Giselle General “Pains and Possibilities”

“You’re not the only one who suffers, You’re not the only one who cried. Your suffering will end. You can do this! Failures and doubts, it bothers the mind. These are just trials. Don’t stop the fight. Don’t surrender and just fight" - unknown

October 31, 1999, Giselle earned a label, “ulilang lubos”, meaning “full orphan”. She was heading home with her family to their mining village in Philex Mines, Benguet, Philippines, when the vehicle rolled. Most of the passengers died but Giselle's mother was able to to save her, and her father able to save her younger brother. Unfortunately her parents and her sister did not survive. After the accident Giselle's relatives came to care for them and she assisted her grandmother to earn a living by managing their small store.

Giselle recalled when her parents were still alive, they would help her with schoolwork every night, and inspired her belief in the power of education, they were always supportive. Having gone through this tragic event she earned the label of ‘survivor ’but also became a “nurturer”. Ultimately, she was a provider and comforter for her brother while also trying to care for herself.

In 2007, Giselle came to Canada at age 16, and it was a bittersweet event. She left behind her brother in the Philippines as they were sponsored one at a time due to financial costs. But coming to a new country meant a new start to life and she could escape from the memories of a trauma she had of a relative who sexually assaulted her and the accident. It was freeing to know that an entire ocean separated her and those relatives.

On the brink of her new journey she reminded herself of what she was – a survivor. Set with a goal to further provide for herself and brother she went on to overcome the barriers in her path. Initially she was told to take English as Second Language classes simply because she was new to the country and was placed in Grade 12. Despite these challenges she went on to excel, graduate, and attend the University of Alberta. While at University she was a full-time student, worked 32 hours a week, and was simultaneously working on sponsoring her brother to Canada.

After completing her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, her career in the non-profit sector blossomed. She began working to help individuals who could not afford lawyers. She embraced opportunities to help in the community, from joining her neighborhood's community league board, being on a volunteer citizen board to improve public transit, volunteering as a columnist for Edmonton’s Filipino ethnic newspaper, donating her hair and blood to help those who are sick, and sewing fabric to reduce single-used plastic usage.

Where is she now?

Giselle was 25 when she first wrote a goal to run for public office, and now at 30, she is turning that dream into a reality! Giselle is running for Edmonton City Councilor in the upcoming Fall 2021 election. If she is elected, it would be a historical accomplishment as she would be the first BIPOC and Filipina woman elected into city council. There are many challenging obstacles for someone who didn’t grow up in Canada, who doesn’t have powerful political connections, and for someone who speaks English as a second language. These challenges are what motivates her to work harder to be an elected representative of everyday Edmontonians.

Giselle chose the title for this story, Pains and Possibilities, because in 2014 she wrote an article called Pains and Possibilities of Being Parentless. She wants you to know that in life, there are many pains, small ones, big ones, devastating ones but there are always possibilities to turn those into something better. We do this for ourselves, our loved ones, and for our community.

This is an adaptation of Giselle's bio submission

Other Source: https://www.ecfoundation.org/blog/stories-of-success/