“Noon ay sa gabi ako gumagawa ng project para malaki ang space dahil maraming tao sa kalsada… minsan naman ay sa school na lang ako gumagawa kapag umuulan kasi nasisira lang sa kalsada ‘di tulad ngayon, malaki na ang nagbago sa aming buhay” Mark Joseph said with teary eyes.
Five (5) years ago, Mark Joseph who is now 18 years old with his two (2) other siblings aged 22 and 12 were left in the care of their grandmother, Nieves del Prado, 61 years old and a fruit vendor in Baclaran, Parañaque City. Since then, the street became their home.
In 2012, Mark’s family became a beneficiary of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT – HSF) program of DSWD wherein they are receiving health and education grants. They also availed the Alternative Family Home (AFH) assistance to provide them a safe abode.
Mark shared that his parents already have their separate families and while it seems that they were like abandoned children, he never sowed hatred against them, instead, he used it as motivation to finish his secondary education.
Now that he is a high school graduate, Mark felt that he is already a step closer to his dream of being a certified public accountant someday.
“Kung hihinto ako sa pag-aaral, wala akong makukuhang trabaho kaya pinili kong magpursige para makatapos ng high school… at ngayon, mas pag iibayuhin ko pa ang aking pag-aaral para makatapos naman ako ng kolehiyo,” he shared.
Mark also excelled in the field of journalism as the editorial writer of Parañaque National High School – Baclaran’s official newsletter named as “Puting Pilas.”
“Mula ng may bahay na kaming tinutulugan, mas sinipag akong mag-aral kasi napapaganda ko na ang projects at assignments ko na ‘di tulad ng dati na laging rush kaya talagang mababa ang mga marka,” Mark added.
According to Lola Nieves, she was very grateful to God that despite of having no parents to guide them, Mark showed remarkable sense of responsibility in taking care of his siblings and also managed to help her in vending fruits after his schooling.
“Wala akong pagsisisi na ako na ang tumatayong magulang nila Mark… mabait yang bata kaya alam kong malayo ang mararating niya,” Lola Nieves emphasized.
Recently, Mark was included among the Pantawid Pamilya high school graduates who were interviewed by Ms. Kris Aquino wherein he was asked if he will be given a chance to talk to President Benigno Aquino III, what are the things he would say?
“Una po sa lahat, gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa Pangulo dahil may ganitong klase ng programa na talaga nakakatulong sa katulad kong mahirap. Hinihiling ko rin po na sana ay palawigin pa ang programang ito upang mas maraming pamilya pa ang makaranas ng tulong na ito,” Mark answered.
Mark belongs to the participants of the recently held graduation celebration of Pantawid Pamilya high school graduates from Metro Manila wherein almost 4000 children-beneficiaries gathered for the event occurred in PICC, Pasay City on April 9, 2015. ###