our Org. About the resourses and skills, I would like to continue to be a leader of Batis AWARE and I want to upgrade my knowledge in empowering women, also I want to explore more about arts. I want the world to know about me, that Iam able and iam willing to learn , explore and be more open in everything, I want the world to know that even I didn’t finished my college, I can do so many things to help, to empower women and girls and also children. Cecille Pauline S. Montenegro