Quezon City – Ms. Maribel G. Malate is proud to announce that her Household is now ready to go on their own without the assistance of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program! 

Maribel Malate, now 45 years old, was born in San Mateo, Rizal. She was not able to finish her studies forshe started having a family at 18. Fausto, her common-law-spouse, is a foreman in a construction agency.

Faced with more responsibilities in life, Maribel engaged into variety of jobs – from Pharmacy Saleslady to factory worker. They have a two-storey abode with rights owned and more than lucky enough, the family was awarded with one unit at Bistek Ville in Quezon City. 

With positivity that was showed by Maribel, she opted for livelihood income and ventured into hog raisings or piggery. She has 21 pigs but onset of the pig’s diseases, the Local Government Unit forced to sell all the pigs and stopped the operation.  Saving the money from piggery, she is reserving it for other entrepreneurship ideas.  She believes that she can do more and would not hesitate to try new things. 

Three out of four children are no longer dependent on them.  They already have their own fight in life, with families of their own.  Maribel expressed that all her children, despite non-completion of their college/Bachelor’s Degree, have their own means of living.. That is all she wants for her children, to have better lives.

The grants that they received from Pantawid Pamilya subsidized other expenses specifically high educational needs of the youngest child who is in high school.

Through the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, Maribel had learned and unlearned practical principles in life.  She was also able to acquire new skills through various Civil Society Organizations wherein she became a member.

From minimal means of living, dependability to the assistance of the government, non-active citizenships, and poor family management, Maribel is now becoming empowered and strengthened person she is now. With all of these circumstances in life, there is no doubt that Maribel proved one thing:  that impossible can be possible with perseverance and positive outlook in life.  There is a clear road to take to break the inter-generation cycle of poverty.  Truly, Pantawid Pamilya was able to change one member, one family, and one generation!

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the government designed for poverty reduction, social protection, and development strategy. Pantawid Pamilya and Charity First Foundation, Inc. share the same goal on social development, which is to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty through investment in human capital. ###

From the reports of: Ebenezer Refulgente, Project Development Officer II, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Management Office