Analyn Atienza, 35 years old, untiringly pushes out the ingrown nails of her customers every day in the middle of the busy streets in Western Bicutan, Taguig City so that she will have additional income, aside from the proceeds from their sari-sari store.
Analyn’s family is among the 8,004 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya program in Taguig City who, since December 2008, receives cash grants according to their compliance to the program conditionalities.
Way back in 1989, eldest among the six (6) children of her parents, Analyn Atienza at an early age of 10 already experienced how it was to be a helper, scavenger and vendor of sweet potato leaves in order to help her parents provide the basic necessities for their family.
Her family originally resides in Samar. Since their transfer in Taguig City in 1989, they experienced struggling for their everyday living because they are not accustomed on how it is to live in the city.
However, away from her past, Analyn now has her own family with her husband Romel, 37 years old, and happily living with their five (5) children aged 15, 13, 12, 9 and 7.
Performing as leader
As parent leader in their area, Analyn always ensures that her fellow beneficiaries religiously comply with the conditionalities of the program, and that her family walks her talks.
“Yung pagiging parent leader ko ay hindi ko inakalang makakaya ko… nakakatuwa na napapaintindi ko sa kapwa ko benepisyaryo yung kagandahan ng pagsunod sa kondisyon ng programa dahil kung tutuusin, hindi naman iyon para sa gobyerno…kundi para sa amin din,” (I never thought that I can perform my duty as parent leader… it feels good that I’m able to make my fellow beneficiaries understand the advantage in complying to the program conditionalities because apparently, those are not for the government… but for us) she emphasized.
Analyn also shared that before being registered in the program, they do not have any plan to improve their situation, unlike now that they have set goals to achieve which include the preparation for a brighter future for her children.
Access to livelihood
In 2011, the Atienza family availed the Self- Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) capital assistance amounting to P7,000.00 which was used to put up a small sari-sari store which now serves as their major source of living.
Also in June 2012, Analyn attended the “Ganda Mo, Hanapbuhay ko” training in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) where she acquired knowledge on cosmetology.
The said training enabled Analyn to earn even at home by doing manicure and pedicure service in her neighborhood while attending to the needs of their children and managing their sari-sari store. Likewise, her husband earns by driving their newly-owned tricyle.
Analyn also engaged in the trainers training on Community-Driven Enterprise Development (CDED for Implementation of SLP) in May 2012 where she learned how to manage a small-scale business.
Valuing education
Earlier, Analyn ensures that her children are attaining the 85% average rate of attendance in school just to comply with the Education conditionality of the program. However, she eventually realized that it is the future of her children which will be compromised if they will not attend classes regularly.
“Sa totoo lang, dahil sa namulat ako sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon, nag-enroll ako ngayon sa Alternative Learning System (ALS) at sa pasukan ay papasok na rin ako bilang estudyante sa grade 3,”(In fact, since I became conscious of the importance of education, I enrolled myself in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) wherein in the coming school year, I will enter as grade 3 student), she continued.
Analyn narrated that when she was a kid, her ultimate dream is to graduate even only in primary level. Yet, she is now aware that primary education is not enough for an individual to be included in the formal sector of employees.
“Yung sinabi sa amin ang tungkol sa expansyon ng Pantawid Pamilya na mula edad 0-14 ay 0-18 na ang mga benepisyaryo sa programa, natuwa talaga ako. Nae-excite na rin akong mag-aral kasabay ng mga anak ko,” (I’m really glad when we were informed about the expansion of the Pantawid Pamilya that from aged 0-14 beneficiaries, it will be expanded to 0-18. I’m excited to study along with my children) she enthused.
Analyn proudly stated that her 2nd child graduated in elementary as top 6 in class and recognized as Best in Math, and Most Obedient and Honest student.
Pulling out the “ingrowns” in their lives
Just like how much the ingrown nails hurt the fingers of her customers which is enough reason why those must be immediately removed, Analyn’s life has had painful experiences in the past that she wished to forget. 
Accepting the loss of her supposed eldest child in the past, including marital conflict and a tough responsibility she had to carry at an early age, Analyn still stood firmly to carry on – drawing strength from her children.
As she shared the learning she had during FDS with her husband, she is now confident that they will no longer have marital conflicts. Also, Analyn promised to herself that as long as she lives, she will never allow her children to experience the circumstances that she encountered in the past. ###