Couple Edwin and Mercedita Sosa, a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Magallanes, Cavite, knows that the cash assistance from the program is not enough to support their nine children, six are still in school. They work from sunrise to sunset making fans to make sure that they can provide for their needs, especially in helping their children chase their dreams.

 

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THE BUSINESS OF CHASING DREAMS 

Every member of the Sosa Family knows how to make a folding fan—from the preparation of bamboo slats to serve as its base up to the last stroke of paintbrush to give it a final touch.

For them, the fan is not just a tool to cool off from the summer heat. More than anything, it is what they all are holding on to bring them to their dreams.

The Sosa Family is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Brgy. Pacheco, Magallanes, Cavite. They engage in making folding fans in a made-to-order basis.

A big family of nine children, they often struggle to meet their daily needs. The business, which is their only source of income, is often unable to support the needs of a big family no matter how much time each of them contribute to their business. Further, they struggle to save enough capital to keep their business going.

Being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program in 2013 became a blessing for the family not only for answering the needs of their children but also for the good of their business.

“Malaking tulong po talaga para sa amin ang programa lalo na para sa pangangailangan sa school ng aming mga anak. Hindi man ito malaking halaga, nakakatuwang naman namin ito sa pagsagot ng pangangailangan ng mga bata,” shared Mercedita, 45.

 

Improving the family, the business

Edwin, 49, the head of the family, shared that they continuously work hard even with the cash assistance from the program.

“Hindi naman kami pwedeng umasa na lang doon kasi wala talagang mangyayari sa buhay namin. Kaya patuloy kaming nagsisikap para sa mga anak namin,” Edwin shared.

With the program’s help to their children, especially to the three beneficiaries, they are able to allot their income to their other needs as well as ensuring capital for their business.

“Sa FDS ko rin natutunan ang tamang pagbubudget sa pamilya. Kahit konting kita, dapat nag-iimpok ka. Kaya naman mas maayos na ang negosyo namin ngayon. Sinisiguro kong hindi na kami mawawalan ng puhunan para tuloy-tuloy na rin ang aming kita para sa aming pamilya,” Mercedita shared.

The FDS or the Family Development Session is a component of the Pantawid Pamilya program that gathers parent-beneficiaries monthly and teaches them various family enhancement topics including improving husband and wife relationships, understanding the rights of children and proper financial management.

According to Mercedita, it is also through FDS that she found friends. She used to be at home all the time, absorbed in the business. However, attending the monthly FDS allowed her to interact with other people and later help others, too.

“Kapag may lumalapit sa aking ka-member ko at nagpapatulong kung paano kikita sa ganitong negosyo, tinuturuan ko. Iniimbita ko sila dito sa bahay para maturuan ko,” she said.

 

A good future for the family and their neighbors, too

The family business has proven that through everyone’s hard work, it can change their lives even one step at a time.

Today, three of their children have finished vocational courses and have families of their own. One is in college, another is in high school and the rest are in grade school.

“Pangarap talaga naming makatapos lahat sila ng pag-aaral kaya kami ay nagpapakahirap dito. Kahit papaano, gusto naman naming hindi na nila manahin ang trabahong ito o kung meron mang sasalo, kaya nilang paunlarin ito higit pa sa ginagawa namin ngayon,” said Edwin with conviction.

Outside their family, the fan business is also helping some of their neighbors.

“Noon kasi, karamihan sa mga kapitbahay namin dito gumagawa ng barbecue sticks at ibinebenta. Para kumita sila ng mas malaki, tinuruan ko silang gumawa ng sticks para sa pamaypay. Ngayon, sa kanila na kami bumibili ng materyales,” Edwin shared.

Emalyn Macalalad, 39, another beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya, lives just a few meters away from the Sosa home. She now supplies bamboo slats for their business.

“Mas malaki ang kita ko ngayon kumpara noong gumagawa pa ako ng barbecue sticks. Mas madali pa itong gawin, kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila,” Emalyn shared.

Now, Emalyn earns almost double of what she was earning before. Hence, she is now successfully augmenting her husband’s income as a carpenter in supporting their two children.

Edwin and Mercedita, on the other hand, are both happy that besides working to achieve their dreams for their children, they also are helping their neighbors to do the same.

Today, in every fan they make is a dream answered. Together, they will continuously work hard to ensure that their dreams will be realized.***