June 20, 2025 – Lessons from the Tara Basa’s Nanay-Tatay Sessions.

At 20, she already started her family.

Nine years and three children later, Liezel De Aro, a resident of Brgy. Muliguin in Unisan, Quezon, finds herself learning a lot of things as a parent.

Liezel is a parent-beneficiary of the Tara Basa! Tutoring Program (TBTP), which mainly focuses on teaching incoming Grade 2 pupils who are struggling readers through a 20-day tutorial program. Parents of these children, however, are also required to attend Nanay-Tatay sessions, conducted simultaneously with the tutorial sessions.

For Liezel, each day she attends the said session is an opportunity to learn something new. And what is more rewarding is how she sees the effects of these new learnings in her relationship with her children at home.

Learning patience and responsibility

Liezel admits to not being at her best all the time.

“Sa bahay, laging mainitin ang ulo lalo na kapag pagod, nasisigawan ko sila [referring to her children] lalo na kapag makukulit pa sila,” she shared.

However, according to Liezel, this is one of the greatest lessons she picked up from the Nanay-Tatay sessions.

“Natutunan ko na ang bata pala, ‘di dapat sinisigawan. Dapat ay kinakausap sila nang mahinahon,” shared Liezel, who proudly shared that she is now able to build a more peaceful and positive relationship with her children. 

Moreover, Liezel learned her responsibility as a parent, particularly in the education of her children.

“Natutunan ko rin ang tamang paggabay sa mga bata. Dapat ay binibigyan sila ng oras at tinututukan sa kanilang pag-aaral kahit nasa bahay. Hindi dapat naka-focus sa pagtatrabaho lang,” she said. 

Liezel also shares to her husband whatever she learns from the sessions so both of them can improve for their children.

“Nasa magulang talaga ang responsibilidad, may guro man sila sa paaralan, sa magulang at sa bahay pa rin dapat nagsisimula ang pagkatuto,” she shared.

Proud as a parent

Liezel proudly shares that she sees a lot of improvement in her son, seven-year-old Jhayrone, especially in reading.

“Dati kasi ay hindi ko sila natututukan sa bahay dahil busy ako sa paghahanap ng raket. Ang hilig niya talaga ay drawing kaya wala siyang hilig sa pagbabasa at lagi niyang nakakalimutan ang pagbabasa,” said Liezel, who added that this is the main reason her son lag behind when it comes to reading.

However, even when the tutorial sessions are not yet over, she sees a huge difference.

According to her, most of the time, Jhayrone would already independently do his reading assignments and only consults her when he is already done.

“Ang galing nila [referring to the tutors], talagang na-assist at na-handle nang maayos ang mga bata. Alam mong may natutunan talaga ang bata,” she shared.

In the TBTP implementation, each tutor is assigned to teach five children. This way, the DSWD ensures that the children are given appropriate attention and that their sessions are tailored to the specific needs of the children.

For Liezel, seeing his son’s improvement upon attending these sessions gives her hope that her son can do great things in the future, especially now that she is more equipped to guide him and her other children at home.

“Nakakatuwa nga, talagang malaki ang pasasalamat ko, hindi lang dahil may payout pagkatapos. Sana mas marami pang bata at mga magulang ang makaranas ng ganito,” shared Liezel.#