Every time she visits her 29-year-old daughter and her family, Emelita Alfonso, 50, almost cannot believe her eyes.

“Hindi ko sukat akalain na ‘yung mga anak ko ay mga bata pa ay magaganda na ang buhay, may sariling bahay at kayang suportahan ang kani-kanilang pamilya,” Emelita proudly shared.

Emelita, a resident of Brgy. Pantihan III in Maragondon, Cavite Province, credits the good life her five elder children are now experiencing to their good education. She shares that despite the hard life she and her husband Mario provided to them when they were younger, she is proud and happy today that at least her children have not inherited the same fate.

Today, she vows that her two younger children, who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, will follow the tracks of their siblings and create a good life for their future families, too.

Ending the cycle of poverty

Emelita cannot hide her tears as she narrates what kind of life she and her husband provided to their seven children.

“Kami po ay talagang walang-wala. Nagtitiyaga kami sa asin na ulam. Minsan naman, may karne nga, pero puro gulay at sabaw naman para magkasya sa aming lahat. Kaming mag-asawa ay nagpapaupa lang sa bukid, at pag-uwi ay gagawa ng sticks (referring to bamboo sticks) na aming ibebenta,” she narrated.

Usually, the couple earns not more than Php500.00 a week, which is insufficient for their needs at home, much more the school needs of the children.

However, despite how hard life is, the couple gives value to the education of the children.

“Ang sa amin po, hindi namin sila pinapag-aral para tulungan kami. Alam namin na obligasyon ng mga magulang na pag-aralin ang mga anak, kahit gaano pa sila kadami. Pinapag-aral namin sila para ‘pag nagkapamilya na sila, maayos ang ibibigay nilang buhay sa mga anak nila at hindi nila maranasan ‘yung buhay na talagang hirap na hirap,” she shared.

Emelita cannot stop being emotional as she narrates how glad and proud she is that five of her children (two are teachers) have stable jobs and can support their respective families today.

Thankful for the help

With five of her children already having families of their own, Emelita and her husband have only Mark Emil, 18, and Mitch Andrei, 14, under their care. Mark Emil used to be a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program and was supported until his high school graduation. Now, he is in second year college.

According to Emelita, for a poor family like them, the program has been a big blessing, especially in lessening their burden.

“Dati kasi, utang lahat ang mga bayarin sa school. Sa dami ng mga anak namin, nakakapaglaan lang kami ng pambayad sa school kapag may natira sa kita namin pagkatapos bumili ng pangkain,” she shared.

Emelita added that the cash grants from the program allowed the family to save from their daily earnings since most of the school needs of the two children are taken care of. With this, they were able to support the expenses in the college education of the other children.

“Kaming lahat talaga ay nagtulungan para masigurong makatapos lahat ang mga bata. Pag-uwi ng mga bata sa school, tumutulong na sila sa paggawa ng stick para marami kaming maibenta. Noong nakatapos naman ng high school ang panganay ko, nagtrabaho s’ya para mapaaral naman sa kolehiyo ‘yung mga nakababata sa kanya,” Emelita said.

Not too late to learn

Emelita also shared that despite raising seven children, she was surprised that the Pantawid Pamilya program still has a lot to teach her, especially in being a good mother.

According to her, it is the Family Development Sessions of the program that helped her realize her shortcomings as a mother. Because she was so busy working for the family, she failed to see before that she was not able to show her love and attention to her children.

“Lalo na sa bunso ko, pakiramdam ko talaga nagkulang ako kasi naging abala rin ako sa pag-aalaga ng mga apo. Pero sa FDS, natutunan ko na bigyan ang mga anak ng tamang atensyon at kausapin sila sa lahat ng pagkakataon,” she shared.

Now that she has a happier home, Eliza cannot wish for more but see her two younger children find a good future, too.

As she sits on the floor of her now concrete house that used to be made of nipa and bamboo, Emelita joyfully bundles bamboo sticks, still their family’s main source of income. For her, she’ll never stop working hard until she sees all her seven children finally tasting a better life—the only valuable inheritance she can ever leave them.#