Espartero F
amily from Caloocan City bested the other 16 nominees in this year’s Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya with a theme, “Matatag na Pamilya, Maunlad na Bukas” in celebration of the 24th National Family Week.
Though differs in some culture and traditions, Espartero family willingly joined with their fellow beneficiaries of the program in bringing positive changes in their lives through their religious compliance with the conditionalities of the program.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat namin na may ganitong programa ang pamahalaan para sa aming mahihirap. Ang aming pagtulong sa iba ay nagpapakita lamang na malaki ang ipinagbago ng aming buhay mula ng kami ay maging benepisyaryo ng programa,” said by Rosie Espartero, 41 years old.
Romanillo, 43, the head of Espartero family, admitted that before being included in the program, they were previously sacrificing their meals to provide the needs of their children in school.
As a tricycle driver and earning P4,000.00 per month, Romanillo is thankful that Rosie is able to help him in sustaining their financial needs as she is currently sewing and selling clothes.
Model family in their community
Rosie is now an active Parent Leader among the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in their area. She is also a member of Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) under the Bottom-up-budgeting (BUB) project of DSWD-NCR.
Aside from this, Rosie is also an active volunteer facilitator of Save the Children’s “First Read” project, member of Breast Feeding Support Group in Brgy. 174 health center, volunteer of the Barangay Child Protection Council and President of their SEA-K association.
While performing said volunteerism, Rosie ensures that she does not neglect her duties at home especially in attending to the needs of her children.
Meanwhile, Romanillo is currently the Officer-in-charge at their muslim mosque, an active volunteer for Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) in their community and also a volunteer of Kabalikat CiviCom.
Romanillo is also the one who attends in school activities of their children as he is actively participating in Parent-Tearcher Association (PTA).
Both of their children, Rasmiyah, 12 and Rajiyah, 9 years old, are doing well in school wherein the first graduated in Grade VI as 6th honorable mention while the latter is always among the top students in her class.
How love binds them
In 2002 Rosie and Romanillo were married through an Islamic wedding after the latter decided to be converted in Muslim religion as during this time, he started questioning some beliefs from his former religion and he eventually found the answers in Qur-an.
Though Romanillo admits that his special feeling for Rosie is not the main reason for his conversion, he is thankful that it paved the way of marrying his wife.
The couple raised their children by setting as good example to them like the expression of humbleness, love, honesty and kindness. They also ensure that they always eat and pray together.
Inspiring others
During the awarding ceremony, Romanillo encourages the nominees to continue in inspiring their fellow beneficiaries of the program.
“Sa lahat po ng nominees hindi man kayo ang nagsasalita sa harapan, tayo ay panalo sa bawat city nat Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR
Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-F
F) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR
in dahil sa atin nagsisimula ang magandang pamilya at sana ay ipagpatuloy natin ang ating pagiging huwaran mula sa ating syudad at papunta sa buong bansa,” Romanillo emphasized.
Since the start of the search in NCR, it is the 1st time to award a muslim family as Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya which indicates that belief and culture is never a hindrance to inspire and help others who are not in their same religion. This is also a sign of empowerment among the muslim people in urban areas.
Conducted yearly by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) led by DSWD-NCR since 2010, this year’s validators of the nominees are the representatives from PIA-NCR, NHA, MMDA, CHED, ERDA and POPCOM-NCR.###