“Masarap makatulong sa ibang tao (It’s feels good to help other people).”
Thus what Febie Pejedero expressed, Parent Leader (PL) of Pantawid Pamliya Pilipino Program from Caloocan City, in front of other PLs. She recounted a story of her member who needed financial help and how she and other program beneficiaries responded.
Febie said that the son of one of his members was hospitalized due to kidney problem. The latter came to her to ask for help, but she also didn’t have money at that time. With a desire to help, she decided to raise money among her members.
“Alam ko pong bawal manghingi ng kahit ano sa mga miyembro mo lalong lalo na ng pera, ngunit ginawa ko. Nang lumapit siya sa akin, hindi ako nag-atubiling puntahan ang iba naming kasamahan at lahat kami ay nag-ambag-ambag para pandagdag sa gastusin nila sa hospital (I know that we were prohibited to get anything from other member/ beneficiaries, especially money, but I did it. I never hesitated to go to their houses and raise money for the hospital need of our co-member,” she continued.
Their group was able to raise money amounting to P1,750.00. Small it may seems, but the family was very thankful for the generosity that they have showed.
“Mapalad kami kasi dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya nabigyan kami ng oportunidad na maging instrumento ng Panginoon para makatulong sa kapwa. Sa pamamagitan ng Family Development Sessions (FDS), natuto kaming makisalamuha, maging mapagkumbaba, at magpahalaga sa buhay (We are blessed for the Pantawid Pamilya program because it gives us opportunity to become God’s instrument in helping others. Through FDS, we learned how to get along well with everyone, to be humiliated, and to value life).”
Meanwhile, she also told that their family was interviewed by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan in 2010, then was identified as Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary in 2012.
“Dati nasa bahay lang ako, nag-aalaga ng aking mga anak at nag-aasikaso ng aking asawa. Subalit nang magsimula na akong maging benepisyaryo at Parent Leader ng Pantawid, nagbago ang lahat. Hindi lang pala ako pambahay lang, kaya ko rin palang mag-ambang ng magandang pagbabago sa aming komunidad (Before, I just stayed at home to take care of my children and husband. When I became beneficiary and Parent Leader of Pantawid Pamilya program, everything changed. I realized that I’m can also be able to contribute positive changes to our community),”
Febie strongly believes that government does not teach them how to be lazy, but rather, the government only dreams a better life for every Filipino by investing in health and education of our children.
“Hindi namin sasayangin ang tulong na ibinibigay sa amin ng gobyerno. Sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilya, kaya namin ang Pagbabago. (We will not put into waste the assistance provided by the government. Through the Pantawid Pamilya, we can change).” Febie disclosed. ###