For more than 25 years, housewife Lydia Patron has spent most of her days at home and has always been contented. For the past two years, however, she realized that she may not be doing enough for her family and failed to dream bigger for her children.

Lydia, 42, a resident of Brgy. Suba in Majayjay, Laguna Province, knows that their life before is not the most comfortable and convenient since their family of six relied on her husband’s income as a farmer. However, she shares that since they are eating three times a day, she felt there’s nothing to worry about.

When her family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2013, Lydia understood that there are a lot of things she can do for her children rather than being contented to the life she and her husband Ronald are providing them.

For Lydia, it is not too late yet to dream bigger for her children.

The importance of education

Of Lydia’s four children, only her youngest child Jimuel, 15, is still in school. The three older ones have finished high school and have either started their own families or are working as factory workers.

“Mahina talaga ang loob ko noon na magpaaral sa kolehiyo dahil wala naman talaga kaming mapagkukunan,” shared Lydia.

As a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program, Lydia began learning the importance of educating her children.

“Kahit isa sa mga anak ko, wala pang nakatuntong ng kolehiyo. Ngayon ko naiiisip na kung pinag-aral ko pala sila, baka mas maayos ang buhay nila ngayon at maayos ang buhay na maibibigay nila sa kani-kanilang pamilya,” she said.

Realizing this, Lydia felt she has to make a move.

“Ngayon, kahit na lang sa bunso ko ay makabawi ako. Susuportahan namin s’ya hanggang makatapos sa kolehiyo sa abot ng aking makakaya,” Lydia shared with conviction.

Doing her share

Jimuel, who is in Grade 10, is the only child-beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program in their family. With this, they receive PhP1,000 cash subsidy per month that helps answer most of Jimuel’s needs in education and health.

However, Lydia knows that for them to be able to achieve their dreams of a college education for Jimuel, she needs to work on the dream, too.

“Kasama ng ibang mga residente rito sa aming barangay, umattend ako ng iba’t ibang skills training na isinasagawa ng provincial government. Naging interesado ako sa mga training dahil alam kong matutulungan ko ang sarili kong makapaghanapbuhay,” she shared.

Today, Lydia knows several crafts such as recycled paper flowers, paper beads and straw bags. She makes them in a made-to-order basis and now earns Php1,000 at most a week, although not regularly.

She also joined a group of women who make graham balls, a delicacy they supply to school canteens in their town. This gives her family a more stable source of income aside from what her husband brings home as a farmer.

With these, Lydia is more confident now that she can help her youngest get a better life. For her, there is no better feeling of contentment than knowing she is doing something to change the course of their life in the future.#