“Sapat lang para makasulat ng pangalan yung natapos ko pati yung asawa ko kung kaya’t nagsisikap talaga kami, para maging mas mabuti ang buhay ng mga anak namin,” shared Sherlita Lacostania, a Pantawid beneficiary in San Narciso, Quezon.***

 

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Every afternoon, the Lacostania couple hurries to feed their livestock, trying as much as possible to finish the job just before the sun completely sets.

Worn-out by the day’s activities, Jolita and Sherlita Lacostania concentrate on the job at hand, popping a conversation or two every now and then. Only when they have attended to everything, they can finally take a rest and prepare for another day. They both work nonstop for aside from the livestock, they have 11 children to feed daily.

The couple started their family with just a boat and a fish net. From Leyte, they have moved to San Narciso in Quezon Province where they have dreamed for a better life and made ways to chase it.

Jolito, 57, engages in both fishing and farming. Sherlita, 50, helps him as much as she can, mostly in attending to their livestock. She also makes brooms out of coconut leaves and sells them for 10 pesos each.

In 2008, the family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which supported most of the needs of their younger children on health and education.

Working hard for the family

Both Jolito and Sherlita are thankful for the cash assistance from the program, but they remained working hard for their children. For both of them, it is through hard work that they can successfully improve their lives, and not just relying on anyone particularly the grants provided by the program.

“Sapat lang para makasulat ng pangalan yung natapos ko (she finished grade 3), pati yung asawa ko (he reached only grade 1). Kaya nagsisikap talaga kami, para makabawi kami sa mga anak namin,” shared Sherlita.

Through hard work, the couple managed to support the family’s needs. They give more focus, however, on sending their children to school as they both know it is their children’s key to improve their lives.

Sherlita admitted that the cash assistance from the Pantawid program eased their financial burden, at least for the education of the younger ones. As a result, they were able to support the education of the older ones and even send them to college.

This school year, one of their children is going to college. Jolito is very positive about sending her in one of the universities in the nearby town. For him, he will give his all to ensure that she gets the education she needs so she can acquire skills to help improve her life in the future.

“Naniniwala kami sa pagsisikap para sa ikauunlad ng pamilya namin,” shared Sherlita.

Extended opportunities for the children

Their family, upon validation, is among those who are benefitting from the latest expansion of the Pantawid Pamilya program, which is the continued support for child-beneficiaries to finish high school. In the said expansion, beneficiaries will continue receiving cash grants until the child-beneficiaries reach 18 years old or finish high school, whichever comes first.

The couple is grateful to the extended support, especially that their youngest is just four. Supposedly, the family has graduated from the program in December 2013 since they already finished its five-year term.

“Masaya ako noong nalaman ko na na-extend ‘yung programa para sa mga anak ko,” shared Sherlita.

For her, the extended support of the program is another opportunity for the rest of her children to learn and build their dreams. It also inspired them to work harder and dream bigger for their family.

“Kami ng asawa ko, kahit matatanda na kami, nagsisikap pa rin talaga kaming magtrabaho para sa mga anak namin.  Kapag nagsisikap ka, makakaahon ka sa mga problema,” a positive Sherlita shared.

With the sun setting and their tasks accomplished, the couple can finally take a break for the day. Tomorrow will be another chance for them to dream, work hard and chase every opportunity that awaits them—all for the good future they are eyeing for their children. with reports from KLim UPLB***