“Yung mga anak ko, sinasama ko sa trabaho. Pero hindi para magtrabaho,” shared Tatay Delio Rañola, a father of six, from Brgy. Zone III in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.

Admittedly, Tatay Delio knows how hard their life is. However, despite the difficulty of providing for all the needs of his family of eight, he does not push his children, all are boys, to work and help him find a living for them.

“Sinasama ko sila kasi gusto kong makita nila kung paano ko sila binubuhay, kung gaano kahirap ang buhay,” he added.

For Tatay Delio, who works as a welder, allowing his children to see how hard it is to earn a living will make them appreciate the life they are giving them and make them work harder to get out of the situation they currently are in.

He wasn’t mistaken at all. His technique of teaching his children has proven effective. Today, all six of them are in school and all are studying hard towards achieving their dreams in the future.

The family’s views on education

Tatay Delio and his wife, Nanay Agnes, both understand the importance of sending all their children to school. Tatay Delio shared that it is his frustration to finish until college, but life’s circumstances made him unable to do so. Nanay Agnes, on the other hand, believes that it is only through educating their children that they can guarantee a better life for them.

However, Tatay Delio’s part-time jobs cannot afford much of the needs of the family, much more the education of their children. Nanay Agnes struggled to do laundry jobs and other housekeeping tasks to augment Tatay Delio’s income. There were even times when Tatay Delio did not have a job for a month or two, leaving the family relying on Ate Agnes’ daily earnings of around P200 to P300.

“Madalas absent kami sa school. Hindi namin nakukumpleto ang isang linggo,” shared Darell, the couple’s youngest child.

Nanay Agnes relayed that she oftentimes ask her children to miss school, especially if she cannot buy breakfast for them.

“Kasi naaawa ako sa mga anak ko. Pag gutom silang umalis dito, nakatunganga sila sa klase habang kumakalam ang tyan nila. Wala rin silang matutunan, useless lang ang pagpasok nila,” she shared.

Other times, she’ll prioritize any of her children who’ll have to take a quiz or pass a project. For the latter, her heart will usually be broken when her children will prefer not going to school because they do not have a project to pass in the first place.

Despite the difficulty, Tatay Delio and Nanay Agnes did not keep their children off school. Thankfully, they were chosen beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in December 2012 and from then, the couple found new hope that finally, their children will no longer be suffering going to school with an empty stomach and with no money for fare, projects and contributions.

“Dati pumapasok kami ng walang laman ang tiyan pero ngayon umaalis na kami ng bahay nang busog. Lagi na kaming pumapasok at hindi na kami nakakamiss ng mga lessons. Mas matataas na ang grades namin at nakakasali pa kami sa mga extra-curricular activities,” shared Jason, one of the three Pantawid beneficiaries in the family, and is an honor student in his high school.

Louie, the other beneficiary aside from Jason and Darell, considers education as the key towards a better life for all of them. Hence, he does his part by studying hard and ensuring his parents’ efforts will not be a waste.

“Kami, pinapayuhan namin silang mag-aral at magtapos hindi para sa amin. Ang sa amin lang, para kapag nagkapamilya na sila, hindi na ganitong buhay ang ibibigay nila sa mga anak nila,” Tatay Delio shared.

Today, the couple’s eldest son is in college and they are determined to support the other five until the end. The couple is just thankful that now that they do not have to worry about three of their children’s need in school, they can save enough every month to pay for their three other sons’ expenses in school.

“Kailangan talaga magpursige ka kasi nakikita mo yung mga bata pursigido sila, nakikinig sila kung ano ang sinasabi namin sa kanila,” Ate Agnes shared.

Their place in the community

Nanay Agnes can attest to being a nobody in their community. She would even recall how their neighbors would gossip about them, especially about how hard they are struggling. However, the coming of Pantawid Pamilya gave them a name in the community.

“Noong naging parent leader ako, ginawa ko nang mabuti ang trabaho ko. Nakita kong nirespeto ako ng mga tao. Kahit yung mga hindi benepisyaryo. Sa katunayan, nakilala ako ng kapitan ng baranggay sa pagiging parent leader ko. Doon nya ako binigyan ng pagkakataon na magsilbing barangay health worker dito,” she shared.

Tatay Delio sees the same respect his family receives now. The children are also very thankful. Louie said he can be a lot prouder with his parents now, especially his mother. He said she knows a lot of things now from health care to household management.

Through the Family Development Sessions Nanay Agnes attends to, she has learned things from budgeting, time management and improving her relationship with her husband. As a parent leader and a barangay health worker, she has managed to contribute to various community activities. She even was one of the initiators of practicing waste segregation and convincing the barangay council to ban gambling in the community.

Moving forward, the family no longer wants to suffer the fate they had before. Hence, they all are doing their responsibilities for the family. All the children put education as their priority and both Tatay Delio and Nanay Agnes do not waste a minute to save for the family. No one forgets God for guidance.

“Yang pamilya ko, yan ang buhay ko. Kulang kapag wala sila, kahit may pera,” shared Tatay Delio.

On the other side of their home, a couple of feet away, Nanay Agnes cannot agree more. For both of them, it is their responsibility as parents to make sure the family they started will sooner get the taste of a better life.(NJMMayor)***