As part of the OPS-PCDSPO Western Visayas Communications Roadshow, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte held a dialogue with 50 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), from Barangay Tiza in Roxas City last April 20, 2012. The 4Ps is the conditional cash transfer program of the Philippine government

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A mother provides

Mrs. Jean Baulite—mother to three children aged 7, 3, and 2—has taken her place before the podium to share her story with her fellow 4Ps-beneficiaries in Barangay Tiza: “Yung isang anak ko, ang sabi, ‘Mommy, itaya mo na lang ang pera natin sa lotto. Kapag nanalo tayo, ibili mo ako ng sasakyan—‘yung kulay green!’”

It’s a light moment in a life otherwise marked by struggle: Her husband had no permanent job, they owed money for three caesarean operations, their children had to walk a long way to and from school—this last one, perhaps, was what prompted her child to make that quip about his color of choice for a vehicle borne of wishful thinking.

Mrs. Jean Baulite is one of the 50 4Ps beneficiaries of Roxas City who’ve welcomed the OPS-PCDSPO, led by the Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, into the modest yet roomy Tiza Barangay Hall. Barangay Tiza currently stands as one of the best performing barangays in Roxas City, which has a total of 4,901 4Ps beneficiaries.

Mrs. Baulite recounts the beginnings of the reversal of her fortune—when, one February day, she received the good news that she’d been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the 4Ps. “Nang kinaumagahan,” she tells the crowd animatedly, “dinala ko ‘yung tatlo kong anak, binilhan ko ng sapatos at bag!” Mrs. Baulite holds up a school bag and a pair of shoes with a bright sheen—and then she raises the tattered bag and the shoes grimy and full of holes. Her audience nods knowingly. “Napaiyak ‘yung isa, sabi, ‘Mama, bakit mo ako binilhan ng bag? Nanalo ka ba ng lotto?”

She looks around at the Tiza Barangay Hall. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mahal na Pangulong Noynoy Aquino at sa kanyang programang ito na tinutunlungan kaming mahihirap. At hindi lang sa perang natanggap namin, kundi maging sa training, kung saan tinuruan kami sa pamamalakad sa aming pamilya.” She is referring to the Family Development Sessions (FDS), which teach the beneficiaries good parenting strategies and responsible household management, in addition to the subsidy supporting the educational and nutritional needs of her children.

She angles her head toward the Presidential Spokespersons who’ve been listening, rapt, at her testimonial. “Nagpapasalamat ako sa panahong binigay sa akin para ibahagi, kahit papaano, ang talambuhay ko. Sana ay marami pang mahihirap ang matulungan nito.”

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The grand prize

“Dahil hindi mataas ang pinag-aralan, wala akong makuhang maayos na trabaho na may mataas na sweldo, na sana, iyon sana ang pagkukuhanan ng mga pang araw-araw na gastos at pangangailangan ng aming pamilya,” shares Mrs. Llane Deolino, who has seven children in between the ages of 3 to 22.

“Masakit talagang makita kapag wala tayong mapakain sa ating mga anak.” Mrs. Deolino begins to cry and the crowd within Tiza Barangay Hall shares her sorrow. She takes a deep breath and says, “Parang gusto ko na ngang magsisi e, sa mga maling desisyong nagawa ko sa buhay ko. Pero wala na akong magagawa, nandiyan na ako e, nandito na ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kailangnan ko nang panindigan ang mga responsibilidad ko sa aking mga anak. Dito ko po na-realize ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon. Hindi  ko dapat binalewala ang pag-aaral ko noon.”

And then Mrs. Deolino, mother of seven children, beams around the room. “Sa ngayon, sabihin na nating huli na para sa mga kagaya kong may-edad na makapag-aral. Pero sa totoo lang, nag-enroll ako sa ALS [Alternative Learning System]. And, last December, nagkaroon ng Essay Writing, at sa tulong ng Panginoon, I won 1st prize.” Applause greets her declaration.

Anticipating the heart of the President’s speech during the launch of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, Mrs. Deolino tells her audience, “Sa pamamagitan ng aking pag-aaral, makikita ng mga anak ko, at ng iba pang tao, ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon. Dahil ang karunungan ay isang bagay na hindi mananakaw sa iyo ninuman, magpakailanman. At ito ang magiging susi sa pag-aabot sa kani-kanilang mga pangarap.”

Mrs. Deolino swipes a hand over one cheek. “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa tulong ng aming konsehala. Ang sabi po niya: Ang karunungan ay sangkap sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga sarili. At sa lahat ng bumubuo ng 4Ps, maraming salamat po, lalo na kay Pangulong Aquino.” She takes a deep breath. “Pangarap ng magulang na mapag-aral ang kanilang mga anak. Sa pamamagitan ng tulong ninyo, at ng programa, may pag-asa na po kaming natatanaw, tungo sa magandang future ng aming mga anak.”