Over the years, the journey it took to witness their children’s success might have been anything but easy due to their past financial struggles. However, through the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), they were not only given a lifeline but also opportunities to thrive and stand on their own.
The Molina couple of Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur never stopped making both ends meet for their three children.
Pastor Molina was a farmer while his wife Venecia occasionally worked as a house helper and took laundry jobs.
While exerting all efforts to make both ends meet, sending their children to school was still a struggle for the couple.
In 2009, Venecia attended an interview conducted by the government in their area. She did not know what it was for, but she was looking forward to any help from the government.
Later on, she found out that her family qualified for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and their lives gradually changed. All Venecia’s children became 4Ps monitored children.
Rafaelino Molina, the eldest child, told the #Kwento ng PagAsa at Pagbabago (KPAP) — the DSWD’s award-winning online documentary — that his father tried his best to provide as a farmer.
Rafaelino saw his father till the land but due to hardships, the earnings only went to pay off debts.
He added: “Bago pa maani, naipangutang na.”
Seeing this at an early age was what motivated Rafaelino to aim for a better future.
“Kahit bata pa po ako, naisip ko na sa future ayoko ng ganito. Pipilitin kong mag-aral kahit mahirap ang buhay para maibigay ko yung buhay na di ko naranasan nung bata ako sa future family ko,” Rafaelino explained.
Rafaelino’s sister, Krissana, shared that their parents need to borrow so that they can go to school. This changed when their family became a beneficiary of 4Ps.
Krissana said: “We are not lucky, but we are blessed to be chosen as Pantawid.”
DSWD Municipal Link Mark Jhayson Bader recalled: “Nuong dumating po iyong programa sa kanila, nagbigay po ito ng napakalaking daan upang sa gayon, yong pangangailangang pang edukasyon nila ay matulungan.”
Venecia said they were all happy and thankful to God and to the 4Ps for the program’s life changing assistance through the cash grants.
“Na-set aside na namin yung para sa eskwela, yung mga babayaran nila, tapos yung mga gastusin sa bahay. Tipid talaga. Pero hindi naman po yung wala na kaming ulam, nakakapag karne naman na din, lalo na nung nasali na kami sa 4Ps,” Venecia pointed out.
Aside from the cash grants, Venecia sees the Family Development Sessions (FDS) as significant to their success as a 4Ps family, especially as she learned to become the best parent possible through her learnings.
“Yung pagtrato sa mga anak, kung paano, para hindi sila lumaking walang alam, doon namin natutunan sa FDS. Kung paano sila ilapit sa Panginoon, naia-apply ko sa kanila yung mga napag-aaralan namin,” Venecia said.
She sees this as the reason why they are blessed to have intelligent, God-fearing, and kind children.
As monitored children, Rafaelo, Crisam, and Krissana recognized 4Ps as elemental in working toward achieving their dreams.
Krissa shared: “Bilang part po ng program, natuto po akong i-appreciate kung ano yung naitutulong ng program na gawin ang best ko para maging karapat-dapat na mapasali sa programa na may layuning tumulong sa mga bata, sa pamilyang may pangarap umangat sa buhay. Alam ko po sa sarili ko na may programang handang tumulong sa akin upang maabot ko iyong mga pangarap ko and graduating na po ako sa college. Hindi po naging madali pero dahil sa 4Ps kinaya po at malapit na din po akong matapos.”
According to Crisam, the Youth Development Sessions (YDS) conducted by 4Ps also helped them as they pursued their education.
He also wants to encourage the other 4Ps children to do their best.
“Importanteng magsikap sa pag-aaral kasi bilang lang ang napapabilang sa 4Ps. Pahalagahan nila ang opportunity na binigay sa kanila. Maging instrument into sa kanila para makapagtapos sa pag-aaral,” Crisam said.
Known as a monitored 4Ps child, Rafaelino graduated from college and passed the criminology licensure examinations.
Truly grateful for the program, Rafaelino said the program served as a backbone for his education, easing away worries about his schooling.
“Malaking tulong ang 4Ps kasi kumbaga nagkaroon ako ng backbone, may nakasuporta sa likod ko para makapag aral,” Rafaelino said.
As a way to show his gratitude for the government’s assistance, Rafaelino studied hard and encouraged all 4Ps children to do the same.
He added: “Parang simpleng way ko na lang yong pag-aaral ng mabuti para makapag give back sa mga binigay sa akin na suporta. Gusto ko lang I encourage sila na magkaroon ng pangarap sa buhay nila, lalo na sa katulad namin na nakaranas ng hirap. Nandito iyong gobyerno na handang tumulong sa amin para makamit namin yong mga pinapangarap namin and hopefully soon ay ako naman po iyong makapagbigay ng tulong sa mga kabataan po na nangangarap.”
The 4Ps is the government’s national poverty alleviation program that aims to end the intergenerational poverty by providing conditional cash grants intended for the education and health of children 0 to 18 years old.
The #KPAP is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS), which are under the Strategic Communications group. It is hosted by TMS Director Aldrine Fermin and is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (GDVF)