06/02/2026
โญ Profile in Mercy โญ
๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ผ was born and raised in Gingoog City, Philippines. At an early age, she felt that she would become a sister someday. Her grandmother, Perfecta Ballero, "was there to witness my first profession.โ โ
Others were important to her decision, including her cousin, Sister Elizabeth Ballero, and Sister Virgencita Alegado, both Sisters of Mercy. ๐
Sister Derby entered the community in 2000, made her first profession in 2004 and her final profession in 2007. Before she entered, she had a bachelorโs degree in business administration. Since then, she earned a masterโs degree in religious spirituality and educational management.
Around the time she made her first profession, she ministered as an indigenous people apostolate and social action ministry coordinator in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay and would continue for three years. That time was life changing.
โI was assigned to indigenous people in one of our mission areas in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay. The people there taught me a lot about how to be with God. ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ, ๐๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐. So, when I had that experience before my final profession, I really said โyesโ because of these people and the way they live, along with the sisters.โ ๐
๐บSister Derby loves blue, adores animals, especially dogs, and enjoys tending to the flowers in the community garden. She lives in the community with four pet dogs. ๐พ
One of her favorite foods is a fruit with a thorn-covered rind called โdurian.โ It is known for its strong and pungent smell. โIf you like durian, it tastes like heaven but if you donโt like it, it tastes like hell,โ she says. ๐ โItโs only grown here in Mindanao. Most of us like it because of the smell.โ
