Improving her capacity to provide for her children

A few years back, Sheryl De Lara made a bold decision.

She enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the age of 38 to start chasing her dreams of a college diploma.

“Hindi naging madali ang aking desisyon dahil napakarami kong responsibilidad lalo na sa aking mga anak,” recalled Sheryl, now 43, a resident of Brgy. Ibabang Iyam in Lucena City.

She also had doubts about how they would be able to afford her education, especially that her four children were studying too at that time. Their family’s only source of livelihood was the income of her husband, Severino, as a security guard. 

However, her desire to reach her dream of a college diploma became stronger through the years. This desire, according to Sheryl,was rooted not only from her goal of giving a better future for her children but also from what she learned along the way as a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

A few years and a lot of struggles later, Sheryl cannot hide her pride as she finally gets her professional license as a Registered Social Worker.

Getting inspiration to reach her dreams

“Ang aming bahay ay  tagpi-tagping yero and dingding at bubong at gasera lang ang gamit namin na pangtanglaw. Kaya tuwing gabi, naaawa ako sa aking mga anak kapag kailangan na nilang gumawa ng kanilang assignment,” shared Sheryl.

So when they became a beneficiary of the 4Ps in 2010, Sheryl used every opportunity to help improve their family’s situation.

“Napakalaking tulong ng cash grants na aming natatanggap mula sa programa. Dito ko kinukuha ang mga gastusin sa pag-aaral ng aking mga anak,” she shared.

Since the program covered most of the needs of the children in school, Sheryl was able to save some of her husband’s income and start her small business of selling snacks. This enabled her to contribute to their finances at home and little by little, improve their situation.

Sheryl also glady shared that in 2016, they were able to finally afford having electricity installed in their home. She cannot be any happier seeing her children being able to study at night without much difficulty.

“Pero hindi lang sa aspetong pinansyal kami natulungan ng 4Ps. Masasabi kong malaking tulong din ito para sa pagpapaunlad ng aking personalidad lalo na nang mapili ako bilang isang parent leader ng aming grupo,” she shared.

According to Sheryl, through the seminars she attended as a parent leader, she was able to improve herself.

“Nagkaroon ako ng tiwala sa aking kakayahan at natuto rin akong magsalita sa harap ng maraming tao,” she shared.

As such, in 2018, she decided to enroll in ALS and although she struggled juggling her responsibilities at home and in school, she finished her Accreditation and Equivalency Assessment with the highest rating in the whole city.

A bigger dream

As a beneficiary of the 4Ps, Sheryl has understood the importance of education in improving the quality of life of poor families like them.

“Isa ang programa sa naging inspirasyon ko upang pangaraping magkolehiyo at maging social worker. Gusto ko ring matulungan ‘yung mga katulad kong benepisyaryo na mapaunlad ang kanilang kakayahan at magkaroon ng pangarap para sa kanilang pamilya,” she shared.

With this in mind, she enrolled at the Dalubhassan ng Lungsod ng Lucena in 2019 and took up Bachelor of Science in Social Work.

“Sa umaga, nagtitinda ako ng almusal at meryenda. Pagdating ng ala-una hanggang alas-siyete ng gabi ay pumapasok ako sa eskwelahan,” she recalled.

Their situation became harder during the pandemic as they do not have enough gadgets for the five students in their family.

“Hindi ko rin alam kung saan ako kukuha ng budget para sa load kaya habang nag-oonline class ay ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagtitinda,” she added.

Despite her busy schedule, Sheryl made sure that her children are still well-taken care of, especially their education. Her eldest, Sheila Mae, is a senior high school graduate and will be enrolling in college this year. Her three other children are all in high school.

She is also grateful to her husband who supported all of them and believed in investing in her education so they can achieve their dreams of a better life for their children.

Last August 2023, Sheryl graduated from college. She took the Licensure Examination for Social Workers the following month.

Currently, she is applying for social worker positions in various organizations and is very positive that she will be able to secure a job and finally provide for the whole family as well as help other families like them.

With her professional license in hand, Sheryl cannot be prouder of the bold decision she made back then as well as the support of her whole family, and even the government, in reaching where she is now.# [with reports from CAlmendras]

Better equipped as a parent

Improving her capacity to provide for her children

A few years back, Sheryl De Lara made a bold decision.

She enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) at the age of 38 to start chasing her dreams of a college diploma.

“Hindi naging madali ang aking desisyon dahil napakarami kong responsibilidad lalo na sa aking mga anak,” recalled Sheryl, now 43, a resident of Brgy. Ibabang Iyam in Lucena City.

She also had doubts about how they would be able to afford her education, especially that her four children were studying too at that time. Their family’s only source of livelihood was the income of her husband, Severino, as a security guard. 

However, her desire to reach her dream of a college diploma became stronger through the years. This desire, according to Sheryl,was rooted not only from her goal of giving a better future for her children but also from what she learned along the way as a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

A few years and a lot of struggles later, Sheryl cannot hide her pride as she finally gets her professional license as a Registered Social Worker.

Getting inspiration to reach her dreams

“Ang aming bahay ay  tagpi-tagping yero and dingding at bubong at gasera lang ang gamit namin na pangtanglaw. Kaya tuwing gabi, naaawa ako sa aking mga anak kapag kailangan na nilang gumawa ng kanilang assignment,” shared Sheryl.

So when they became a beneficiary of the 4Ps in 2010, Sheryl used every opportunity to help improve their family’s situation.

“Napakalaking tulong ng cash grants na aming natatanggap mula sa programa. Dito ko kinukuha ang mga gastusin sa pag-aaral ng aking mga anak,” she shared.

Since the program covered most of the needs of the children in school, Sheryl was able to save some of her husband’s income and start her small business of selling snacks. This enabled her to contribute to their finances at home and little by little, improve their situation.

Sheryl also glady shared that in 2016, they were able to finally afford having electricity installed in their home. She cannot be any happier seeing her children being able to study at night without much difficulty.

“Pero hindi lang sa aspetong pinansyal kami natulungan ng 4Ps. Masasabi kong malaking tulong din ito para sa pagpapaunlad ng aking personalidad lalo na nang mapili ako bilang isang parent leader ng aming grupo,” she shared.

According to Sheryl, through the seminars she attended as a parent leader, she was able to improve herself.

“Nagkaroon ako ng tiwala sa aking kakayahan at natuto rin akong magsalita sa harap ng maraming tao,” she shared.

As such, in 2018, she decided to enroll in ALS and although she struggled juggling her responsibilities at home and in school, she finished her Accreditation and Equivalency Assessment with the highest rating in the whole city.

A bigger dream

As a beneficiary of the 4Ps, Sheryl has understood the importance of education in improving the quality of life of poor families like them.

“Isa ang programa sa naging inspirasyon ko upang pangaraping magkolehiyo at maging social worker. Gusto ko ring matulungan ‘yung mga katulad kong benepisyaryo na mapaunlad ang kanilang kakayahan at magkaroon ng pangarap para sa kanilang pamilya,” she shared.

With this in mind, she enrolled at the Dalubhassan ng Lungsod ng Lucena in 2019 and took up Bachelor of Science in Social Work.

“Sa umaga, nagtitinda ako ng almusal at meryenda. Pagdating ng ala-una hanggang alas-siyete ng gabi ay pumapasok ako sa eskwelahan,” she recalled.

Their situation became harder during the pandemic as they do not have enough gadgets for the five students in their family.

“Hindi ko rin alam kung saan ako kukuha ng budget para sa load kaya habang nag-oonline class ay ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagtitinda,” she added.

Despite her busy schedule, Sheryl made sure that her children are still well-taken care of, especially their education. Her eldest, Sheila Mae, is a senior high school graduate and will be enrolling in college this year. Her three other children are all in high school.

She is also grateful to her husband who supported all of them and believed in investing in her education so they can achieve their dreams of a better life for their children.

Last August 2023, Sheryl graduated from college. She took the Licensure Examination for Social Workers the following month.

Currently, she is applying for social worker positions in various organizations and is very positive that she will be able to secure a job and finally provide for the whole family as well as help other families like them.

With her professional license in hand, Sheryl cannot be prouder of the bold decision she made back then as well as the support of her whole family, and even the government, in reaching where she is now.# [with reports from CAlmendras]