When his parents told him to stop from his schooling, he went silent.

John Michael Enriquez, 13, a resident of Brgy. San Rafael IV, Noveleta in Cavite Province, completely understands why his parents cannot support his education anymore. If his parents cannot afford paying for a second meal every day, he knows they cannot afford paying for his school expenses, too.

“Tumahimik na lang po ako, wala naman akong magagawa kasi bata lang ako,” shared Michael.

Looking back, his secret job of scavenging for recyclable materials so he can earn something to support his school needs seems to have been wasted.

“Gusto ko po talagang mag-aral dahil paulit-ulit na sinasabi sa akin ng mga magulang ko dati na baguhin ‘yung kapalaran namin dahil ako ang panganay sa apat na magkakapatid. Kaya naghanap ako ng sariling mapagkakakitaan at hindi na lang pinapansin kapag wala akong baon o nagugutom ako pagdating sa school,” John Michael said.

His parents’ decision broke his heart, but he kept thinking of being in school. Gratefully, he found hope with the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

A new beginning

John Michael saw a new beginning when his family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program in 2012.

The Pantawid Pamilya program is a human capital development program of the national government that supports the needs on health, nutrition and education of children age zero to 18 belonging to qualified poor families. The said support comes in a form of a cash grant, which is provided to family-beneficiaries upon compliance to their co-responsibilities with the program including 85% monthly school attendance of children and monthly attendance of parent-grantees to Family Development Sessions (FDS) among others.

With the cash grants provided by the program, John Michael is able to afford school supplies, submit projects on time, not to mention that his family became able to eat three times a day. His school performance also improved. In fact, he is one of the top students in his class.

With him able to go to school without fail and complete the requirements assigned to him, John Michael cannot be any happier. Still in Grade 4 today, he is more determined to push forward to help his parents change their way of life for the better.

Better parents

Before, John Michael would compare himself to street children, who roam the streets to look for food and provide for themselves. However, the coming of the Pantawid Pamilya program not only provided him with a chance to be in school again, but also a chance to have better parents who won’t allow him to suffer again.

“Nakita ko ang pagbabago sa ugali at pakikitungo ng mga magulang ko. Ngayon, pinag-uusapan na nila ang lahat ng bagay. Hindi na sila tulad nang dati na away na lang nang away,” John Michael shared.

John Michael added that he saw that his parents have also become more responsible when it comes to supporting their needs. Both his parents began working harder and even promised to continue sending them to school no matter what their situation is. His father Rennieboy, 26, who works as a laborer, gets whatever job is at hand to support the family.

“Dahil sa programa, naging matapang akong mangarap para baguhin ang aming buhay. Natutunan ko na responsibilidad naming mga magulang na suportahan ang aming mga anak lalo na sa pag-aaral para maging maayos ang buhay nila,” shared 31-year-old Leslie, John Michael’s mother.

According to Leslie, the monthly FDS that she attends as part of her co-responsibilities with the program taught her a lot of lessons, especially in being a better and more responsible parent.

“Hindi nasasayang ang perang ibinibigay sa amin ng gobyerno dahil nagsusumikap kami para mabago ang  aming buhay,” Leslie added.

For John Michael, having more responsible and supportive parents give him the confidence that it’s possible to achieve his dreams. And for him, he’ll do everything, even if it means scavenging again, to change their lives for the better. with reports from LJerusalem, Municipal Link***