Nedelyn Manalo is greatly touched that someone cares.

“Nakakatuwang isipin na ang mga mahihirap na katulad ko ay hindi pala basura. Pinakikialaman at pinapahalagahan pa rin pala kami ng pamahalaan,” a happy Nedelyn shared.

Nedelyn’s family of Brgy. Biga in Lobo, Batangas Province is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program since 2010. For her, it is through this program that she found hope—that it is not too late yet for their family to experience a better life. For this, she can never be more thankful.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a core social protection program of the national government that is implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It provides conditional cash grants to qualified poor families in support for the needs on education, health and nutrition of children age zero to 18.

 

Starting change

“Noon, nakuntento na lamang ako sa kung ano ang kinagisnan namin. Kapag may lagnat ang mga bata, sa albularyo na lang dadalhin at umaasang sila’y gagaling,” she shared.

Admittedly, she is not able to provide for all the needs of her family, especially her children. Her husband works as a fisherman and barely takes home enough money for the family. She, on the other hand, stays at home taking care of the children.

Being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program helped the family mostly with their finances.

“Hindi na problema sa amin kapag may mga contributions sa school ang mga bata dahil bawat payout, sinisiguro kong nakalaan ito para sa mga pangangailangan nila,” Nedelyn shared.

More than the financial help from the program, however, Nedelyn is greatly changed by its teachings. Through the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS), a lot of her views have changed.

The FDS is a monthly gathering of parent-grantees that teaches them various topics such as household management, child rearing, strengthening marital relationship and disaster preparedness among others. The attendance of parent-grantees to these monthly sessions is one of the conditions of the program in exchange for the cash grants they are receiving.

“Dahil sa FDS, naramdaman ko na may pag-asa pa pala,” she shared.

 

Kaya ko ang pagbabago

For Nedelyn, the change in their life started when she began caring for the health of her children. She already brings them to the health center for checkups. Further, she is thankful that there are nurses who go straight to their barangay every month since the program started, which makes monitoring the health of their children more convenient for them.

The FDS also taught her to dream bigger for the family. She started with saving some of her husband’s income to allot for their other needs.

“Kami ng aking asawa ay nagsusumikap upang mas mapalago pa namin ang aming kabuhayan para mas lalo pa naming masuportahan at maibigay ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng aming mga anak,” Nedelyn shared.

A couple of years back, they bought and raised a cow, which they sold to help with their family’s needs. With good budget management, Nedelyn and her husband were able to make a bigger investment. Today, they have three cows and also have hogs and chickens.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa programa dahil iminulat nito ang aming mga mata sa pagbabago,” she shared.

She can’t hide how grateful she really is and vows that even when they no longer are beneficiaries of the program, she’ll never forget what the program taught her in improving their lives.

“Dahil sa Pantawid, kaya naming tumayo sa aming mga paa nang hindi nangangambang kami’y muling madadapa. Kaya naming malagpasan ang kahirapan,” Nedelyn shared with conviction.

If someone has cared for poor people like them, for Nedelyn, it is just right to strive harder every day to experience a better life. They may have struggles, but never forever. with reports from LMEspiritu, ML – Lobo, Batangas***