For the rest of her life, she’ll owe something to the Ayad Family.

Back in 2012, Roselyn Palacio, a neighbor of the Ayad Family, can never be more thankful to them. Nanay Rechell Ayad, 43, her parent leader, has accompanied her to the lying-in clinic when she was about to give birth.

Seeing the pile of laundry Nanay Rechell has to attend to and the four children she has to keep an eye on at that time, Roselyn can’t help but be ashamed. However, she had no other choice but accept the offer. After all, no one was available in her family to accompany her.

This incident introduced her to how selfless this family is and made her look up to them.

“Sobra kong hinahangaan ang pamilya nila at pinapanalangin kong maging ganoon din ‘yung sa amin. Tulong-tulong talaga ‘yung pamilya nila at ‘yung mga anak nila, may pagkukusa,” shared Roselyn, admitting that sometimes, she envies how great this family is.

She added that even if the Ayad Family cannot give her any financial help, what they give to her and her family is far more valuable than any amount they can possibly lend her. It is the inspiration and the guidance she usually gets from them, especially from Nanay Rechell, in facing life and improving her family.

A family determined to move forward

The Ayad Family, a resident of Brgy. Victoria Reyes in Dasmariñas City, Cavite Province, admits to the struggle they have to go through daily. Nanay Rechell’s husband Ronnie, 49, used to work as a Barangay Tanod, which has become their only source of income. Nanay Rechell, on the other hand, is a volunteer community health team (CHT) member.

Admittedly, Tatay Ronnie’s salary was not enough to feed their four children, hence food on the table and school expenses of their children have been a problem. And when Tatay Ronnie lost his job during a change of barangay leaders, they had to think of something to keep the family going. With that, they engaged in a small fruit stand business using his last salary.

Today, the business is their primary source of income and has helped a lot with their daily needs. This business, too, is what they are holding on to reach their dreams for their children.

Their eldest, Krizz, 15, is in fourth year high school and wants to be a seaman. Rochelle, 15, is in Grade 8 and dreams to be a flight stewardess. Chenie Mae, 7, on the other hand, is in Grade 3 while the youngest, Sharmaine, 3, is in day care.

In January 2012, the family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which according to them, has helped them not just with their children’s needs but also with strengthening their family.

Becoming an inspiration

In a gathering of mother-grantees in their community, all of them see the Ayad Family as a picture of a good family who is worth emulating. They share that despite their age and their poor living condition, Nanay Rechell and Tatay Ronnie maintain a good husband-wife relationship and manage to support their children.

For the Ayad Family, however, being an inspiration to others comes as a surprise. For them, they simply keep doing what they ought to be doing as a family and as members of the community with God and each other as their inspiration.

Respecting and supporting each other

All their neighbors share how inspiring it is to see the Ayad couple walk the narrow alleys in their neighborhood holding hands and go to the market together daily, which is very unusual in couples in their neighborhood.

For Tatay Ronnie and Nanay Rechell, the secret to their good relationship is their respect and support to one another. Such values are also what they teach to their children and thankfully results to a harmonious relationship at home.

“Masaya po rito sa bahay namin, maayos po ang pamilya namin, hindi magulo katulad sa ibang bahay na umaga pa lang puro na lang sigawan,” shared Rochelle, 13, the second child.

When it comes to disciplining their children, Tatay Ronnie usually takes charge. However, Nanay Rechell shares that her husband would usually cry secretly after giving a word to his children.

“Sobrang mahal na mahal ko ‘yang mga bata kaya nasasaktan ako kapag napagsasabihan ko sila. Pero hindi namin sila pinapalo, madalas ay kinakausap lang namin sila at ipinapaliwanag sa kanila ang tama sa mali,” shared Tatay Ronnie.

Although the couple admits that their family is divided when it comes to their religious beliefs, it never affected the manner of raising their kids. Nanay Rechell is a Seventh Day Adventist while Tatay Ronnie is a Catholic.

“Kahit magkaiba kami, nirerespeto namin ang isa’t isa. ‘Yung mga bata hinahayaan naming pumili kung kanino sasama. Hindi naging hadlang ang pagkakaiba ng aming paniniwala sa aming samahan, respeto lang talaga,” shared Tatay Ronnie.

One goal, one family

The Ayad Family is thankful for being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Rochelle and Krizz attest how it helped ensure they have enough allowance for school, budget for their school projects and contributions for school activities.

For Nanay Rechell, however, the program has provided them more than just the cash grants.

“Kung tutuusin, ‘yung perang ibinibigay, pwede ‘yang maubos sa isang araw lang. Pero ‘yung moral values na itinuturo sa amin ng programa sa pamamagitan ng Family Development Sessions (FDS), habang buhay naming mapapakinabangan,” she shared.

She added that if there is one thing she owes from the program, it is how it taught her family to improve their living condition.

“Noong barangay tanod pa ang aking asawa, hindi na talaga sapat ang kanyang kita para sa aming pamilya. Sa kaunting naipon namin, nagtayo kami ng maliit na fruit stand sa labas ng bahay namin para may dagdag na pagkakakitaan. Ngayong hindi na s’ya barangay tanod, mas natututukan na namin ang tindahan, nababantayan ang mga bata at natutugunan pa rin namin ang pangangailangan ng mga bata,” Nanay Rechell shared.

Today, their small fruit stand is not just a source of living for the family but is also a symbol of their dedication to strive together and have a better life altogether.

“Nagtutulungan kaming lahat dito sa tindahan. Kapag umaalis s’ya (referring to Nanay Rechell), ako ang bantay dito. Kapag dumating na sa school ang mga bata, naaasahan namin silang magbantay dito, kasi kailangan din naming umalis ng bahay para gampanan ang iba naming tungkulin dito sa aming komunidad,” Tatay Ronnie shared.

As parents, the couple works hard daily to save enough money to improve their business. Their children, on the other hand, commit to be serious with their studies to later help improve their family’s condition.

“Proud po ako dahil may direksyon ang buhay namin kasi lahat kami nagtutulungan sa pagbabantay sa tindahan, sa paglilinis at sa iba pang gawaing bahay, at sa pagbabantay sa mas nakababatang mga kapatid. Kahit umalis sina nanay at tatay, alam nilang maaasahan nila kami,” shared Rochelle.

Serving the community

The Ayad Family is a busy family. Tatay Ronnie and Nanay Rechell work round the clock doing household chores, managing their fruit stand, and recently making doormat as an added source of income. But no matter how busy they are, they still manage to serve their community.

Tatay Ronnie takes time to do his task as the president of the Volunteer Members for Community in the city.  While Nanay Rechell, aside from being a CHT member,  is the parent leader of 34 Pantawid mother-grantees in their barangay. She is also a volunteer parent-tutor in her children’s school, a Parent-Teacher Association General Secretary and a peer counselor on breastfeeding.

“Kahit wala akong sweldo sa mga ‘yan, buong puso ko pa ring ginagawa kasi mas importante sa akin ang pagseserbisyo sa baranggay ko. Sa ganitong paraan, alam kong nakakapaglingkod ang aking pamilya sa aming baranggay,” Nanay Rechell proudly shared.

Gratefully, their family’s service to the community is well-appreciated by their neighbors.

Roselyn Gacaba, who is also a barangay health worker and a member of the community health team, attested how supportive Nanay Rechell is. Roselyn observes that the secret towards Nanay Rechell’s success in serving the community is her family’s support in whatever she is doing.

“Kami dito, nagtutulungan lang talaga. Sa hapon n’ya madalas ginagawa ang mga responsibilidad n’ya sa baranggay dahil nasa bahay na ang mga anak namin na tumutulong sa akin dito sa tindahan at sa gawaing bahay na maiiwan n’ya. Suportado namin ang isa’t isa dahil nauunawaan namin kung para saan ang ginagawa n’ya,” Tatay Ronnie shared.

For the Ayad Family, their support to one another is what makes them better, which is their primary goal. The inspiration they give to others is just an add-on. But nonetheless, they are happy that as a family, they are not only moving towards the good life they are dreaming of, but they are also helping other families achieve the same.***