Sister Elenita Belardo of the Religious of the Good Shepherd congregation is continuing her work with poor farmers and tribal people as head of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
The year was 1977 and Elenita Belardo was fresh from formation as a missionary nun.
There was excitement in her steps as she walked for five hours, crossing a river six times, to the mountains of the northern Philippine province of Isabela.
With five other nuns of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, Sister Elenita was on her way to work in a tribal community in a forest.
“We were young and full of energy,” she recalled. “We were in search of adventure,” she said.
