“Kung tutulong ka, tumulong ka. ‘Wag kang mag-eexpect ng anumang kapalit.”

Venus Panlilio, a resident of the island municipality of Polillo, Quezon, still recalls how her late father instilled this attitude to her and her four other siblings.

Despite their financial struggles, her father, a fisherman, would exemplify this through working as a volunteer football instructor to elementary students. This, according to Venus, had been the cause of fights between her parents.

Years later, Venus is proud to have learned this from her father. 

With everything that they have gone through, she is now a registered social worker who is determined to help those who are in need.

Getting help for her education

Venus shares that she and her four siblings made a lot of sacrifices just so they can go to school and reach their dreams.

“Dati ay naghihiraman kami ng damit, at tig-iisa lang ng uniporme sa school. Kung minsan ang ulam namin ay tuyo at mantika na pinaresan ng chichirya,” she shared.

However, Venus added that she nor her siblings did not feel ashamed of their status, especially that their parents would work left and right to try to provide for their needs. Instead, this kept them determined to stay in school and get a diploma so they can help their parents in the long run.

When they became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2011, she was glad of the number of improvements in their life.

“Nagkaroon na kami ng mga uniporme sa school at nakakabili ng ibang kagamitan sa school. Nakakain na rin kami ng gusto namin,” she shared.

Though she admits that the 4Ps had helped them financially, Venus shared that this inspired them to work harder to change their living conditions.

Rising from the challenges

More than their struggles as children, Venus shared that the most heartbreaking situation they went through was the loss of their father.

“Naging mahirap man ang aming pinagdaanan sa pagkawala ng aming mahal na papa ay pinilit pa rin naming bumangon. Sa kabila ng sakit na dulot ng kanyang biglaang pagkawala, kinailangan naming maging matatag at mas lalong magsumikap para sa aming buong pamilya,” she shared.

All of them continued studying, and now, they are all reaping the results of their sacrifices.

Her two elder siblings are already college graduates, one of them is also a social worker. They both are able to help their mother with their needs, especially the education of the two youngest children, who are both in college.

Recently, Venus passed the Licensure Examination for Social Workers, and she cannot be more proud of the start of turning her dreams into a reality.

“Ang aming karanasan ay patunay na sa kabila ng mga pagsubok at hirap ng buhay, ang aming determinasyon at ang tulong ng iba’t ibang tao at programa tulad ng 4Ps ay malaking bagay upang maabot ang aming mga pangarap,” she shared.

Venus is confident that their whole family will continue working hard to reach all of their dreams not only for themselves but also for their community.

“Patuloy kaming mangangarap at magsusumikap upang maging reyalidad ang aming mga pangarap,” she shared.

As a social worker, Venus knows that her rich experiences, especially all the sacrifices and hardships, will be a great tool for her to guide other children like her to reach their dreams.# [with reports from MCGDucot]