An 81-year old widow and social pension beneficiary from Brgy. Sta. Ana, Pateros continues to inspire people through her relentless perseverance and positive outlook in life.
Despite her age, Mila Santos, or fondly called as “Lola Mila,” can still provide the needs of her family. Every day, she wakes up early in the morning to prepare the cotton she is using to make potholders. She loves sewing because it makes her feel productive and worthy.
“Katuwang ko ang aking anak sa paggawa at pagtitinda ng potholder. Pumupunta kami sa mga simbahan, eskwelahan, palengke, sa aming mga kapitbahay at kaibigan para magbenta. Para manatili akong malakas ay sumasama ako sa aking mga kaibigan upang mag-aerobics,” Lola Mila proudly narrated.
Meanwhile, lola Mila shared that she used to be an active member of Pateros Senior Citizens Association and was part of its livelihood project. Unfortunately, she needed to stop her potholder business due to financial losses, but she trusts that she would use her tailoring skills again.
She uttered, “Sobrang nalungkot ako kasi gusto ko talagang magtahi pero wala naman akong pera para matuloy ang aking negosyo. Pero patuloy pa rin akong nagsusumikap para maibalik ito,”
In 2011, it was a dream comes true when an OSCA officer told her that she was identified, through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan, as a recipient of the social pension program being implemented by Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR).
“Dahil sa Social Pension na natatanggap ko ay nagkaroon ulit ako ng pagkakataong mahawakan ang aking makina sa pananahi. Naipandagdag ko ang pension sa puhunan para buhayin ko ulit ang aking pagtitinda ng potholder. Nalilibang na ako, at sa isang banda ay kumikita pa ako ng sapat para matugunan ko ang aking mga pangangailangan.”
As social pensioner, she receives P500.00 per month or P1,500 quarterly as financial assistance for food expenses and medical needs in compliance to Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
“Napakalaki ng pasasalamat ko sapagkat malaking tulong ito sa aking sarili at sa aking kabuhayan. Dahil sa programang inyong ipinagkaloob sa aming mga senior citizens, nagkaroon ng liwanag at katuparan ang aming buhay. Natutustusan ko rin ang aking mga pangangailangan lalung-lalo na sa pagkain at gamot,”she continued.
With a bright smile and great enthusiasm, she disclosed, “Maraming salamat sa inyong lahat sapagkat naging bahagi kayo (DSWD) para maging maunlad ang isang katulad kong senior citizen.”
To others, lola Mila is an ordinary 81 year-old woman, but to those who know her very well, she epitomizes a person whose commendable hardwork and optimism is really inspiring. ###