When everyone else sees poverty as a downside, one child sees it as an inspiration.

John Red Custodio, 12, of Brgy. Bendita II in Magallanes, Cavite regards the difficulties in their lives as his motivation to work harder in school. For him, without such struggles, he will not know what to escape from and what better life he can dream of.

“Inspirasyon ko po ang kahirapan namin ngayon para mag-aral ako nang mabuti. Kung hindi ko pag-iigihan, hindi kami makakatawid sa mas magandang buhay,” he shared.

John Red’s high regards to education came from what is instilled by his parents. Growing up in a family where his parents have struggled since childhood, he was always reminded of the good opportunities that seem elusive for them because of lack of education.

 

The Family’s Wealth

Nanay Rowena, John Red’s mother, admits as to how difficult life is. Although she is used to living frugally, it breaks her heart to see her children suffering. As much as possible, she does not want her children experiencing the same struggles she have encountered in her childhood. So whatever she cannot give them financially, she gives them love and care.

“Yung asawa ko, nag-aarawan sa paglilinis ng may bukid. Nag-uuwi sya ng P200 sa isang araw. Yung ipangkakain nya sa trabaho, ibabawas pa doon. Hindi talaga sapat ang kinikita nya para suportahan ang pangagailangan ng buong pamilya, lalo na ang pag-aaral ng mga bata,” Nanay Rowena said.

John Red shared his own struggles, too. He relayed how he experienced going to school for a month without any allowance. Even so, he did not miss a day. For him, it is more important that he is able to acquire new knowledge in school.

Their financial challenges at home made John Red and the rest of the family regard education highly. Nanay Rowena and husband Tatay Juanito instill to all three children that education, coupled with hard work and determination, will lead them to a better life one day.

“Pinagpapasalamat ko na lang sa Panginoon na biniyayaan kami ng matatalinong mga anak. Yung talino nila, talagang pinagyayaman naming mag-asawa kasi alam naming yan ang magdadala sa kanila sa tagumpay basta magsikap lang sila sa pag-aaral,” she shared.

Nanay Rowena added that the medals and diplomas her children bring home every end of the year makes them wealthy enough.

“Kahit kumain kami nang walang ulam, yung pagsisikap ng mga anak ko ang tagumpay naming mag-asawa,” she added.

With the coming of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2010, the family can never be more thankful. As young as John Red is, he acknowledges how the program has helped the whole family, especially in enriching their knowledge.

“Noong naging benepisyaryo po kami ng Pantawid, malaking kaluwagan po sa amin kasi hindi na babawasin sa kita ng aking mga magulang ang mga gastusin sa school. Lagi na rin kaming may pambaon, pambili ng projects at pambayad sa mga contributions,” he shared.

 

Staying Strong as a Family

With life’s challenges, the Custodios live simply. However, all of them treasure such life as long as they are together as a family. Their being together makes everyone capable of enduring life’s struggles.

Nanay Rowena and Tatay Juanito have also shaped their simple family to be a model of good behavior in their community. Through showing their three children love and care, they expect them to follow their lead.

The couple is active in the community, even prior to being a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya. Both of them take part in community activities such as clean-up drives. They enjoin their children to volunteer services too mostly during school activities such as Brigada Eskwela. Now that Nanay Rowena is a Parent Leader in their neighborhood, she has become more active and has initiated more community activities herself.

Like education, health is of great importance for the family, too. Nanay Rowena makes sure to serve nutritious foods on the table daily with what she can get from their budget.

John Red also shared how her parents became stricter with their sleeping and eating habits. Through Family Development Sessions conducted as part of the conditions of Pantawid Pamilya, Nanay Rowena has learned to value their health more and to guide them better.

“Hindi na po kami madalas bumibili ng junk foods at hindi na rin po kami hinahayaang manood ng TV nang late sa gabi. Sabi ni nanay, yun po ay para sa kalusugan namin,” John Red said.

John Red willingly follows such changes, seeing the importance of taking good care of their health as well. For him, being sick will mean more expenses for the family and potentially hinder their daily activities in school and so as the achievement of their dreams.

Moving forward, John Red has a lot of dreams and so as the rest of the family. He would want to be civil engineer while his brother John Roy wants to be a soldier. Kyla, on the other hand, wants to be a teacher. Nanay Rowena and Tatay Juanito dream nothing but to see their children be what they are dreaming to be. Their dreams have been a constant reminder for all of them to work hard and not waste a single minute. As early as now, the couple is saving for the future of the children, especially that John Red is in high school now. The three children, on the other hand, study hard and never miss a day in school.

With higher hopes now, no one regrets the struggles they all have been through. Like how John Red sees it, the Custodio Family is thankful for such experiences because for all of them, success will taste sweeter for them as a family with all the bitter things they went through and were able to endure.(NJMM)***