The Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child 2016 of the CALABARZON Region has been awarded 1st runner-up in the recently concluded National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children 2016.
Rose Ann Dela Cruz, 10, of Brgy. Lakdayan in San Narciso, Quezon Province, came in second place of Zamboanga Peninsula’s Reynald Baguio after competing with representatives from all 18 regions of the country. The awarding ceremony was conducted during the Araw ng Kabataan held last November 22 at the AFP Theater in Quezon City in the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) celebration of the National Children’s Month.
Dela Cruz received PhP20,000 as cash prize.
Other winners are Western Visayas’ Anedaine Geamal, 4th runner-up; Bicol Region’s Ihra Mae Madrideo, 3rd runner-up, and; CARAGA’s Kian Jay Cosep, 2nd runner-up.
The National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children is an annual search for child-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who serve as good examples in their respective homes, schools and communities.
“Bilang isang bata, kaya ko pong maging modelo ng kagandahang asal sa aking kapatid, mga kaklase at ibang kabataan sa aming komunidad. Ako po ang magpapatunay sa kanila na kailanman ay hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para magtagumpay sa buhay,” said Dela Cruz.
For Dela Cruz, she wants to instill in the mind of the children, especially poor children who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya, to prioritize education.
Dela Cruz, now in Grade 5 in Lakdayan Elementary School in the said town, is a consistent honor student, active in extra-curricular activities and is regarded by her teachers, classmates and community residents as a model of good behavior.
In the CALABARZON Region, the search was conducted last October 7, 2016 in Tagaytay City with two nominees for each province of the region. Dela Cruz, together with other provincial winners, was awarded as the regional winner last November 11 in the DSWD Field Office IV-A’s celebration of the National Children’s Month in Lucena City.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Pantawid Pamilya dahil sa oportunidad na makapag-aral kami nang maayos. Ngayon, ang karapatan namin sa edukasyon ay hindi na lamang nasa balikat ng aming mga magulang, katuwang na namin ang gobyerno. Sana lahat ng bata ay pahalagahan ang programa at maging matagumpay sa hinaharap,” Dela Cruz said.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a social protection program of the national government that improves human capital through the provision of conditional cash grants to qualified poor families to support the needs on health and education of zero to 18 years old children.#