A family’s effort to make dreams of a better life come true

With four children who are professionals now, couple Ceferino and Elisa Roño cannot still believe that their family has come a long way.

Elisa, a resident of Brgy. Marahan II in Alfonso town in Cavite Province, recounts a lot of instances when they were badly treated by other people in their community because of their living conditions.

“’Nung maliliit pa ang mga anak namin, dahil marami kaming anak, sinasabi nila na patay gutom kami. Sinisigawan nila kami, binabato pa ‘yung bahay namin,” shared Elisa, who added that instances such as these were very difficult for them.

These days, their children simply laugh at the memory. After all, these experiences inspired them to dream bigger for their family.

With two engineers, one architect and one teacher, the Roño Family takes pride in what they have accomplished so far, especially for being a family who is able to help themselves and now able to stand on their own.

Finding the strength to continue dreaming

Since starting their family, both Ceferino and Elisa dream of providing a better life for their children.

“Pangarap namin na makapagtapos ang aming mga anak sa pag-aaral para naman umunlad ang kanilang buhay, para hindi na sila maghirap ng katulad sa ginagawa namin,” shared Ceferino, a construction worker who juggles a lot of other jobs even during Sundays just to earn something for the family’s needs.

Elisa, on the other hand, earned through sewing clothes in a nearby factory. She oftentimes would extend her work hours until late at night so she can finish more products and earn more.

Despite the hardships, they were both focused on fulfilling their dreams for their children.

In 2012, according to Elisa, their being a beneficiary of the national government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program helped their family in various ways.

“Bago kami naging benepisyaryo, parang kahit anong pagsusumikap naming mag-asawa sa pagtatrabaho, talagang hindi pa rin sapat para maibigay namin lahat ng kanilang pangangailangan,” she said.

Through the help of the program, Ceferino and Elisa were able to secure enough finances to support the needs of their children, especially for their education.

“Hindi na namin isipin pa kung saan kukuha ng pambayad sa mga gastusin sa school dahil ang grants na nakukuha namin sa programa ay talagang nakalaan para sa kanila,” Elisa shared.

More than the financial assistance, however, Elisa is grateful to the program’s Family Development Sessions, which she attends every month as part of her family’s co-responsibilities as beneficiaries of the program.

“Sa FDS ko natutunan na dapat na may goal ka sa buhay, hindi ‘yung parang hanggang dito ka na lang. Kailangang may ambisyon ka, kailangang may gusto kang marating,” she shared.

With the assistance from the program, their fueled mindset about their dreams of a better life and their continuous hard work to provide for their children, they were able to little by little reach their dreams.

Finding the strength to stand on their own

Last December 2021, the family decided to waive as a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program.

“Sabi ‘nung panganay ko, baka p’wede na tayong mag-exit d’yan kasi andito na kami. Kaya na nating pag-aralin ‘yung dalawa pang nag-aaral at kaya na nating pagtulungan ang iba nating pangangailangan,” said Elisa, who is proud of her eldest son, Elsen, who had been in a scholarship from high school to college and had placed third in the Licensure Examination for Electronics Technician in 2015.

Elsen now works as a company engineer while Estelle, the fourth child, works as an online English teacher. Nigel, the second child and a graduate of Architecture, and Nicole, the third child and a graduate of Engineering, just recently began working.

The two youngest children are still in school. Nathaniel is in first year college and Nela Mae is in Grade 10.

“Malapit na kami ‘dun sa buhay na pinapangarap namin. Proud ako dahil nakatapos na ang mga anak ko at sana ‘yung dalawa ay makapagtapos na rin,” shared Ceferino, who continues to work as a construction worker and a motorcycle mechanic to still provide for the family.
For Elisa and the rest of the Roño Family, there is one thing that they will be bringing with them as they graduate as a household-beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program–that is ‘laging tulungan ang sarili para sa pagpapabuti ng pamumuhay.***