“Tuloy tuloy po ang aming pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga para maabot ang mas magandang buhay kapalit ng napakaraming tulong na aming natanggap,”  shared Marilou Banta in front of the staff and partners of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-A during the celebration of the Department’s 64^th Anniversary.

 

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THE TRUE MEASURE OF “CHANGE”

In a street full of motor vehicles, 49-year-old Marilou Banta rides her bicycle not minding the heat and the dust. Despite the fatigue of pedaling the eight-kilometer distance from their home to the school, she is determined to reach her only goal—to make it to the elementary school on time so that her youngest child won’t be late for her class.

With two other children in school (one in high school and one in college) at that time, Marilou’s family cannot afford losing even the seven-peso jeepney fare.

“Palitan po kami ng mister ko araw araw sa paghahatid sa kanya sa school sa pamamagitan ng pagbibisekleta. Pangingisda lang ang aming ikinabubuhay kaya ‘yung ipambabayad namin sa jeep, ipinapabaon na lamang namin sa kanya,” Marilou shared.

Despite the struggles to support the daily needs of the family, especially the children’s school needs, Marilou shared that she and her husband Vill are determined to educate their children. According to her, it is through education that their children can change the course of their lives in the future.

Being disciplined

Marilou would share that their being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program helped their family a lot. The family was registered into the program in 2012.

The cash grants not only assured that they can already afford a tricycle service for their youngest, but also for the other needs on the health and education of their children.

However, what Marilou is more thankful for is how the program taught her about discipline.

“Marahil ang the best na natutunan ko dito ay ang pagkakaroon ng disiplina sa sarili sa paggamit ng pera. Natutunan ko na gastusin nang tama ang pera at unahin ang mga pangangailangan ng mga bata upang sila ay mabigyan ng tama at sapat na pagkain at ng tamang edukasyon,” she shared.

Marilou added that this discipline allowed her to find more confidence in their ability to provide a better life for their children.

“Matapos man ang programang Pantawid, di matatapos ang aming pagsisikap. Sa napakalaking tulong ng gobyerno, mas lalo kaming magsusumikap para bigyan ng edukasyon ang aming mga anak dahil iyon lamang ang makapagpapaalis sa kanila sa kahirapan,” Marilou firmly stated.

Today, her husband works as a poultry caretaker and she helps him raise hogs for extra income. She is proud that her three elder children have finished at least two-year vocational courses and have stable jobs now.

Change outside her family

In her everyday struggles to pedal her way to and from the school, Marilou has known even the little corners of their barangay. She has noted out-of-school youths who engage either in senseless gossips or gambling. She felt lucky that her children are not among them since she is determined to send all of them to school. However, this does not stop Marilou from dreaming change for these youths.

“Noong dumating ang Kalahi-CIDSS JSDF sa aming barangay para magbigay ng skills training sa mga kabataang mahihirap, isa ako sa mga naging volunteer dito,” Marilou shared.

The Kalahi-CIDSS Livelihood Project for Vulnerable Urban Poor Communities, which is funded by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF), provides employment and livelihood opportunities to urban poor communities through small-scale development projects and skills training.

In Brgy. Zapote V, skills trainings conducted include food and beverages servicing, dressmaking, shielded metal arc welding and computer hardware servicing. At least 50 out-of-school youths have benefitted from the said opportunity.

“Nakita ko talaga ang pagbabago sa aming komunidad, nagkaroon ng direksyon ang buhay ng mga kabataang dating nagsusugal o nagtitsismisan lang. Mayroon na silang maayos na mga trabaho at ‘yung iba ay nakapag-abroad pa,” she shared with pride.

For Marilou, seeing the change in her community is the true measure of the “change” this country is envisioning. Her family’s living condition may have improved, but the collective improvement of all the families in their community brought by the different government programs is a stronger proof of “change.”

For this change, Marilou can only say thanks but she can do so much more.

“Tuloy tuloy po ang aming pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga para maabot ang mas magandang buhay kapalit ng napakaraming tulong na aming natanggap,” Marilou shared—a commitment she knows she’ll never fail—in front of the staff and partners of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office IV-A during the celebration of the Department’s 64^th Anniversary last February 17.***