When she learned to save, a lot of things have changed.

Ana Grace Bañez, 34, a resident of Brgy. Laiya in San Juan, Batangas Province, never thought that saving even a little from her and her husband Renato’s income would help change their life.

Ana usually engages in vending fish and snacks in their neighborhood while Renato works as a carpenter. With their combined income, Ana admits that they usually struggle to make ends meet especially that they have four children.

“Kahit ‘yung pambaon ng mga bata sa school, namomroblema pa ako. Madalas, pinapangutang ko pa para lang may panggastos sila,” she shared.

However, when she started saving, she no longer has to worry for their everyday expenses. For this, she thanks the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for opening her eyes. According to her, she learned that despite their financial struggles, proper budgeting of their resources will help them manage their life better.

 

The value of saving

In 2010, the Bañez Family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program.

Ana understood that the program is to help the family support the educational and health needs of her children. However, she became more thankful to how the program led them to a better situation.

“Sa mga FDS ng Pantawid, natutunan ko ang tamang pag-iimpok at paggamit ng pera. Ito’y nagamit ko para mas maging maayos ang buhay namin,” Ana shared.

The FDS or the Family Development Session (FDS) is a component of the Pantawid Pamilya program that teaches parent-grantees on various topics including strengthening marital relationships, rights of children, positive disciplining and budget management among others. Attendance to the monthly FDS is one of the parents’ co-responsibilities with the program.

She started to budget their finances better and learned to save what little is left from the cash grants and their income.

“Nakaipon talaga kami lalo na at hindi na namin kailangang kunin sa kita naming mag-asawa ang mga pangangailangan sa school ng mga bata,” she added.

With their savings, they managed to buy a cow. A year after, they sold the cow and used the money, combined with a loan from a small lending company, to buy a second-hand jeep, which her husband now uses for transporting goods to and from their barangay to the town proper. So aside from his job as a carpenter, Renato is able to bring more income to the family with the help of the new investment.

“Dahil na rin sa maayos na paggastos namin ng aming kita at sa suporta ng programa sa aming mga anak, nakapagpatayo na rin ako ng maliit na tindahan. Ngayon, dito ko na kinukuha ang lahat ng pangangailangan sa bahay,” Ana said with pride.

 

A better provider now

“Dati, ang pangarap ko lang talaga ay magkaroon ng sapat na kita para masuportahan ang mga anak ko. Ngayon, gusto kong makatapos sila para magkaroon sila ng maayos na buhay,” she shared.

With all these welcome change in their family, Ana feels more confident that she can finally help her children have a better life.

“Patuloy kaming magsusumikap na mag-asawa para masuportahan ang pag-aaral nila. Natutunan ko rin sa FDS na dapat bigyan ng sapat na edukasyon ang mga bata para hindi sila matulad sa amin,” said Ana.

For Ana, the Pantawid Pamilya program has indeed become a good partner for their family.

“Malaki ang naitulong ng perang natatanggap namin mula sa programa pero hindi namin piniling umasa na lang sa Pantawid Pamilya. Ginawa naming gabay ang programa para mas maging maayos ang aming pamilya at lagi naming isasabuhay ang mga itinuro sa amin ng programa,” she shared.

And for Ana, had she not learned the value of saving and spending wisely, her family may still be in the same situation where even their next meal is a big problem. With this, she can never be more grateful.#