“Sobrang saya nila.”

Alfreliza Zapanta, 31, cannot forget the joy in her five children’s faces as they picked their much-needed school supplies despite being in the middle of the school year.

“Noong nakatanggap po kami ng unang grant galing sa 4Ps, talagang sinama ko po sila sa tindahan at sila mismo ang pumili ng mga kailangan nila sa school,” shared Alfreliza, a resident of Brgy. Salcedo II in Noveleta, Cavite, who became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in May 2023 and received their first grant in November 2023.

For Alfreliza, nothing compares to the feeling of finally being able to provide for her children’s needs, especially that through the years, she felt that she and her husband, Mark Anthony, failed their children in a lot of ways.

Other than this, Alfreliza is also enthusiastic about how the program is currently transforming her to become a better parent.

Working towards a dream

Alfreliza, a saleslady, and her husband, a security guard, dream of a good future for their children. However, a lot of circumstances hindered them from achieving this.

“May mga pagkakataon na isang beses lang talaga kami kumakain sa isang araw dahil hindi talaga kasya ang kita naming mag-asawa,” shared Alfreliza, who added that in times like these, she and her husband would forgo eating just so their children can have their fill.

Despite their limited income, they are determined to send the children to school. As such, all of them made sacrifices such as their daily meals and also the children’s school supplies.

“‘Yung mga anak ko, sanay na pumasok na basta may masulatan lang,” she shared.

However, during the pandemic, they had no choice but to not enroll all of them for one school year.

“Pareho kaming nawalan ng trabahong mag-asawa kaya ganun ang nangyari. Maraming mga tanong ‘yung mga bata at masakit para sa kanila kasi gustung-gusto talaga nilang pumasok. Pero mas masakit para sa aming mag-asawa ang nangyari dahil hindi namin magawa ang responsibilidad namin sa kanila,” shared Alfreliza.

Looking back at these circumstances, Alfreliza is now confident moving forward.

“Sa pagiging benepisyaryo namin ng 4Ps, lumawak ang pang-unawa ko. Ang 4Ps pala, hindi and’yan para tustusan ka lang. Hangad ng 4Ps na mapalago (ang kakayahan ng) mga pamilya, at sa palagay ko, kahit sa maikling panahon, naging mas mabuti akong nanay at nasa mas malakas ang aking pamilya,” said Alfreliza.

Important lessons from the 4Ps

As part of the co-responsibilities of parents as beneficiaries of the 4Ps, they attend monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) conducted by City / Municipal Links. In these sessions, parent-grantees like Alfreliza are introduced to various topics such as strengthening family relations, budget management, and disaster preparedness among others.

For Alfreliza, her attendance to these sessions reshaped her perspective as a parent.

“Naalala ko, sabi sa amin ni Ma’am Liezl [Municipal Link], kailangang kamustahin namin ang mga anak namin. Tanungin din namin sila ng kanilang pangarap, hindi ‘yung akala namin ay ‘yung pangarap lang namin para sa kanila ang dapat naming tuparin,” she shared.

As a result, Alfreliza shares that all her children are very eager to finish their schooling while she and her husband have been more inspired to strive harder.

“Natutunan din naming mag-ipon, hindi katulad dati na talagang zero. Ngayon, kahit ang mga bata ay natuto rin na magtipid at mag-ipon. Mayroon na rin kaming nakahandang emergency kit para kung sakaling magkaroon ng kalamidad, handa at panatag kami,” she shared.

Alfreliza added that she has also become more responsible in ensuring the good nutrition and health of their children.

“Kung dati ay kapag may lagnat, akala namin, ayos lang sa bahay na lang gamutin kasi lagi naming ginagawa. Ngayon ay alam naming dapat ay sa propesyunal kami pumupunta at regular na nagpapacheckup sa health center,” she shared.

Barely a year of being a beneficiary of the 4Ps, Alfreliza is proud to have picked up a lot of lessons that she is able to apply in their daily lives. She looks forward to more learning from the program as for her, this means that she becomes a better and more responsible parent–which she hopes will translate to her children succeeding in life in the years to come.# [with reports from LJRotao]