Criselda B. Cada, a member of the Mangyan indigenous people from Mulanay, Quezon, did not expect that their family will receive recognition as the regional winner of the ‘2023 Regional Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya’ in CALABARZON Region.

At a young age, Criselda was separated from her parents. She moved to the town of Lucban to work as a house helper and met her husband Renato, a farmer, with whom she has three children, namely, John Paul, Hanna, and Christian.

The Cada family’s journey began with the most unlikely source of income – scavenging for recyclables in the trash. They collected junk steel, bottles, tin sheets, and other discarded items to put food on their table. But is also became the cause of some of their hardships.

“Nariyang napuwing ng yero si Renato, ang aking asawa, na naging sanhi ng paglabo ng kanyang mata. Naging tampulan din ito ng tukso o pambu-bully sa aking mga anak, lalo na ang aking anak na si Hanna,” an almost teary-eyed Criselda narrated.

(There were times when Renato, my husband, got injured by the tin sheets, which affected his eyes. My children, especially my daughter, Hanna, were also constantly teased.)

But their determination to provide a better future for their family pushed them to pursue their dreams.

The Cada family gradually built a home in Barangay Igang, Lucban, Quezon in a small nipa hut with coconut leaf roofing and walls made from flattened coconut shells. This humble abode became the foundation of their aspiration to achieve a better future for their family.

It was in 2012 when their life took a significant turn by becoming beneficiaries of the Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The 4Ps is a flagship program of the national government on poverty reduction and social development. It provides cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children aged 0-to below 18 years old. It invests in human capital to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty among poor households.

The cash grants provided to them by the program became a crucial support for their children’s education.

“Nariyang naibibili na namin sila ng mga bagong damit, na malaki ang naging tulong upang tumaas ang kumpiyansa sa sarili ng aking mga anak,” Criselda recalled.

(We could now afford to buy them new clothes, which boosted their self-confidence.)

Aside from the financial aid, Criselda explained how the program helped each member of their family to become better persons by changing their outlook and behavior through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) which they regularly attended.

The FDS is a significant feature of the 4Ps as it employs neighborhood-based family psycho-educational activities to promote, empower and nurture beneficiaries toward strengthened capacity so they could meet their familial and parental responsibilities. Through the FDS, 4Ps parents are provided with life skills, including livelihood skills training.

Topics discussed in the FDS include financial literacy, importance of saving money as well as enhancing family relationships; improving interpersonal skills; adopting good ties; and fostering respect for one another.

“Natuto kaming sumali sa kooperatiba at mag-impok sa bangko. Sa katunayan, lahat ng tatlong anak ko ay may sari-sariling savings account at insurance sa bangko,” she proudly pointed out.

(We learned to join cooperatives and save money in banks. In fact, all three of my children have their own savings accounts and insurance in the bank.)

Their family’s participation in the FDS further strengthened their relationships at home and imparted valuable knowledge.

“Sa pagdalo ni Renato ng FDS, partikular ang Gender Sensitivity Training, naging mas matibay ang pagsasama naming mag-asawa. Nakapagbabahagi na rin siya ng kaalaman sa iba—sa kanyang mga kaibigan at maging sa ibang mga seminar,” Criselda emphasized.

(When Renato attended FDS, especially the Gender Sensitivity Training, our marriage became stronger. He also started sharing his knowledge with his friends and other people during his attendance to seminars.)

The sessions also taught them to address problems within their family which led to increased open communication. Their children also learned to become responsible, well-rounded individuals who actively participated in their community.

Criselda also became a parent leader in the 4Ps. She later took on other leadership roles such as becoming a Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) and head of their Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) association, which helped them to open a sari-sari store.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, they supported community initiatives by volunteering in health-related activities and donating some of the vegetables grown from their backyard to a village pantry.

Today, the family proudly sees the fruits of their labor. Their eldest son, John Paul, is pursuing a degree in BS Electrical Engineering, while their daughter, Hanna, is studying BS Industrial Engineering. Their youngest child, Christian, who is currently in Grade 11, aspires to follow the footsteps of his older siblings.

The Cada family’s story is a reminder that with determination, hard work, and the right support, even the most challenging circumstances can lead to triumph.

“Hindi ko man masasabing kami ay mayamang-mayaman, ngunit ang pagbabago ng aming hanapbuhay, ang pagpapaunlad paunti-unti ng aming bahay at mga gamit sa loob nito, ang pagpupundar ng sariling lupa, ang pagkakaroon ng savings sa bangko, at lalong higit ay ang pag-usad sa pag-aaral ng aming mga anak, ay sapat na batayan na para sa amin para sabihing umasenso na kami,” Criselda said at the end of her interview.

(We may not be wealthy, but the changes in our livelihood, the gradual improvement of our home, owning a land, having savings in the bank, and, most importantly, our children’s education are enough for us to say that our life has greatly improved for the better.)

The journey of the Cadas to an improved quality of life is one proof that the 4Ps is on the right track of meeting its objective of breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty. The family’s success story is marked by their perseverance and eagerness to acquire skills that may help them in achieving their dreams of having a comfortable life, complemented by the modest help from the government.

As of 30 June 2023, the 4Ps covers a total of 3,893,958 active household-beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the entire country. #