Everyone faces trials. Some struggle with the daily grind of making ends meet, while others battle quiet storms inside their own homes.

When a crisis hits, the weight can feel unbearable, especially when the people you expect to lean on are the ones causing the pain. But even in the bleakest moments, help arrives in unexpected ways.

For Priscilla Sasana, a senior citizen residing in Bgy. Camarin in Caloocan City, the heaviest burden was not just poverty — but a deeply fractured family relationship.

Priscilla shared a home with her mother-in-law, Lionela. The emotional distance between them, however, was filled with years of unspoken anger and bitter words stemming from a painful past.

“‘Yung aking biyenan, hindi kami close. Sinabi niya sa akin na kahit tumanda daw siya, hindi siya lalapit sa akin dahil ako ang sinusuka niyang manugang,” Priscilla said.

The rejection was sharp, and the cruelty extended beyond Lionela. Other relatives alienated Priscilla, treating her with similar disdain.

Yet, when the twilight of Lionela’s life brought sickness and frailty, the same relatives who harbored anger turned their backs.

There was only one person left standing in the room to care for the ailing matriarch: Priscilla. Choosing empathy over ego, she stepped up.

“Kahit na sinusuka po nila ako, kahit na tinatapak-tapakan ako niyan, hindi po ako sumusuko. Pinapakita ko po ‘yung effort ko talaga sa kanila na tutulong ako sa nanay nila, kahit na ganyan sila sa aking lahat,” Priscilla narrated.

For three grueling years, Priscilla became the sole caregiver for the woman who once vowed never to seek her help. She pushed her own exhaustion aside to ensure Lionela was nourished, clean, and became comfortable.

“Three years ako ang nag-aalaga diyan, ako nagpapakain, nagpapaligo, lahat lahat po. Kahit ano pang sabihin niya sa akin, kahit daw maldita ako, nakakatulong daw po ako sa kanya ,” Priscilla shared.

Eventually, old age and her lingering illness claimed Lionela’s life.

Lionela’s passing brought an end to her physical suffering. But it birthed a new, terrifying reality for her daughter-in-law, Priscilla.

As an indigent senior citizen herself, Priscilla had absolutely no means to afford a decent wake and burial. The grief of loss was entirely eclipsed by the agonizing pressure of mounting funeral costs.

Priscilla was broke, exhausted, and completely overwhelmed. Nobody has to face this crisis entirely alone.

And when all doors seemed permanently shut for Priscilla, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) opened one.

Through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, the DSWD steps in daily to catch those who are free-falling from life’s toughest hardships. AICS is designed precisely for moments like this—to provide an immediate financial and emotional safety net for any Filipino, regardless of the nature of their emergency.

Whether it is a sudden loss of employment, a medical emergency, or the unexpected death of a family member, the AICS program operates on the belief that every citizen deserves a place to turn to when they have nothing left.

Priscilla reached out to the DSWD as a last resort, hoping for a miracle. And the agency moved quickly.

Through the AICS program, the entirety of Lionela’s funeral and burial expenses was covered. The massive financial wall standing in front of Priscilla crumbled, allowing her to finally breathe, grieve properly, and lay her mother-in-law to rest with dignity.

“Maraming-maraming salamat po sa DSWD sa tinulong niyo. Kahit papaano po, natulungan po ninyo ang biyenan ko,” Priscilla emotionally shared.

Priscilla’s story is a remarkable display of unconditional forgiveness. It is also a vivid reminder that when the burden becomes too heavy to carry, there is always a dedicated hand ready to help lift the weight. (KB)