Like every mother, 48-year-old Imelda Tolentino dreams to give her children a better life. However, it breaks her heart to realize that she can do nothing about chasing this dream.

“Dahil isang labandera lang ako, hindi ko na inaasahang magtutuloy-tuloy ang pagpasok ng mga anak ko. Kulang kami sa pambaon ng mga bata kaya madalas kung sila ay umabsent sa klase,” shared Imelda, a resident of Brgy. Puting Bato West in Calaca, Batangas Province.

Imelda, whose husband is a farmer, shared that she always worries about the future. She understands that giving her two children a good education will help her achieve her dream; however, it pains her whenever she realizes that her and her husband’s combined income is not enough to support their education.

 An unexpected help

“Isang araw, nabago na lang ang buhay namin. Pinatawag kami sa barangay at sinabing makakasama kami sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” she shared happily.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is human capital development program of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to qualified poor families in support for the needs on health and education of children age zero to 18.

Imelda’s family has been a beneficiary of the program since 2012.

As a beneficiary of the program, Imelda’s family receives cash assistance in support for the health and educational needs of 14-year-old Yvan and six-year-old Santino.

“Napakalaking tulong sa amin ng programa dahil malaki ang nabago nito sa buhay namin. Ngayon, hindi na umaabsent ang mga bata at nabibilhan na namin sila ng kanilang mga pangangailangan,” said Imelda.

She added that with the help of the program, she can allot their income to the other needs of the family. According to her, it is good to see how happy her children are when they go and eat out as a family, which they never did before because of lack of finances.

Chasing the opportunities

Since starting a family, Imelda has already believed that education is the only thing that can help her children get out of the kind of life they are providing them. Hence, she never fails to remind them to value their education.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na mag-aral nang mabuti para makapagtapos sila at makahanap ng maayos na trabaho. Edukasyon lang ang susi para sa magandang kinabukasan,” Imelda said.

And now that they are given a helping hand to ensure her children will never miss a day in school, Imelda, together with her children, happily chases the opportunity.

For her, she can never be thankful that as a mother, her dreams can finally become a reality. With that, she commits to never waste the opportunity.

“Patuloy kong susuportahan ang mga anak ko hanggang sila ay magkaroon ng magandang buhay,” Imelda shared with conviction and promises to never lose hope again.#