Saying goodbye as a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang PIlipino Program (4Ps) has been a fulfilling moment for 49-year-old Manuela Zornosa.

“Super laki na ng nagbago sa buhay namin. ‘Yung umabot kami sa punto na nakakaraos na sa araw-araw, panatag na kaming mag-asawa,” shared Manuela, a proud 4Ps graduate from Brgy. Taytay in Majayjay, Laguna.

Manuela, now a Brgy. Kagawad, is all smiles as she shares her family’s journey from ‘kung hindi kakahig, hindi tutuka’ to a family who is able to provide for their daily needs and even save for the rainy days.

Though she knows they are far from being rich, Manuela confidently waived as a beneficiary of the 4Ps in August 2023. Finally, in December 2023, she graduated as a program beneficiary through the Pugay Tagumpay Graduation Ceremony in their town together with 43 other families.

Maximizing opportunities from the 4Ps

Manuela and her husband, Lowell, strived to support the needs of their five children.

As a stay at home mother, Manuela used to wait for her husband’s daily income as a tricycle driver to buy most of their needs for the day.

“Madalas ay kulang pa sa amin. Kahit humiram kami ng pera sa iba, kulang at kulang pa rin,” shared Manuela, who would often serve their children with eggs, noodles, and vegetables.

Their being a beneficiary of the 4Ps in 2013 has been a great ‘blessing’ for the family.

“Talagang ‘grasya’ po ang tawag namin dahil hindi namin nilalagay sa isip namin na may matatanggap kami. Ang sarap-sarap sa pakiramdam bilang nanay na may siguradong nakalaan na para sa pag-aaral at pagkain ng mga anak namin,” she shared.

However, more than the cash grants, she made sure to maximize the opportunities brought by the program to them as beneficiaries. Manuela, who also secured a job as a child development worker, did not waste a single opportunity.

“Nagsimula ako ng simpleng negosyo mula sa meat processing training na aking dinaluhan bilang benepisyaryo ng 4Ps at ng Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP),” recalled Manuela.

In 2017, Manuela was among the 4Ps beneficiaries in the town of Majayjay who were endorsed to the SLP, another program of the DSWD that prioritizes 4Ps beneficiaries to capacitate them to engage in livelihood activities.

“Binigyan kami ng starter kit at doon ako nagsimula na gumawa at magtinda ng embutido at siomai,” she shared.

As a mother, Manuela has been grateful that she can at least provide enough food for her children.

Also, Manuela made sure to apply her learnings from the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) as she has always believed that they are important lessons to guide their family towards a better life.

She shared that she has improved her communication with her children, started saving little by little for the future, and also ensured that they are prepared for any disaster.

Guiding other beneficiaries

Through the years as a beneficiary, Manuela is also a parent leader handling 28 other beneficiaries in their barangay.

As a leader, Manuela made sure that every opportunity she gets from the program is passed on to the other beneficiaries.

“Itinuro ko rin sa mga kapwa ko beneficiaries ‘yung natutunan ko sa meat processing training para sila ay makapagsimula rin ng negosyo at kumita para sa kanilang pamilya,” shared Manuela.

Aside from this, she also takes time to impart valuable lessons to guide them to become successful beneficiaries in the future.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na ‘wag sayangin ang tulong mula sa 4Ps. Habang kasama sila sa programa, dapat ay magsikap sila,” said Manuela.

And as a leader, and now a barangay official, who wants to share the same ‘blessings’ they received, Manuela and her husband decided to waive as a beneficiary of the program.

“Ang sabi lang naman talaga namin noon, basta makapagpatapos lang ako ng isang anak sa college, p’wede na kaming umalis. At saka, nakikita ko na mas marami pa ang mas higit na nangangailangan ng tulong kaysa sa amin,” shared Manuela, who added that they are contented with what they have as a family now.

Her eldest child, Karl Miguel, recently earned his degree in Civil Engineering and is currently preparing for the board examination. Their four other children are all in school. One is in college, two are in senior high school, and one in junior high school.

She and her husband engage in various income-generating activities such as farming and selling cake, pastries, and other food items on top of their regular income as a barangay official and a tricycle driver.

“Tuluy-tuloy lang ang aming pagdiskarte, more sipag kaming buong pamilya para masustentuhan ang iba naming mga pangarap,” happily shared Manuela.
For Manuela and her whole family, graduating from the 4Ps with this kind of status and mindset is enough to bring her smiles and pride. For them, their family is proof that with the right opportunities, poor families can improve and reach their dreams.# [with reports from GEDimayuga]