A family’s taste of success

For a family whose main source of income is working as laborers in a sugarcane farm through the years, the Hitosis Family describes their current status as a ‘sweet’ success.

“Hindi perpekto ang aming pamilya, may mga pagkakataon na hindi kami nagkakasundo. Subalit nanatili kaming magkakabuklod-buklod upang makamit ang tagumpay,” shared Nanay Josephine, 56, a resident of Brgy. Pangao in Ibaan, Batangas Province.

Nanay Josephine cannot help but be proud of how their family endured all the difficulties to achieve a common dream–which is to experience a better life.

“Tandang-tanda ko pa na noong una ay naninirahan kami sa kural [kulungan ng baboy]. Ang aming dingding ay sako lamang kaya naman ramdam na ramdam ang init o ‘di kaya ay lamig tuwing tag-ulan,” shared Nanay Josephine.

These days, the whole Hitosis Family takes pride in how far they have come. From the small pig pen they called their home, they are now a stronger and happier family who not only was able to build a better home but also build a ‘name’ in their community.

Instilling the value of education

Despite their living conditions, Nanay Josephine and Tatay Tito instilled the value of education in changing the lives of their five children.

“Para akong sinasakal sa tuwing nakikita kong nahihirapan ang aming mga anak. Ultimong dalawang pisong pamasahe noon papuntang paaralan ay wala kaming maibigay dahil sapat lamang ang kita naming mag-asawa na pambili ng bigas,” shared Nanay Josephine.

According to their son Dio, 30, all of them sacrificed a lot just so they could go to school.

“Naglalakad kami ng ilang kilometro mula sa aming paaralan. At tuwing uuwi kami ay kailangan pa naming manguha ng tubo upang kainin para malunasan ang gutom at pagod sa aming paglalakad,” recalled Dio.

Dio added that they even felt that families who say that they are ‘nagdidildil ng asin’ are far luckier than them. According to him, they were so financially-challenged that they cannot even afford buying salt.

Since Dio and his siblings understood their situation, they would often help their parents in working in the sugarcane farm whenever they were not in school.

Despite all the challenges, all of them persevered in their education. 

Receiving a blessing for the family

In 2014, the Hitosis Family was registered as a beneficiary of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Para sa aming pamilya, ito ay isang biyaya. Talagang natulungan kami nito na tugunan ang aming pangangailangang pinansyal lalo na sa kanilang pag-aaral,” shared Nanay Josephine.

More than the financial assistance, Nanay Josephine shared how the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the program shaped their family even better.

“Naging mas matingkad ang pagmamahal at pagkakapit-bisig ng aming pamilya. Dito rin kami namulat na makisalamuha at makiisa sa komunidad,” said Nanay Josephine.

Dio, an active member of a faith-based organization, has become a partner of the DSWD Field Office IV-A in facilitating FDS and youth development sessions in their town.

“Nasaksihan namin na nilalakad lang ni Dio papuntang ibang barangay para makapagturo ng FDS. Kahit kailanman ay hindi namin narinig o nakitaan ng pagod sa boluntaryong pagtuturo,” shared Janet Javier, a 4Ps beneficiary in their barangay.

Another resident in the community, Jenelyn Maranan, the rest of the Hitosis children–Dia, Mean and Nika–also contribute in the community through tutorial and bible study sessions to children of sugarcane farm laborers in their area.

Tatay Tito, who is in charge of the farm laborers now, has also become a good example in the community.

“Tumigil na rin ako sa pagsisigarilyo dahil imbes na ipambili ko ng sigarilyo na isa lang akong makikinabang ay ibinibili ko na lang ng pangangailangan ng aming pamilya,” shared Tatay Tito.

Reaping the results of their hard work

Other than working in the sugarcane farm, Nanay Josephine and Tatay Tito continued finding ways to earn more such as going to other towns as farm laborers or house helpers. They also now have a small sari-sari store at home.

Currently, Dio is a licensed professional teacher and Dia has finished a vocational course and now works as a production operator. Mean has finished senior high school and also works as a production operator but plans to enroll in college the following school year.

Nika, the youngest, is in Grade 11.

Despite having older siblings who also contribute to the family’s finances, Nika still works in the sugarcane farm whenever she has free time.

“Hindi man marami ang aming pera, pero matatawag namin ang aming pamilya na matagumpay,” proudly shared Nanay Josephine.

Other than the status of their children, a lot of small things have become an indication for them that they have succeeded in life.

“Mula sa paglalakad papuntang paaralan, ngayon ay may motor at tricycle na. Mula sa pagsilip-silip sa kapitbahay para makanood ng telenovela, ngayon ay may sariling TV na. Hindi na rin namin kailangan ng gasera dahil may sarili na kaming kuryente. At higit sa lahat, hindi na namin kailangang tumira sa kulungan ng baboy dahil ngayon ay may sariling bahay at lupa na kami,” she shared.

For the whole Hitosis Family, all of these successes are indeed ‘sweet,’ or maybe even sweeter than the sugarcanes they have been harvesting through the years, as these are the results of their hard work, their working together, and their trust in the Lord.#

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The Hitosis Family of Brgy. Pangao, Ibaan, Batangas is the Regional Winner of the 2024 Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the CALABARZON Region.

The Search is an actual activity of the DSWD that recognizes 4Ps family-beneficiaries who work together to improve their living conditions through the proper use of opportunities from the program, maintaining strong family ties, and serving as inspiration in their respective communities.