The story begins after “I Do’s”

When two people vowed before God about loving each other and staying for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health – those were not supposed to be mere words only. Marriage is not simply a ceremony or a ritual for the union between two people; it is a commitment made to last a lifetime.

In the 21st century, there was a palpable increase of divorce in other countries and a longer queue of annulment cases in the Philippines. People are becoming unhappy because marriage is not always easy and happy like how all fairytales end.

Most common reason for a failing marriage is money, which is second to extra-marital affairs. According to Shellie Warren, a writer and marriage expert, “everything from different spending habits and financial goals to one spouse making considerably more money than the other, causing a power struggle can strain a marriage to the breaking point.”

One client, however, of Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), Inc. (A Microfinance NGO), Mary Grace Balakid, shared her secret to happy, contented married life through overcoming financial struggle.

“What one needs in marriage is to understand each conflicting perspectives and to accept each other’s weaknesses. A couple should always think that they are one even in budgeting and other financial needs,” said Mary Grace, 38, from Gamut, Barobo, Surigao del Sur.

Since 2010, Mary Grace and her husband Jimmy are both clients of CARD, Inc., a social development organization that offers microloans to support the livelihood activities of the socio-economically challenged women and their families.

Since then, they both learned the art of wise investment and financial management, which they admittedly said was of great impact on their marriage. In fact, it was Mary Grace’s husband who insisted on joining CARD, Inc. “I heard that CARD, Inc. provides a wide range of benefits and microloans and micro-savings products,” Jimmy added.

Joining CARD, Inc. made the couple find an open door to start up a business. The first loan of Mary Grace, which only amounted to three thousand pesos, was used in opening a sari-sari store and Jimmy started to drive a motorcycle for commuters. They are now able to provide the needs of their five children and send them all to school.

“But no marriage will be strong enough if this will not go through many challenges,” shared Jimmy. When their third child was hospitalized due to high fever, which almost caused his death, the couple kept their promise to stay ‘in sickness and in health’. Even if Mary Grace was not able to open her sari-sari store, Jimmy doubled his hard work to cope up with their needs.

“Amidst all the challenges we have encountered, we still believe that we are contented with what we have and of course, we are happily married,” declared the couple.

At present, Mary Grace opened another business, a videoke station, near their store and Jimmy is always a support to what she wanted to do. From a loan of 3,000, it now goes up to 25,000 due to the need for a higher business capital.

Indeed, for a couple to reach the point of becoming selfless, they must dream each other’s dream. Their eyes tell two different souls who found a love that had withstood the test of time. Two different souls who have become one along the journey.