As servants of God, the Gojo Cruz Family knows how to live modestly.
The family, whose head is a pastor, has learned the art of appreciating every blessing, even if it means they cannot have all the material things the rich can afford. However, this does not stop them to dream.
But like every good servant, they dream not just for themselves.
“Katulad ng pagtulong sa amin ngayon ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, pangarap naming marami rin kaming matulungan sa paraan na alam namin,” shared Pastor Victor, 41, a father of four boys.
Since 2010, the Gojo-Cruz Family, a resident of Brgy. Suba in Majayjay, Laguna Province, has been a beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Being a good example
“Nagsisimula ang lahat ng pagbabago at pag-unlad sa bawat pamilya. Kaya dapat, nagsisimula tayo sa pagpapatatag ng bawat pamilya,” shared Pastor Victor, who is the founder of the Newlife Community Christian Fellowship in their community.
As a known pastor, he ensures that what he teaches to the members of their church is reflected in their family life.
“Andun talaga ‘yung pagtutulungan sa pamilya namin. Kaming mag-asawa ay nagtutulungan sa pagpapalaki at pagdidisiplina ng mga anak namin,” shared Nanay Sherlyn, 48.
As what is posted in the family’s humble home, they follow eight rules from the bible, which, according to them, is the secret to a happy family.
- Always be honest
- Count your blessings
- Forgive and forget
- Be supportive to one another
- Be kind and tenderhearted
- Keep your promises
- Comfort one another
- Love one another
As a result, they have raised their children to become humble, kind and God-fearing.
Jamlech Iram, 15, the eldest of the children, shares that he also acts as a good model for her younger siblings.
“Bilang panganay, pinapakita ko sa kanila ‘yung mga mabuting actions para sundin nila ako,” he shared.
Jamlech Iram’s responsibility as the eldest also does not stop at home. He also excels in his classes and is a consistent first honor, a student-leader and an active participant of a lot of co-curricular activities. According to Nanay Sherlyn, Jamlech Iram’s accomplishments in school also inspire the younger boys—Jhoram Aziel (13), Jeuel Nathan (11) and Jathniel Edrei (7)—to do well in their respective classes.
The children’s drive to excel in their classes keeps inspiring the couple to value the education of their children and continue dreaming for them.
“Bilang pastor, naniniwala po kami na God will provide. Pero hindi naman pwedeng magrerely lang kami sa mga “love gift” mula sa church,” he shared.
To support the future of their children, Pastor Victor worked as a Barangay Secretary for several years. Just last March 2015, he was employed as an Administrative Aide in the Municipal Planning and Development Office of the local government unit of Majayjay.
Nanay Sherlyn also found ways to help her husband with the finances. She engages in several small businesses such as making graham balls, repacking candies and dealing perfumes.
The children are also aware that they can do their share in helping their parents. More than being responsible with spending their daily allowance, Jeuel Nathan and Jathniel Edrei sell candies and other delicacies to their classmates in school.
“Nagpapasalamat rin po kami sa malaking tulong ng Pantawid Pamilya dahil halos 40 percent ng gastusin ng mga bata sa school ay nasasagot na nito. Patuloy kaming nagsisikap para maitawid ang aming pamilya,” shared Pastor Victor.
Caring and sharing
Despite their humble life, the Gojo Cruz Family remains firm with their real “calling”—which is to help all the families in their community to get a better quality of life.
As part of their obligations in the church, they teach good values to the community based on the teachings in the bible. As part of Laguna Province’s Moral Recovery Program, Pastor Victor and Nanay Sherlyn have been engaged in teaching good values in schools and offices in the municipality. Jamlech Iram, on the other hand, has already been active in teaching children his age during Sunday Bible School.
Besides their obligations in the church, the family extends help to the community through lobbying and sourcing for livelihood trainings not only for the residents of their barangay, but also for other communities in the municipality.
Lydia Patron, 42, a resident of Brgy. Suba and a Pantawid beneficiary, shared how Nanay Sherlyn, who is also their group’s parent leader, opened an opportunity for a housewife like her to earn for her family.
“Tinext n’ya ako dati at tinanong kung interesado akong magtraining ng paggawa ng recycled paper flowers. Interesado naman ako kaya sumama ako,” shared Lydia, who now is able to help her husband to support the education of her children.
Pastor Victor, on the other hand, has found a lot of opportunities to give more help to their community by being an active member of a civil society organization and an employee of the local government. He is a member of the Pantawid Pamilya’s Municipal Advisory Committee and the municipality’s Local Poverty Reduction Action Team. Because of these, he is able to lobby and leverage towards addressing the most common problems of the community such as water supply and land titling.
Other than these, the family is always open to giving what little they have to the community.
According to Maria Sherlyn, they mostly give counseling to people who seek advice and even prayers to those who need them.
“Napakadali pong lapitan ng pamilyang ‘yan. Hindi ka nila hihindian, kahit anong oras ka lumapit sa kanila,” shared Lenie Rubio, a resident of the barangay.
Lydia also shared how the couple brought her medicines at the middle of the night when she suffered from an illness before.
The Gojo Cruz children, on the other hand, help classmates and neighbors with school work. Jamlech Iram even handles tutorial sessions for his classmates.
“Masaya ‘yung nakakapaglingkod ka sa tao. ‘Yung pamilya namin, kahit wala kaming pera, nilalapitan at hinihingan kami ng tulong,” shared Nanay Sherlyn.
Giving back to Pantawid Pamilya
Pastor Victor is also an active facilitator of the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of Pantawid Pamilya in the municipality. He was trained by the DSWD in the conduct of these sessions.
“Napakaganda ng FDS at malaki ang naitutulong nito sa mga benepisyaryo ng programa. Hindi lang ako nagiging bahagi ng pagtuturo sa mga tao, nagiging bahagi rin ako ng pagmomonitor sa mga beneficiary ng programa lalo na sa maayos na pagpapamilya at maayos na paggamit ng cash grant,” Pastor shared.
He added that he never fails to use the FDS to inspire and encourage the parents to dream for their families.
“Sinasabi ko lagi sa kanila na alisin natin sa ating mga isipan na tayo ay laging mahirap. Mangarap tayong lahat ng pagbabago dahil kung hindi tayo mangangarap at maniniwala, walang mangyayari sa atin,” shared Pastor Victor.
Nanay Sherlyn, as a parent leader, does her share in convincing her members to appreciate the program more. She ensures every member is present in every FDS as she also believes this is the core of the Pantawid Pamilya program.
For the Gojo-Cruz Family, being a real servant of God is being able to share their blessings with other people. And with the current path they are taking right now, they are glad that through various opportunities, they are able to make a difference not only in their family but in the rest of the community.#