Girlstown Philippines, Class of 1991
Before I met the Sisters of Mary and Fr. Aloysius Schwartz, I lived in the Philippines in deep poverty. I was the youngest of ten children. We had no house of our own. Many days, we ate rice and soup. We were street vendors, selling whatever we could to survive.
At the time, I did not feel “poor.” I had never seen another way of life. I had never been exposed to wealthy people. I thought our life was normal.
Everything changed when my mother learned that my cousins were studying for free at a private Catholic school run by a priest and nuns. They received an education, meals, and a place to live. When she heard that, she sent me to stay with my cousins so I could be considered by the Sisters of Mary.
I arrived full of excitement. The Sisters celebrate their foundation day on the Feast of the Assumption, which is also my birthday. Every year, my birthday was celebrated, and that made me feel deeply loved and valued.
What I treasure most are the values the Sisters formed in me: humility, a life of prayer, and respect for others. I did not graduate from high school with honors, but later in college, I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Science and Math.
After high school, I felt pulled in two directions. I wanted to serve the Lord as a Sister. I also felt called to teach. I chose teaching because I love working with children. I want every child to dream and to work toward real goals.
I have taught for 28 years, first in regular classrooms and now with students who have special needs. I have earned both a Master’s degree and a Doctorate. Today, I teach in Topeka, Kansas, and I also serve as a part-time graduate professor at the University of Perpetual Help in the Philippines.
In gratitude, I continue to help in any way I can. I support the Sisters of Mary through donations, and I help organize fundraising efforts for World Villages for Children. My hope is that my story will inspire future Sisters of Mary alumni to continue dreaming and reaching their dreams, and to change their lives through the Sisters of Mary and the inspiration of Venerable Fr. Aloysius Schwartz.
May God bless us all.
Dr. Asuncion L. Lalo