“Dahil sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, nagkaroon ako ng tiwala sa aking sarili na kaya ko ring makiharap sa mga tao na mula sa iba’t-ibang yapak ng buhay,” Mae said, with her eyes that shines with strength and hope.

Her family is one of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid program in Tuao, Cagayan. She is a loving wife and a caring mother to her husband and children. But aside from this, she also squeezes her time as an active Parent Leader who takes charge in disseminating information to her members about the schedule of Family Development Sessions and meetings.

“Bilang isang Parent Leader, sinisikap kong gampanan ng mabuti ang aking mga tungkulin. Sa pamamagitan ng aking mga simpleng pamamaraan, nasi ko ring makatulong sa aking mga kapwa benepisyaryo,” she shared.

Mae is well-loved and is much-respected by her members because she executes her responsibilities admirably. A doting matriarch and a responsible Parent Leader, these are the adjectives that can be used to describe her. But Mae also rolls up her sleeves as a Barangay Health Worker, a Community Health Team partner, and a Barangay Human Rights Action officer.

She performs these roles with enthusiasm, with the goal of making a positive influence in the lives of her fellow beneficiaries.

“Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na ang kahirapan ay hindi makakasagabal sa pagpapaunlad ng ating mga pagkatao,” Mae expressed. She added that poverty, when dealt with an optimistic perspective, can be actually used as a motivation to transform one’s self into a better version he could ever be. And as for Mae, she used poverty as an instrument to touch and make a change, even just little, in the lives of her co-beneficiaries.

Mae owes this huge positive change through the program’s Family Development Sessions. According to her, the FDS has strengthened her knowledge and has awakened her soul on how to be a more responsible and active member of the society.

“Dati, nahihiya akong makihalubilo sa ibang tao dahil nandun yung takot at hiya. Pero dahil sa FDS, nabawasan ang mababang pagtingin sa aking sarili. Nagsimula akong magkaroon ng tiwala sa aking kakayahan at potensyal,” she added.

Mae is grateful for the program because it made her believe that there is something she can do, despite the lack of money. Pantawid is also able to augment the needs of her children in school.

“Napakaraming mabuting pagbabago ang dumating sa aming buhay dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya. Nakakatulong ito sa mga pangangailangan ng aking mga anak gaya sa pagbili ng notbuk at pagbayad ng mga fees. Nasisiguro ko rin ang kanilang kalusugan dahil sa regular na pagpapacheck-up,” Mae emphasized.

But greater than this, she concluded that through the program, Mae began to have faith in herself and trust in her abilities. In her own little ways, she is able to make big changes not just in the lives of her fellows, not just in the community where she belongs, but most of all, she made a big change in herself. ###By JANET A. BALMORES, Municipal Link of Tuao, Cagayan