A 75-Year-Old’s Mountain Trek for Water

Today, I watched a powerful episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho on YouTube called “Lola, Buwis-Buhay na Umaakyat sa Bundok Para Lang Makapag-Igib ng Tubig.” It featured Lola Matilde, a 75-year-old woman from Sitio Calibasan, Toledo City, Cebu, who treks through steep mountain trails every day just to fetch water. Alone. Unprotected. Carrying nothing but a plastic container and a lifetime of quiet strength.

Because of her age and limited strength, she can only carry two to three small gallon containers, carefully placed in a bayong that she carries on her back. She treks up and down the mountain with that load, navigating slippery paths and sharp rocks, just to bring home enough water for the day.

Watching her story again today, I felt a deep ache in my chest. At her age, Lola should be resting, surrounded by loved ones. But she has no more family, tumandang dalaga (elderly woman who never married and has no children), her relatives have already passed away. She lives alone, and every day, she fights to survive. She climbs that mountain not just for water, but for life itself. It’s as if she’s holding on until the very last drop of her strength.

That episode aired on May 2, 2021. Now, four years later, I can’t stop wondering: How is Lola Matilde today? Is she still alive? Is she still making that dangerous climb? Did anyone help her? Did the government finally address the water scarcity in Sitio Calibasan?

Sadly, there are no recent updates about Lola Matilde or her barangay. No news confirming whether her situation has improved. And that silence is heartbreaking. It makes me think of how many elderly people live alone, quietly struggling, their stories untold and their needs unmet.

One line from Lola Matilde stayed with me: “Daginuton ang tubig oy, imbes na iyabo, ipanghugas pa.” (Save the water—instead of throwing it away, I can still use it for washing). This story made me realize how important water really is, especially for communities that don’t have enough. And here I am, wasting clean water from our faucet because of a leaking pipe near our water meter. I haven’t fixed it yet, and I know a lot of water is being wasted somewhere around our house. It’s frustrating to think that our water bill used to be ₱400, but now it’s gone up to ₱2,000 per month. I promise to update you once I finally get the pipe fixed today. I’m really sorry. As I work on fixing our leaking pipe today, I carry Lola’s story with me, not just as a lesson, but as a promise to do better.

In Sitio Calibasan, people rely only on rain to collect water. When it doesn’t rain, they have nothing. They say they are thirsty, not just for water, but for action from those in power. That line hit me hard. It’s not just about water, it’s about being heard, being helped, being seen.

I’m truly thankful to Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and the entire GMA Public Affairs team for featuring this kind of problem in the community. KMJS has always been known for telling real stories, raw, painful, and honest. By showing Lola’s daily struggle, they didn’t just inform viewers, they gave a voice to the voiceless. They reminded us that behind every remote barangay is a Lola, a Nanay, a Tatay, quietly enduring, waiting for change. Their storytelling sparks empathy, and hopefully, action.

Water is something many of us take for granted. We turn on the faucet, and it’s there. But for Lola and many others in rural areas, it’s a daily battle. Some walk for hours, climb hills, or pay for expensive deliveries, just to get a few gallons of water. It’s not just inconvenient, it’s unfair.

Lola’s story is more than just a feature on a Sunday night show. It’s a mirror. It shows us what we often overlook: the quiet suffering of those who live on the margins. Her courage is a call to action. Clean water should be a right, not a risk. No one, especially not a 75-year-old woman living alone, should have to trek through mountains just to drink a glass of water.

To Lola Matilde: thank you for showing us what true strength looks like. You are a hero. And your story deserves to be remembered, shared, and acted upon.

If anyone knows what happened to Lola or her community in Sitio Calibasan, Toledo City, Cebu, please share. Her story still matters.

Photo Courtesy of GMA Public Affairs

You can watch this episode in GMA Public Affairs' Youtube Channel.