Seeing all her medals she took home from several of her Palarong Pambansa stints on the table, Jenna’s eyes are filled with pride. But little by little, tears swell down the 14-year-old’s eyes as she shares how decided she is to finish her studies.

“Kapag nakatapos po ako at kumita ng maraming pera, bibilhan ko po si mama ng mga damit, kasi hindi na sya nakakabili ng para sa sarili nya,” she said with a tear.

A few yards away, her mother Herminigilda “Hilda” Jamero, 41, cannot hide her tears hearing her youngest child’s words. For her, raising Jenna and her two other children, who all have mental disabilities, to be accomplished, loving and dedicated children has been the best point so far in her life. Nanay Hilda can never be any prouder, if only her husband is alive to share her joy.

“Proud na proud ako sa kanila as a nanay,” Nanay Hilda shared.

 

Getting a hand

Nanay Hilda, a resident of Brgy. Natatas in Tanauan City, Batangas, does not complain about the condition of her children. In fact, she is doing her best to provide for them so no one would feel the emptiness that their late father left behind.

She narrated how their life was a lot more comfortable when her husband was around. When he passed away, Nanay Hilda found her life upside down. Worse, with her health not at its prime due to a recent surgery, she cannot get a good-paying job to support all of them. 

Just when she thought she is at the brink, Nanay Hilda found hope through the helping hand of the national government. In early 2012, they have become a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program where Jenna, her youngest, was the sole child-beneficiary covered by the program.

The grants from the program have been a lot of help for Jenna’s educational needs. She shared how she has managed to support her daily transportation expenses to school and other miscellaneous fees for Jenna’s classes. She is able to buy vitamins for Jenna, too. With the program supporting most of Jenna’s needs, Nanay Hilda is able to save some of her income for their other needs and to pay for the school expenses of her two other children.

Nanay Hilda is also grateful that some of the grants have supported Jenna in her interests, especially in sending her to tournaments. Supporting her children to run for the gold and see their happy faces when they get home make Nanay Hilda more than just proud of being a solo mother.

 

Medals, education and the future

Jenna is a slow learner and is currently enrolled in a Special Education class. Her eldest brother has mental retardation while her sister has late mental development condition. However, what they lack in school performance they get even with their strengths in sports. All three children have brought about hundreds of medals from various special sports tournaments playing relays, 100-meter-dash, long jump and discus throw.

Despite their mental challenges, Nanay Hilda’s three children, especially Jenna, are very enthusiastic about going to school. This is true even if they have to walk some parts of their way to school.

Nanay Hilda, having known how important education is, continuously encourages her children to school. She has nothing more to ask but to have all of them finish their studies and get a job like all other grownups.

“Sa mga anak ko, ibang klase ng pagpapalaki ang kailangan. Sila inaamo, hindi pinapagalitan. Kapag may nawawalan nang loob pumasok, lagi kong inaamo para makumbinsi silang pumasok ulit,” she shared.

With Nanay Hilda’s desire to give her children education, she works hard every day. She farms string beans on a neighbor’s land for free and she also takes care of a few cows owned other people for extra income.

Nanay Hilda can never be more thankful that despite raising three special children alone, she has Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program on her side. Next year, as Jenna turns 15, Nanay Hilda understands that they’ll no longer be a part of the program. But she is positive that with her determination, her children’s drive to succeed in their lives and the lessons she learned from Pantawid Pamilya, they’ll all live a life similar to what normal people experience. Like the medals they consider as a treasure, the success and happiness of her children are Nanay Hilda’s source of pride, happiness and inspiration to work harder and dream bigger for her children.***