“Hindi mo masasabing maunlad ka kung ang mga nasa paligid mo ay naghihirap.” This was the heartfelt statement of Mr. Manuelito Villanueva, the household head of the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the National Capital Region for 2012.
A family composed of a fisherman and a volunteer teacher with five children from Navotas City was chosen by the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on the Filipino Family (RIAC-FF) as the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the National Capital Region for 2012 because of their commendable performance as parents and as responsible members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the community.
They were blessed to have five (5) children, two of which have graduated from college. Minnie. the eldest, completed her college education with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Meanwhile, Claire, the second child, finished her degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management this year. Manuel Villanueva, 18 years old, who is their third child and one of the monitored children of the family, recently graduated from the K12 senior high school. Manuel aspired to be a seafarer someday. Based on the program guidelines, children members who already graduated from senior high school or reached 19 years old will not be eligible for monitoring.
Although Manuel graduated from the program, Mr. and Mrs. Villanueva were very thankful to the Pantawid Pamilya. “Kung wala ang Pantawid Pamilya, hindi ko alam kung makakatungtong ang aking mga anak sa highschool o elementary man lang.” The fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Villanueva named Gina already advanced from Grade 10 to Grade 11.
The Family’s Commitment to the Community
The family had significant involvement in different community activities, projects, and advocacies that helped their community in Sitio Polo, Tanza Navotas. Isla Pulo is a long and narrow island in the Manila Bay coast of Navotas, about 13 kilometers north of Manila.
Living in the island was not easy. There was no electricity in the island and the available generators in the area were enough for the needs of only 10 families. Clean and safe water sources were scarce; they have to get their drinking water from other barangays and transport it via boat. Sitio Pulo was filled with garbage coming from Manila Dome.
Amidst the challenges and countless days and nights of lobbying their concerns to the local government, the goal of the community organization was achieved when the Sitio Isla Polo inhabitants were in-city relocated. Their struggles for proper electricity and water, even their concern regarding their unstable houses during storms surges were alleviated when they were relocated. They were transferred to more decent homes with secured water connections and electricity supply.
Life after Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya
After they were chosen as the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in 2012, they became a role model to their co-members. They were admired by the other program members. They experienced a series of interviews and media exposures. Mr. Manuelito, fondly called “Bong” was elected as president of a People’s Organization named Samahan ng mga Maralita sa Isla Pulo “SAMASAISIP” and was interviewed by various TV stations that featured the challenges faced by the community and families in the island and how they overcame them.
The Villanueva family said that Pantawid Pamilya is a program to alleviate poverty and it’s the government’s assistance to the marginalized sector. They stressed that they do not depend on the program alone. The family worked hard in order to get out of the poverty.
Even after the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya Award, the family never stopped their volunteer works. Mrs. Villanueva is still a volunteer day care teacher of Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation, a non-government organization that provides educational services in the community. For Villanueva Family, The Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya 2012 title is a reminder of what they can offer to do in order to help other people. It’s one way for the family to reflect and assess if the Pantawid Program goals were met. Mr. Manuelito added: “Hindi lang ibang tao ang iniintindi at binabantayan kundi pati sarili mo.”
The Villanueva family realized that being chosen as the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya 2012 among the 17 Local Government entries was a privilege and a responsibility as well. They acknowledged that there were people who look up to them. They were not pressured by how the society expected them to behave. Instead, they are doing their best to help other members of the community.