Producer Spotlight: Liezel Quismorio of FCED

As one of eight siblings, Liezel Quismoro dreamt of a better life. She left her hometown of Makato, Aklan with high hopes of bettering her lot in life. She came to Manila to study programming at STI but abandoned the dream of becoming an IT professional when she realized that encoding and programming was not for her.

Instead of being in front of computers, what Ate Liezel really wanted was to be in front of a sewing machine. She wanted so badly to learn how to sew but failed to get into the free training in TESDA. She ended up working for an aunt instead who sold clothes and who taught her basic sewing skills.

It was seven years ago that she joined FCED. Eventually her sewing improved and she learned additional skills like beadwork which she learned form Firma owner Lito Vijandre and rag- weaving which she is learning from Rags 2 Riches.

She expresses her gratitude to Gifts and Graces for helping them find work and marketing their products. She says more people should buy from Gifts and Graces to help poor families like hers.

Ate Liezel is one of five women from FCED who make the tarp bags for Market! Market! Aside from the bonding that they do while completing their sewing tasks making tarp bags allow  them to buy essentials for their kids. Making the tarp bags for Market! Market! Also allows her to earn an income from home while looking after her four kids. Three of her children are in school, she's hoping she could send her third child Ronel to school too. Maybe like his younger sister Rahzel, Ronel could be awarded first honor as well.

She dreams of one day owning a small house and lot in Laguna or Las Pinas where she could be close to her aunt and where her children can have better access to schools. With your help in providing her with a steady income through your support of Gifts and Graces, Ate Liezel's dream could still become a reality.