“Poverty is not a hindrance to success” — a truth exemplified in the life of Natividad as she lived by it throughout her life.
Born on November 12, 1953, Natividad was raised in Gulon, Ambiong, La Trinidad, Benguet. Her parents, James (Ngican) Bulayo Balungay from Tangadan, Poblacion, Kibungan, and Nena Anniban Balungay from Bakun, Benguet, were uneducated yet hardworking.
Though the family lived in poverty, it was rich in love, and as the firstborn of eleven children—Natividad, Luis, Ramon, Domingo, Renato, Sario, Narcisa, Teresita, Dolores, Freddie, and Emily—she carried many responsibilities from an early age.
To help cover their daily expenses, Natividad worked alongside her parents and older siblings, farming and collecting wood to burn into charcoal. In the late 1960s to early 1970s, while she was still in elementary and then high school, she and her mother became roving vendors, selling “uling” or charcoal and vegetables door-to-door along Aurora Hill in Baguio City.
Without electricity at home, they used “saleng”—or resin-rich pinewood or petroleum gas—to light their small family house. The smoke would fill the air, clinging to her clothes and leaving her with soot-streaked skin and smoky garments. Often, she would go straight to school after selling charcoal and vegetables, and her teachers would scold her for the dirt on her face and the lingering smell of smoke on her clothes.
She was often bullied by her classmates, especially the rich, as she did not have money and nice clothes to wear in school. Because she did not have money to buy food and “merienda” in school, her “baon” was usually “kamote” or sweet potato. For her viand, she would have “lumsek”, a local variety of mushroom.
It was along Parapad in the mountains connecting Ambiong and Aurora Hill where she traversed by foot daily from home to school and vice versa. There were still no public utility vehicles plying the route from Ambiong to Baguio City during that time as the road connecting these places was still undeveloped. The people had to walk the trail by foot to Aurora Hill where there were jeepneys going to town.
When wood carbonization was banned by the government, Natividad and her family turned to growing everlasting and baby’s breath plants for their flowers as an alternative source of income. However, their earnings were still insufficient, so she also helped relatives and neighbors by stringing everlasting flowers—and became known for her speed and skill—to earn extra money. Eventually, they started making strawberry jam at home to help make ends meet.
The money Natividad and her siblings earned each day went to their daily sustenance, but supporting a large family proved difficult. When their earnings fell short, they would seek financial help from relatives. Some gave them what little they could spare, while others turned them away. Despite these challenges, the family kept going. Their perseverance paid off, and Natividad eventually enrolled at the Baguio Colleges Foundation (now the University of the Cordilleras), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce, specializing in banking and finance.
Despite her modest circumstances, Natividad was a natural Igorota beauty who captivated many suitors. Though she attracted plenty of admirers, she was resolute in her commitment to her family; as the eldest of eleven children, her priority was to get them out of poverty, so she politely turned down proposals.
She was even nominated as a candidate for the Miss BIBAK (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga) pageant in 1973. Initially, she hesitated to join because of financial constraints, but the late Jovita Camacho Danganan, a former elementary school teacher who saw her potential, encouraged her to compete and even offered to sponsor her, providing her the clothes, sandals, and other things she needed for the contest.
Grateful for the support, Natividad accepted. She fondly recalled introducing herself with humor and pride as “Natividad Balungay from the Municipality of La Trinidad, Benguet, the land of strawberries and everlasting flowers!” Against all odds, she was crowned Miss BIBAK 1973. Her friends and fellow candidates playfully teased her, urging her to invite them to her house for a celebration. However, since their family house was small and her family could not afford to have even just a simple celebration, she politely declined the request to hold a party.
Natividad dreamt of going abroad. But in order to raise the needed funds, she had to go from one relative to another to borrow money. Others extended some help while others ignored her. Worse still, when she approached a rich neighbor, they criticized and mocked her, saying she was too ambitious, that her parents were too poor and did not have the means to send her abroad.
Undeterred, Natividad took it as a challenge, becoming even more determined to prove that neighbor wrong. She searched for ways to raise the needed funds, eventually borrowing money from different relatives. Finally, she was able to leave the Philippines in 1975 and arrive in Italy as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW). Once employed, she worked hard to pay off her loans gradually.
She first found work in Italy as a maid. Living among everyday people who served the wealthy, she was introduced to Italian high society. She saw “marquesas” in person, often accompanied by attendants who held parasols to shield these noblewomen—and even their pets—from the sun. From her earnings in Italy, she was able to send money to her family which they used to build their first small but decent two-story family house.
Her search for greener pastures led her to Geneva, Switzerland, where she continued working as a maid. To cover the high cost of living, she took on multiple part-time jobs. In one of these jobs, while she was not feeling well, she suffered a near-death accident: while cleaning a window, she lost her footing and nearly fell until she fainted.
A friend, also a Filipina, rushed to her side, shaking her and saying, “Naty bumangon ka, hindi ka pa pwedeng mamatay! Naty, may pamilya pa tayong tutulungan!” (“Wake up Naty, you can’t die yet! Naty, we still have our families to help!”). These words brought her back into consciousness as she was reminded of her family, the very reason why she went abroad. Although she didn’t come home for almost three decades, she never lost touch with her family, regularly sending remittances to support her siblings and parents.
When she had her live-in full-time job as a maid, instead of resting during her free time at night, Natividad would quietly borrow and read her employer’s books and study materials. These were preparation materials for the United Nations (UN) examination.
Her employer eventually took the exam, and so did Natividad. Time passed, and one day, the phone rang. The caller asked for Natividad Balungay. Her employer was shocked to learn that her maid had passed the exam, while she herself had not. That moment marked the beginning of a new bright chapter in Natividad’s life.
Since her lady employer did not pass the UN examination, she and her family had to return to their country. The apartment where she used to work as a maid was left her and was eventually turned over to her when the concierge learned about her life story. The rent remained unchanged, as the concierge was so inspired by Natividad’s achievement of passing the UN exam while working as a maid.
To them, she was a woman of integrity who deserved kindness, respect and special consideration. Natividad paid this kindness forward by opening the apartment to other Filipinas seeking shelter. In a way, the apartment became a refuge for women working overseas, a place of support for those laboring in Geneva to provide for their families.
Natividad began her career at the United Nations in Geneva in 1985 as a secretary under the General Services Category at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Being a hard worker, she steadily worked her way up, eventually being promoted to the position of publications assistant in the same department.
In the “Trade and Development Report, 1981-2011: Three Decades of Thinking Development,” published by the UNCTAD Secretariat, she was acknowledged for her dedicated administrative support to UNCTAD’s activities over the course of three decades, alongside her colleague, Bridie Lewis. The document is available online via https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/gds2012d1_en.pdf.
Throughout her tenure, Natividad contributed to a variety of projects that supported the UNCTAD’s mission of fostering global economic development. She played an instrumental role in the publication and dissemination of reports, research papers, and policy briefs that addressed key issues, such as trade, sustainable development, and economic policy.
Her meticulous work ensured that vital information was accessible to policymakers, academics, and global stakeholders.
By organizing and overseeing the production of these materials, she helped ensure the smooth operation of the organization’s communications efforts, making important information available to the public and contributing to the achievement of UNCTAD’s goals.
Her knowledge of the English language, plus Italian, French, and Spanish, enabled her to do her work with ease and efficiency. Her work in the UN gave her the opportunity to help others, such as her siblings and their families, cousins, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, other relatives, neighbors, and even strangers.
Her heart to help others and her generosity were boundless—she was the bridge for other people to achieve their own success and build a better life than what they used to have. It also gave her the opportunity to see the world as she was able to enjoy traveling, learning about other cultures, and connecting with different people from diverse backgrounds.
She became a big advocate for philanthropy and for professional development. Natividad retired from UN work in 2013 after nearly 28 years of service, leaving behind a legacy of impactful publications that have been cited by scholars, policymakers, and professionals worldwide. She retired because she wanted to prioritize her family, especially her elderly ailing mother, and to stand as a second parent to the sons of her youngest sibling, Emily, who became a solo parent after the father of the two young boys left.
Natividad returned to the Philippines in 2013, enjoying her well-earned retirement in the home they called the “Round House” with her family.
It was during her tenure in the UN that she found true love in her husband, Felix T. Villanueva, a native of Victoria, Tarlac. Their love story began when Felix’s cousin, Tika—a friend Natividad had met in Geneva—invited her on a trip to Paris. There, Natividad caught a glimpse of Felix from behind and they fell in love at first sight. And just like that, their love story unfolded in the City of Love. Before long, they got married in Paris and began their life together in Geneva.
Though they were childless, they shared an enduring love for one another and extended that affection to the children of their siblings. Through thick and thin, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, Natividad stood by her husband. When Felix suffered multiple vehicular accidents and later endured more than seven years of hemodialysis treatment due to Stage 5 kidney failure, Natividad remained steadfast in her care until the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic when Felix was infected. Natividad went to the hospital every day, ensuring that Felix received the best care possible. Despite all her efforts, however, Felix ultimately succumbed to death on February 16, 2022.
Natividad was kind, selfless, and generous—whether as a wife, a sister, a daughter, or in every other role she embraced. She had a big heart, always eager to help those in need and to make a positive impact on the lives of others whenever she could.
As a career woman, she understood the significance of hard work and ambition. Driven by a desire to empower others, she aimed to be a bridge for people to achieve success and realize their dreams.
As a family woman, she cherished family above all else. Family time and devotion were central in her household, and she instilled a sense of community among her loved ones. For her, everyone in the community was family, and helping each other was a shared responsibility. She lived by this principle, generously assisting her siblings, relatives, and neighbors. Her support extended beyond words; she even helped some of her siblings find opportunities abroad, so they, too, could work towards a brighter future for their families.
As a woman of faith, she believed deeply in the power of God in every success story, acknowledging that without God, she would be nothing. Grateful for her blessings, she never forgot to give thanks and share her blessings with others. Her faith extended into action—she helped fund the rebuilding and establishment of churches, believing that God should always come first.
Manang Naty’s story is an inspiring journey of resilience. Despite facing overwhelming challenges, she broke barriers and redefined the path to purpose and success. Her life illuminates the universal truth that, with courage, perseverance, and a strong faith, poverty is not a hindrance—it is a stepping stone to greatness.
I am proud to say that the remarkable woman behind this story is none other than my eldest sister, NATIVIDAD BALUNGAY-VILLANUEVA.
To God be the glory for all the great things He has done for our family!
