A party-list seat

Aida Patana: Rising up from every challenge

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Those who have watched Aida Patana's life story on Youtube would realize she almost gave up on life twice. However, she confronted the obstacles head on and emerged victorious. In those dark times, she held on to the thought of her children's welfare. Like every mother, and a single parent at that, she couldn't bear the idea of leaving the fate of her brood to chance.

With the next national elections looming in the horizon, and with political organizations inviting her to join their wing, Aida is now confronted with the possibility of running for an elective post.

Born and raised in Mindanao from humble beginnings, Aida moved to Cebu in search for greener pastures to make better her family's dire circumstances. After graduating from college, she gained employment in a furniture making company. Because of her admirable work ethic, she was promoted to a supervisory position after a year. 

It was also around this time that she met her would-be husband, George Mananquil, in the same workplace. They soon got married and the union was blessed with a brood of five. As the couple had now an insight into the furniture business, they decided to put up a similar business of their own.

With all their passion and dedication poured into the venture, the business boomed as a result. Soon, they were exporting furniture to the United States. All was rosy until the fateful World Trade Center disaster in 2001. Like pieces of domino falling in place, the once-progressive undertaking was severely affected by the closure of many of its overseas clientele's businesses.

Slowly, too, their work force of 500 skilled workers started to dwindle; until the entire venture collapsed and ultimately closed shop. To make matters worse, she caught her husband having an affair with another woman.

With the marriage on the rocks and their business down the drain, she decided to leave her husband and raise their children by herself. With sales as her forte, she went into several selling schemes to make ends meet. Luckily, her hard work paid off and slowly gained back what the family lost before.

Since that day she decided to be a single parent, Aida never lost steam. She has remained the workaholic she has become, steadily on work mode 24/7.

Despite the challenges thrown her way, Aida forges on against the odds. Behind the smiles is a soul battered by hurt and pain, but wizened and made stronger through the years.

To all single mothers out there, especially those who feel like giving up in the face of insurmountable odds, she encourages them not to give up. Having gone through similar circumstances, she knows how hard times could weigh a person down. She says hope should float eternally. After all, it is not the fall that determines our self worth but how we rise up each time we fall.

Aida is the proud grandmother of four grandchildren: Aicelle (5), Jim (2), Niňa (1), and month-old newborn Cora Jane. In next year's election, she has plans of running for a congressional seat, in her district, through a party list organization.