There’s a reason her newborn baby is fondly called ‘Ayuda’ these days.

Veverly Valenciano, a resident of Brgy. Wawa III, Rosario, Cavite, narrates how they nicknamed her baby after receiving the cash subsidy under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

She gave birth with no money at hand, and the month before she went into labor has been a big struggle for her and her husband.

With the whole country placed under community quarantine, her husband was left without a job as a construction worker.

“As in walang-wala kami. Asa na lang po kami sa relief at bigay ng mga kapamilya namin. Kapag wala na rin po silang maibigay, wala na po kaming choice kung hindi mangutang sa tindahan,” Veverly shared.

So when she gave birth on April 25, she worried for her baby. She worried for the baby’s milk, the diapers and the other necessities. Also, they have around PhP 5,000 as hospital bill for her delivery.

“Iyon na po siguro ang isa sa mga pinaka hindi ko makakalimutang experience. Bukod sa hirap ka na sa pagle-labor, sobra ka ring nag-aalala kung paano mo bubuhayin ang batang ipapanganak mo,” Veverly shared.

But on that same day, Veverly’s worries went away. Apart from seeing her child alive and well, her husband told her that he just received the emergency subsidy from the SAP.

“Napakalaking ginhawa po kasi sakto ‘yung dating ng ayuda. Sa sobrang tuwa po namin, ang palayaw na po ng anak namin ay Ayuda,” Veverly laughed.

After recovering, Veverly and her newborn were discharged from the hospital. The couple spent their emergency subsidy for the hospital bill, their baby’s needs and daily necessities. They were also able to buy Veverly’s medicine as she has anemia.

“Talaga naman pong ako ay nagpapasalamat sa ayuda. Kung hindi po siguro ‘yun dumating nung araw na ako’y nanganak, hindi na po namin alam kung saan kami kukuha ng panggastos. Hindi ko na rin po alam kung paano namin mabubuhay ang baby namin,” Veverly shared.

These days, Veverly and her husband are finding ways to earn income again. According to Veverly, with the things they experienced during the quarantine and the lessons they learned from having ‘Ayuda’, they are more determined to work hard for their daily sustenance.

“Napakahirap po pala talaga ang walang-wala lalo na kung ikaw ay may pamilyang binubuhay. Kaya po lubos po talaga kaming nagpapasalamat sa DSWD at kami ay may natakbuhan. Ngayon pong GCQ na, babalik na po ulit ang asawa ko sa trabaho. Kapag naman po lumaki na nang kaunti ang baby namin, maghahanap na rin po ako ng pagkakakitaan,” Veverly shared.#