From a doubtful to a confident mother

Through the years, she cannot remember how many times she questioned their future.

“Kaya pa ba naming pag-aralin ang mga bata? May pag-asa pa kayang makatapos sila ng pag-aaral?” 

Dyazarah Micosa, 48, a resident of Brgy. San Isidro in Cabuyao City, would often find herself with these questions whenever her family faces challenges, especially financially. Her husband’s income as a tricycle driver was often not enough for their family.

“Naranasan naming maputulan ng serbisyo ng kuryente at ng tubig. Tuwing mauubusan kami ng LPG, gumagamit na lang kami ng kalang kahoy,” shared Dyazarah, who was not able to secure a job at that time because she focused on taking care of her six children at home.

Several years later, Dyazarah is finally able to positively answer her questions, and the future she has been so doubtful about is becoming clearer and clearer each day.

Hope at their ‘lowest point’

“May pag-asa na” was what Dyazarah could think of when their family became a beneficiary of the national government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2012.

According to her, the cash grants their family received as a 4Ps beneficiary in exchange for their compliance to the program’s conditions had been a great help, especially when it comes to the health and education of their children.

“Ang cash grant na natatanggap namin ay talagang inilalaan namin sa mga pangangailangan ng mga bata sa esk’welahan. Hindi na kami kailangang mangutang pa sa tuwing sasapit ang pasukan,” she shared.

However, other than the cash grants, Dyazarah has been grateful for the learning she acquired from her monthly attendance to the Family Development Sessions (FDS). According to her, this greatly taught her about budgeting and finding ways to help the family.

“Tumulong na ako sa aking asawa. Ang maliit na kinikita ng aking asawa ay ginamit namin para makapagtayo ng maliit na tindahan. Ang kita dito ang ginagamit namin sa aming pang-araw-araw na panggastos,” shared Dyazarah.

With their perseverance, they were able to send their eldest, Belle Mary, to college. Belle Mary finished college with a degree in Psychology and now works as an HR staff in a private company.

“Naniniwala kasi kami na kung makakatapos s’ya sa kolehiyo ay makakapagtrabaho s’ya nang maayos at mapapaganda niya ang kanyang kinabukasan,” shared Dyazarah, who is grateful to her eldest who initiated helping the family when she started earning for herself.

Hope despite the pandemic

Just when their family has been able to slowly provide for their own needs, the Covid-19 pandemic brought back Dyazarah’s questioning of the future. However, she did not linger on her questions and instead, she made a move to be certain of their future.

“Nakita ko ang pangangailangan sa face mask noon kaya nagsimula akong magtahi. Katulong ko ang aking asawa at mga anak sa paggawa at pagbebenta,” she shared.

Despite the pandemic, the family was able to secure a continuous source of income.

“Tunay nga na mahalaga ang pagtutulungan. Nakatulong ang pananahi sa pang-araw-araw naming panggastos at ipinagpatuloy ko ang pananahi ng iba’t ibang bagay tulad ng punda, kumot, maging bag at pitaka,” shared Dyazarah.

As a mother, Dyazarah is able to see the results of the years of hard work.

“Unti-unti nang nagiging maluwag ang sitwasyon namin. Walang mapagsidlan ang kaligayahan namin dahil nakapagpatapos ulit kami sa kolehiyo ng pangalawa naming anak,” she shared with pride.

Positive about the future

In 2022, Dyazarah’s family was identified as ‘non-poor’ based on the latest DSWD’s Listahanan database, the basis for the targeting of beneficiaries of the 4PS. This means that based on the assessment of the DSWD, their family’s living condition has moved from belonging to the poorest of the poor to being ‘non-poor’ or is capable of providing for their needs.

As a result, their family has been recommended to graduate from the program.

“Maganda ang kinahinatnan ng 4Ps sa aming pamilya. Kami ay non-poor na, ibig sabihin ay matagumpay na kaming nakatawid sa kahirapan,” she shared.

According to Dyazarah, this has been possible because they did not give up as a family and that they used all the opportunities provided to them by the program.

“Pinagyaman namin ang tulong na natatanggap namin upang maabot ang pangarap namin na makapagpatapos ng mga anak. Pinatunayan namin na epektibo ang programa sa kanilang layunin na maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga katulad namin,” said Dyazarah proudly.

Even though three of her six children are still studying, Dyazarah and the rest of her family are confident about their future.

“Patuloy kaming magtatagumpay sa hamon ng buhay dala-dala ang mga natutunan ko bilang isang miyembro ng 4Ps,” shared Dyazarah.# [with reports from MGCusi]