In front of almost 700 Pantawid Pamilya Parent Leaders from Manila City who gathered at a forum on April 24, 2015 which was led by International Holistic Engagement for Life and Progress (I-HELP), a CSO partner of DSWD-NCR in conducting Family Development Session (FDS) to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, Emmanuel confidently shared his story of change.
“Dati akong laman ng kalsada o computer shop at laging kasama ang barkada sa paghahamon ng away at pustahan pagdating sa paglalaro ng Defense of the Ancient (DOTA),” said Emmanuel.
The 16-year old incoming college freshman testified how the Pantawid Pamilya program of DSWD in partnership with a Civil Society Organization (CSO) named as I-HELP brought remarkable values formation to him personally.
As a youth of the computer age, it is really hard for Emmanuel John P. Ilagan to prevent himself from engaging in said activities which he first thought was good for him. Fortunantely, the time came that he lost interest in playing DOTA and putting up a fight with his friends.
“Isang beses ay nag-invite po ang Filipino Christian Church sa mga umaattend ng FDS na yung anak daw nila ay maaaring sumama sa kanilang Youth Fellowship at ayun po ang nagdulot ng magandang pagababago sa aking buhay; napakalaking pagbabago po sa aking pagkatao,” he emphasized.
Emmanuel also shared how their cash grants from Pantawid Pamilya program helped him and his siblings on health and education. Further, he pointed out that the attendance of her mother in FDS encouraged him to be a youth leader now in their church and he is currently handling three (3) disciples.
Now, Emmanuel will study in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and will take up Bachelor of Arts in Filipinology.
Aside from the financial aspect of his family, Emmanuel recognized how the DSWD and I-HELP developed and facilitated his family to change holistically. As to him, “maganda talaga ang FDS dahil yun po ang nagdadala ng kaalamang ‘di nauubos… bukod po dito, kapag ugali at pananaw sa buhay ang nagbago, mas makakayanan po ng Filipino ang tumawid sa kaunlaran.”
Meanwhile, CSO focal person Director Roy Calfoforo in the Office of the DSWD Secretary encourages the Parent Leaders during the forum to further show to the public how the program works in their lives, as they are the living testimony of the benefits of the program.
Emmanuel’s family was included in the program in 2011 and is among the 234, 836 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries as of April 24, 2015 in Metro Manila, who are receiving cash grants based on their compliance to health and education conditionalities. .###