QUEZON CITY – Taking the journey of success was proven by Elma Molino dela Cruz, mother of two children. She hails from San Agustin, Surigao Del Sur and the 9th child among brood of 10. Out of 9 siblings, 2 were already deceased.
Despite having a big family, she grew up together with her siblings and lived a simple life in their hometown. They were raised by their father who was a fisherman, a farmer, and a coconut “copra’ maker. His mother was a full time housewife. Their parents were not able to raise them for a long time because they died of sickness.
Elma graduated in High School from the said province but she was not able to pursue her studies in college due to financial hardships. She experienced becoming a food vendor and a Tupperware dealer. She was exposed to entrepreneurship at a young age. In 1997, Elma went to Barangay Gulod, Quezon City wherein one of her siblings resides to take a vacation. There she met Percival dela Cruz who sooner became her husband. They were blessed with two children, Steven Keper, 21 and John Lester, 16 years old.
Just like any other families, theirs were not free from challenges. Percival got sick and was not able to work regularly. He was the breadwinner then, so, Elma has to find a way to help her husband earn a living. She engaged in manicure and pedicure services, she knocked from one door to another to offer her service. She was eager to help her husband just to defray the needs of her family.
Elma invested for her children’s education for she knows that it is the best way to lift up their economic living condition. Steve Keper has to make a move and found a part-time job to sustain his educational expenses. The family was known in the community as peaceful and industrious people. They also have close family tieswith good relationships with relatives and neighbors.
In 2009, typhoon Ondoy devastated their house and it took them many years to recover. During the same year, their household was enumerated by Listahanan and was successfully registered to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as Set-4A. This was the turning point for the family as they started to take steps in their journey towards success.
Life as Pantawid Member has added the joy and inspiration in the family’s daily living. Elma treasured all the Family Development Sessions sheattended. It strengthened her personality as a member, as well as in performing her roles in the family. They were able to practice open communication and celebrate life events whenever they can. The received grants that were allotted for the educational expenses of the children.
To date, Elma is managing a food business and Percival is an on-call Electrician. With the help of each other, they are independent and can stand by their own capacities and resources. From a not-so-enough income, now they have more and started out savings too. Steve Keper is now in 4th year college and eyeing for his diploma on B.S. Marketing by October 2020. While the eldest is making his own footway, John Lester is also completing his Junior High School.
With hopes and aspirations, Elma is taking small steps into the realization of reaching her dream which is to see her children successfully taking their careers. This will fulfill the breaking of the inter-generational cycle of poverty, a success for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Pantawid Pamilya promotes positive behaviors that we want our family-members to adopt, such as putting a premium on children’s health and education and becoming active citizens. This is an institutionalized activity that communicates the stories of huwarang families that provide program members the actual examples of how hard work, family togetherness, and the assistance from Pantawid Pamilya could lead to affirmative changes in their lives.
“Kapag may itinanim may aanihin” is the motto in life of a 45 year old mother from Barangay Gulod, Quezon City. ###
From the reports of: Ebenezer Refulgente, Project Development Officer II, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Management Office