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Rescuing someone is only the very first step; the true work lies in helping them rediscover their own power so they can stand tall on their own two feet once more. – Susan Pineda

Fear had shrunk my world until it felt impossibly small and my safety and self-worth were completely shattered. At 17, my parents forced me to marry someone who they saw could lift us from poverty. The person turned out to be my abuser.

My friends and teachers helped me escape my abusive parents and partner. They contacted a non-profit organization for abused women to seek help on my behalf. I was becoming suicidal.

Overwhelmed by trauma of the escape, I crouched panicking under an office desk inside the headquarters of the Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation.

In Kapampangan, Ima means “mother”—a fitting name for an organization built to shelter, defend, and heal abused women and children. Sitting in the dark corner of that room, frightened and lost, a hand reached down toward mine. It belonged to Susan Pineda, the founder and driving force behind the foundation. She didn’t just pull me out from under that desk – she brought me back to a life I thought was gone forever.

That single gesture said everything about who Susan is. As a devoted advocate and passionate feminist, she has spent decades protecting vulnerable women and children across local communities.

I know this firsthand because she guided me through every step of my own recovery—I went through the same painful process as the other victims she takes care of every day. Her work does not rely on speeches or public praise; it lives in direct, daily action.

Operating on the frontlines, Susan guides survivors through court proceedings, arranges emergency shelter, and steps directly between victims and the dangers threatening them. For years, her work at the IMA Foundation has confronted an unspoken crisis in our communities: the silence, shame, and isolation that trap survivors of domestic abuse.

“Rescuing someone is only the very first step; the true work lies in helping them rediscover their own power so they can stand tall on their own two feet once more,” Susan would always say.

When she took on my case, her support went well beyond giving me a temporary place to stay. She offered steady legal guidance, constant emotional grounding, and a protective presence when I was too terrified to face what was happening. As a professional and a compassionate person, Susan provided a complete path toward safety, healing, and justice.

Through police reports, medical checkups, and legal proceedings, she turned a chaotic crisis into a manageable path forward. Watching her handle complex and dangerous situations with resolve and empathy taught me that genuine advocacy isn’t just about safety—it’s about restoring a person’s dignity.

I learned about Susan’s own harrowing story of abuse and how she turned that pain into a lifeline for other hurting women proved that personal suffering could become a deep purpose.

Susan reshaped my core values, teaching me to listen to survivors without any judgment—reminding me that people often just need someone to listen—and showing me how to stand up and speak out against abuse for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The person I am today—in my personal life and my career—came directly from the seeds Susan planted when I was at my lowest. She didn’t just save me from a terrifying moment; she helped me rebuild my life from scratch.

She gave me a job, secured a scholarship for me to finish nursing school, and welcomed me as a volunteer at IMA from 2005-2009. Working with her taught me lessons no classroom could ever teach.

Through her calm strength, steady support, and clear values, Susan showed me how to step out from the shadow of trauma and dedicate my life to lifting others.

Looking back at that day under the table, I realized that her hand reached out to do far more than comfort me in a moment of panic. It proved that no matter how broken we are, healing and recovery are possible.

Today, as I share my story and advocate for others, I carry Susan’s lessons with me. She taught me that true strength is quiet and kind, that justice is worth the fight, and that every survivor deserves to live free from fear. I am deeply grateful for her presence in my life, and I am proud to honor her legacy by passing that same light to those who need it most.

(About the writer: Maan Samson is a Case Manager at Ing Makababaying Aksyon (IMA) Foundation, Inc. in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. She is currently working to publish her memoir. She is a pioneering cohort of the Masterclass in Writing and Journalism with Dr. Marivir Montebon in New York City under the auspices of Awesome Media Ltd. and Women’s Immigration & Communications Cafe.)

This Women’s Month, the IMA Foundation is honored to spotlight Taylor, a woman who turned a season of brokenness into a lifetime of mission.

Taylor is a woman of many talents and titles. In the professional world, she excels as a Freelancer and a Digital Marketing Director (Photos 5 & 6), navigating the fast-paced digital landscape with precision and creativity. But out of all the roles she plays, there are two that champion her heart above all else: being a Missionary and a Women’s Rights Champion.

The Breaking of the Silence

Taylor’s path to advocacy was paved through a valley that few truly understand. Long before she was a leader, she lived through the suffocating reality of an abusive relationship (#R.A. 9262). For years, her world was shaped by a toxic dynamic that sought to dim her light and silence her voice. She has carried the invisible scars of physical and mental battles, surviving a season where “home” was no longer a sanctuary.

The Purpose in the Pain

But survival was only the beginning. Taylor chose to take those shattered pieces and build something indestructible. While her career keeps her grounded in the digital age, her soul is anchored in her service. As a Solo Parent, she is the primary architect of her children’s future. As a Missionary and Volunteer Teacher, she travels to the edges of society to remind the forgotten that they are seen.

Now, as a volunteer for the IMA Foundation, she stands as a Women’s Rights Champion because she has been there herself. She doesn’t just speak about resilience—she lives it. She uses her history as a shield for other women, ensuring that no one has to navigate the darkness of abuse without a hand to hold.

She is still fighting. She is still serving. And today, we celebrate Taylor: a professional, a mother, and a survivor who found her true mission in the very storm that tried to break her.

In celebration of Women’s Month, the IMA Foundation is honored to feature a woman whose life is a testament to quiet courage and selfless service: Michelle.

To many, Michelle is the heart of the Missionary Congregation. As a dedicated volunteer staff member and a passionate Homeless Advocate, she doesn’t just provide aid; she provides a blueprint for dignity. She works in the silent spaces where the world often looks away, ensuring that those who have been forgotten by society are seen, heard, and valued.

Michelle wears many hats: she is a Mom of 3, an Educator, a Choir Member, and a steadfast Volunteer. She juggles school mornings, homework, and bedtime with outreach schedules, lesson plans, and choir rehearsals—balancing the demands of motherhood with a deep commitment to service. Her ministry is a daily choreography of care, faith, and perseverance.

Her journey as an Educator has always been a ministry of presence. Whether in the classroom or the community, she has spent years anchoring the dreams of others. But while she was busy teaching the next generation how to find their footing, she was navigating her own “silent storm”—a path that required a strength no lesson plan could ever describe.

Her voice, usually raised in guidance, finds its ultimate sanctuary in the Choir. For Michelle, serving the Lord through music is not a performance; it is a shield. In the harmony of the Benedictine community the noise of the world’s expectations falls away, allowing her to breathe through the chapters of her life that were once written by others.

Michelle is a Victim-Survivor (#R.A. 9262). Her path to advocacy began in the painful silence of a safety that was stolen by those closest to her—a betrayal of trust that happened within the very walls where she should have been most protected. She understands the profound isolation of standing alone when the people meant to be your sanctuary become the source of your deepest scars.

But Michelle refused to let that silence define her. She transformed her survival into a lifelong Aksyon. As a Teacher, a Mom, and a Volunteer, she fights every day for the rights of the vulnerable, ensuring that no one else has to navigate the shadows alone. Her resilience is not loud; it is a steady, unbreakable song of service that refuses to be silenced. Through the IMA Foundation, she proves that while trust can be broken, a woman’s spirit—bolstered by faith and community—is truly indestructible.

She is still fighting for her rights. She is still serving. And today, we celebrate her as a mother, a mentor, and a pioneer of her own healing.