IN A QUIET home in Barangay Sta. Teresa in Jordan, Guimaras, love grew not through blood, but through compassion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment.
For Ma. Sheila “Bebet” G. Gange, becoming a mother was once only a dream — a longing she carried deep in her heart for many years. Single and focused on her career, she knew that motherhood would not come the traditional way. Yet despite the uncertainties and challenges, she never let go of her desire to nurture and raise a child of her own.
Today, at 58, Gange proudly stands not only as a public servant but also as a devoted mother to two adopted daughters who transformed her life in ways she never imagined.
One of her daughters is now a 21-year-old Computer Science student at Central Philippine University, while the other, 29, has already graduated with a degree in Social Work and is now happily married. To Gange, their achievements are more than milestones — they are living proof that love and commitment can create a family as strong as any bound by blood.
Her journey into motherhood began unexpectedly when a struggling mother from Metro Manila entrusted her with a five-year-old girl named “Heart.” Moved by compassion and her natural affection for children, Gange welcomed the child into her home and raised her as her own.
Although Heart already had a birth certificate and could not immediately be legally adopted, the experience awakened an even deeper desire in Gange’s heart — to one day have a child she could legally call her own.
That opportunity came in 2004 when a relative approached her about adopting a baby girl. At the time, Gange was 38 years old and working as a language and cultural instructor for international organizations such as JICA, KOICA and United States Peace Corps (USPC).
For years, she had wanted to adopt, but the process was difficult and often discouraging for single individuals in the Philippines.
Still, she took the leap.
She named the child “Sam.”
As a single parent, Gange knew the road ahead would not be easy. She understood early on that she would have to serve as both mother and father to her daughters.
That reality influenced one important decision — she chose to adopt girls because she believed it would be more difficult to raise boys without a father figure.
Despite being raised in a non-traditional household, her daughters grew up surrounded by love, faith, and acceptance. Gange made sure they understood their situation honestly while reminding them that although they did not have a father beside them, they could always turn to God for guidance and strength.
“You may not have a father, but Papa God is your father,” she would often tell them.
Her immediate family also embraced the children warmly, making them feel they truly belonged. Even after learning at an early age that they were adopted, both daughters remained loving, respectful, and understanding.
For Gange, the greatest blessing was not simply becoming a mother, but witnessing the kind of women her daughters had become — kind-hearted, intelligent, and deeply rooted in faith.
While many people tell her that her children are fortunate to have her as a mother, Gange believes the opposite. She considers herself the lucky one. The joy, fulfillment, and unconditional love her daughters gave her filled spaces in her heart she once thought would remain empty forever.
“I’m always grateful to God,” she shared, reflecting on the unexpected journey that led her to motherhood. “They brought so much happiness into my life.”
This Mother’s Day, Gange hopes fellow adoptive parents understand the depth of responsibility that comes with raising a child.
For her, adoption is never something to be taken lightly.
“It is not a game,” she said. “You are talking about a child’s life and emotions. Commitment must come with all your heart and soul.”
She also emphasized the importance of never making a child feel unwanted, warning adoptive parents against words that could leave emotional scars.
At the same time, she encourages adoptive children to embrace their situation with acceptance, gratitude, and open communication. After all, families are not defined solely by bloodlines. Sometimes, they are built through courage, sacrifice, and the simple decision to love.
Today, Gange is in the process of completing the legal adoption papers for Heart after Philippine adoption procedures became more accessible. Meanwhile, the adoption process for Sam was successfully completed last year.
For Gange, however, legal documents merely formalize what has long been true in her heart.
She has always been their mother./PN
