There’s a bigger world outside the home
Housewives finding their worth in the community
All their married lives, they thought life revolves just inside the corners of their small homes. Little did they know that there is a bigger world outside, which will eventually lead them to discovering their worth in their respective communities.
Parent leaders Luningning “Ate Ning” Fontamillas and Emerlinda “Nay Baby” Higuerra, both from Quezon Province, used to be housewives who consider their respective husbands and children the center of their lives.
However, upon assuming the task of a parent leader for their co-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, both women found new worth—being a leader and being an instrument of change to others and their community as well.
Accepting more responsibilities
Ate Ning, 35, a resident of Brgy. Abuyon in San Narciso town, has never been a leader all her life. Being tasked as a parent leader gave her jitters as she had a lot of doubts especially on her abilities.
“High school lang ang natapos ko at hindi ko alam kung ano ang kakayahan ko. Baka sabihin ng mga tao na hindi ako nararapat kasi hindi naman ako nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” she shared.
Forty-four-year-old Nay Baby, from Brgy. Pisipis in Lopez, shares the same sentiments.
“Wala akong tiwala sa kakayahan ko. Kahit pagsasalita lang sa harap ng mga tao, mahirap pa para sa akin noon,” she said.
Both have accepted the challenge nonetheless. Little by little, they have learned to be effective leaders.
As parent leaders, they are responsible in monitoring their members especially on their compliance to their co-responsibilities with the program. Also, they are partners of the Municipal Links in guiding the beneficiaries on other program processes, e.g. filing of grievances, updating of status and disseminating important information.
“Napakasarap isipin na nakayanan ko, na kahit may ibang mahirap turuan, nagtiyaga akong ipaliwanag sa kanila ang kanilang mga responsibilidad at mga patakaran ng programa,” shared Ate Ning.
Nay Baby, on the other hand, has made sure that everything she learns from the program, she shares to her members.
“Patuloy kong pinapaintindi sa mga kasamahan ko na ang Pantawid ay hindi basta tungkol sa pera lang. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila ang kahalagahan ng mga kundisyon ng programa at ng pagpapabuti ng pamilya,” she said.
More responsibilities, more ways to help
Ate Ning and Nay Baby have both found ways to go beyond their actual duties as parent leaders to their co-beneficiaries. Ate Ning, for one, had taught several of her members to write.
“Naawa ako sa mga kasamahan ko na nahihirapan sa tuwing may kailangang pirmahan. Hindi ko akalaing magagawa kong turuan silang maisulat kahit pangalan lang nila. Napakasarap sa pakiramdam na nakatulong ako sa ganitong paraan,” said Ate Ning.
Their new-found self-esteem and leadership abilities have paved way for both women to help their community as well. In the implementation of the Kalahi-CIDSS in their respective barangays, they both became active volunteers.
“Dahil sa mga pagbabago sa aking sarili, naglakas loob akong mag-volunteer sa Kalahi. May mga kaya pala akong gawin para makatulong sa aking kapwa at sa aming komunidad,” Nay Baby shared.
Nay Baby was part of the project preparation team for their farm-to-market road project while Ate Ning was part of the same team for their lying-in clinic project. With both projects functional today and benefitting all community members, both women are proud that they have been part of bringing change to their respective communities.
“Napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko sa mga programa ng DSWD dahil binigyan nila ang mga taong katulad ko ng pagkakataong magbago at makatulong sa pagbabago,” shared Ate Ning.
For both women, the best part of being a leader is not just discovering their abilities. It is being part of a change not just in their respective families but in the bigger world outside—their community.***