Lilian Calderon, 37, a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Brgy. Talipusngo, Maragondon, Cavite Province, shares that it is through Family Development Sessions (FDS) like this that she learns to improve their living condition and dream bigger for their future.
In this session, Municipal Link Jenelyn Osorio discusses the topic “Pagpapanatili ng Kalinisan at Kaayusan ng Kapaligiran” where grantees are taught on waste segregation, recycling and proper waste disposal. The FDS is one of the co-responsibilities of parent-grantees as beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya program. It is a venue for teaching topics on family development including child’s rights, budget management, disaster preparedness and strengthening marital relationships.
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CHILDREN ARE SHAPED IN SCHOOL
When he found a wallet with more than PhP8,000 in it, he felt afraid.
Twelve-year-old Ronel Calderon, a child-beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Brgy. Talipusngo in Maragandon, Cavite Province, could have immediately spent it for their family’s food needs. His parents could have easily spent it to improve their small home. However, he knows it isn’t the right thing to do.
So when his family heard of a neighbor who lost his wallet, the family immediately gave it back.
Ronel’s mother, Lilian, 37, cannot hide her tears as she narrates how proud she is as a mother that she has managed to raise a good man. More than what she teaches her children at home, Lilian acknowledges that sending Ronel to school made him who he is today and who he will become in the future.
Sending the children to school
Lilian and her husband engage in planting crops for a living. While awaiting their harvest, they usually gather what Lilian calls “kalakal” (such as banana leaves) that they sell in the market.
Lilian admits that with this kind of living, they seldom eat three meals a day. Much more, it affects the education of their children.
“Si Ronel, bilang panganay, madalas ko s’yang pinapaabsent para bantayan ang mga kapatid n’ya kapag nangangalakal kami,” she said.
According to her, Ronel’s absences in class made his grades suffer. Twice, Ronel repeated a grade level. That’s why at 12, he is still in Grade 3 where he and his younger sibling, nine-year-old Rocel, are classmates.
The coming of the Pantawid Pamilya program in their life made everything easier. Lilian shared that not having to worry about the school expenses of her children made their life better.
“Nakapasok na sila araw-araw at hindi katulad noon, nakakapasok na sila ng may baon. Napansin ko ring naging mas masigla na sila sa kanilang pag-aaral. Sabi nga nila sa akin, kung hindi raw nila pagsisikapan ang pag-aaral ay hindi na magiging maayos ang kanilang buhay,” she added.
Seeing her children’s desire to improve their lives and reach their dreams, Lilian and her husband became more determined to support them. Further, the Family Development Sessions she attends to as part of her co-responsibilities with the Pantawid Pamilya program remind her of the value of sending children to school as well as their responsibilities as parents.
“Tuloy tuloy ang pagsisikap naming mag-asawa dahil kung Pantawid lang ang aasahan namin, wala kaming mararating. Kailangang magtiyaga rin kami para masuportahan namin ang iba nilang pangangailangan,” Lilian shared.
Being shaped in school
Lilian also learned that whatever knowledge or skills her children learn from school will help them succeed in the future. Ronel wants to be a soldier while Rocel wants to be a teacher.
Further, she shared that the school also shapes her children’s behavior.
“Natutuwa nga po ako sa anak ko dahil sa kanya mismo nanggaling na isoli namin ang pera. Sabi n’ya masama namang kumakain tayo ng masarap pero ‘yung pera ay hindi galing sa ating pagsisikap,” she said with pride.
Besides Pantawid Pamilya, Lilian is also grateful to another program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development—the School-Based Supplementary Feeding Program (SBFP). Funded by the DSWD, the SBFP is implemented by the Department of Education that feeds nutritious meals to severely wasted elementary school children for 120 days.
Ronel and Rocel are both beneficiaries of the said program, which started in September 2014 in Talipusngo Elementary School. According to Lilian, she noticed the improved health of both her children since she still admits that she cannot provide sufficient food for her children all the time.
“Dati rin, mapili ang mga bata sa pagkain. Ngayon, marunong na silang kumain ng masustansyang pagkain,” Lilian shared.
In the implementation of the SBFP, parents are tasked to cook the meals for the children. Since Lilian cannot guarantee her time as she needs to work and take care of her three-year-old daughter, she sends firewood to the school as her counterpart.
As Lilian puts it, she will not waste the investment the government provides to her children’s health and education. Together with her husband, Lilian promises to work hard every day to see them finally reach their dreams.
For her, the improved life they all are dreaming to have will be a lot sweeter if all of them work hard for its achievement.***