Personal Need as Starting Point: the Modern Nanays of Mindanao Story

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known… suffering… struggle…and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

When Nadine Casino gave birth for the first time, she struggled with breastfeeding. Like many mothers, she thought she could not produce enough milk for her baby - but she was intent on doing so. So she sought information and help, from the internet, friends, and accessible medical professionals. Fortunately she got the information and advise that she needed, and succeeding in breastfeeding her baby.

She thought that maybe other first-time moms might also be going through a similar experience. So she started to talk with them’s story.

Nadine is one of those people who learned to serve others because of their own needs and pains. She knew firsthand what it was like to need breastfeeding guidance; she learned from others; she decided to help other mothers by passing on what she had learned, theory and practice. Soon, friends started to join her on these conversations. In a little while they had formed the core group of what would be known as “Modern Nanays of Mindanao” or MNM.

MNM helped mothers and babies in the evacuation centers of the Marawi siege. They contributed ideas and encouragement towards the establishment of a lactation support center in the city hospital of Cagayan de Oro City. Now they are starting to help other local government units - and they know they have a long way to go to make sure every mother gets the help they need for lactation.

Nadine’s is one of those stories where a personal need led to small steps that eventually led her and friends to serve a wider community of mothers. Her story also suggests that the same pain we have gone through, or are going through, can point us to how we can help others. (An interview with Nadine Casino and colleague Grace Ravanera can be viewed at https://youtu.be/jOE493JEA54).

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians to praise God and our Lord Jesus Christ who comforts us in all our troubles, “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5 New International Version). Because those who have gone through a challenging situation may be the persons to help other get through similar situations.

Think about the challenges you’ve gone through - what little, simple steps can you take to help somebody who is going through a similar struggle?

Modern Nanays of Mindanao can be reached through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/modernnanaysofmindanao/