Aside from teaching parent-beneficiaries how to be a better and responsible, the family development sessions (FDS) being conducted under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program also serves as the support group and and source of strength for parents who are in special circumstance. This includes solo parents who regained their confidence through FDS.***
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THE GLORY OF BEING A SOLO PARENT
If there is one good thing about being a solo parent, Flordilona Malipol says it is becoming a stronger parent.
Flordilona, a resident of Brgy. Olo-olo in Lobo, Batangas Province, is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. She has two children who are supported by the program for their health, nutrition and educational needs.
She shares that though being a solo parent is difficult as all the responsibilities are on her shoulders, it is something she now sees positively.
“Nagagampanan ko nang maayos ang aking responsibilidad sa mga anak ko kahit mag-isa ako, at iyon ay hindi ko dapat ikahiya. Iyon ay dapat kong ipagmalaki,” Flordilona shared proudly.
Finding confidence in being alone
Flordilona admitted that she used to view her life negatively the moment her husband left him.
“Bumaba ang tingin ko sa sarili ko kasi hiwalay ako sa asawa ko. Nawala rin ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko dahil marami akong naririnig tungkol sa sitwasyon ko mula sa ibang tao,” she shared.
No matter how hard she was dealing with emotionally, Flordilona continued being a responsible parent to her children. She does not receive any support from her husband; hence, she worked hard to provide them their needs.
Being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program helped Flordilona a lot with the finances at home. However, she is more grateful as to how the activities she attends to as a beneficiary of the program molded her into a more confident person.
“Simula nang dumalo ako sa mga activities ng Pantawid katulad ng buwanang pag-aaral at pakikihalubilo sa mga tao, unti-unting nabuo muli ang tiwala ko sa sarili. Hindi pala dapat bumaba ang tingin ko sa sarili ko dahil sa sitwasyon naming mag-anak,” she shared.
Getting her self-esteem back allowed Flordilona to be a happier person. Much more, it made her become more confident in her abilities to help her children get out of their current living condition.
Learning as a parent
Being a solo parent, Flordilona knows that she has no partner to consult to when it comes to dealing with her children. The monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) allowed her to learn from the topics and learn from other parents like her.
The FDS is a monthly gathering of parent-grantees of the Pantawid Pamilya program and is one of their co-responsibilities as beneficiaries of the program. It is a venue for teaching various topics related to family development including basic financial management, child care, health and nutrition and husband-wife relationship among others.
“Nadagdagan ang kaalaman ko sa tamang pagpapalaki ng mga anak ko lalo’t higit na mag-isa lamang ako,” she shared.
Working double for the children
Her confidence in herself and learning brought by the FDS has inspired her to help her family get up.
“Dahil sa suporta ng Pantawid sa mga pangangailangan ng mga anak ko lalo na sa school, nakakaipon ako at napapaikot ko ang puhunan sa aking pagtitinda,” said Flordilona.
She is hopeful that all her hard work will be viewed by her children as an inspiration to dream bigger for themselves and see their situation like she does.
“Napatunanayan ko na ang kawalan ko ng asawa ay hindi hadlang para magampanan ko nang maayos ang aking mga tungkulin bilang isang magulang,” she shared with pride.
For her, what makes her a stronger parent now is the knowledge that every responsibility of a better future for her children is on her shoulders. With this, she vows she’ll do everything to make them experience a better life. When this happens, she knows all the glory will be on her, and this makes her more inspired to move forward.with reports from ACGuerra, Municipal Link***