Clad in a pair of shirts and jeans, she proudly walked up to the stage and headed for the rostrum. She gripped the microphone with all her might as she beams an aura of confidence. There she stood and began sharing the story of her life that is worth all the praises and commendations in the world.

In front of almost a hundred spectators from all walks of life, Josibel Sibal of Brgy. Ugac Sur, Tuguegarao City told how her life transformed when she became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. And everyone listened. Even DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman herself.

“Simula ng naging benepisyaryo ako ng Pantawid Pamilya, marami ng nabago sa aking buhay,” Aling Josibel started. “Sa aming pagtanggap ng cash grant, nagkaroon kami ng katuwang para matustusan ang pag-aaral ng aking mga anak at masiguro na sila ay malusog,” she continued.

But greater than the program’s help in financial aspect, the Pantawid Pamilya has contributed more to the development of her knowledge and character. Josibel became more of everything. She became a more responsible parent. A more loving better-half. A more dependable individual. She became a better version of herself.

“Nung ako ay naging isang Parent Leader, lahat ng aking kaalaman at kakayahan bilang isang indibidwal ay ginamit ko.  Dahil sa kakayahang ito, natutulungan ko ang kapwa ko benepisyaryo na matutong tumayo sa sarili nilang mga paa at magkaroon ng tiwala sa sarili,” she shared.

With her optimistic disposition and strong-willed personality, Josibel inspires her fellow beneficiaries to trust themselves and believe that with hard work and perseverance, they can break free from the choking grasp of poverty.

Aside from being a doting mother, a loving spouse and a dedicated Parent Leader, Josibel also juggles her time working as a Barangay Health Worker.

Josibel is very happy with her work. She goes around within their barangay and advocates about the importance of health. “Maganda sa pakiramdam kapag nabibigyan ka ng pagkakataon na itaguyod ang isang bagay na pinaniniwalaan mo. Pinangangalagan ng Pantawid ang kalusugan ng aking pamilya, kaya bilang isang Barangay Health Worker, binibigyang-diin ko ang kahalagahan ng regular na pagpapabakuna at pagpapakonsulta,” she proudly said.

Just like a caterpillar that went a metamorphosis and evolved into a butterfly to give color to the world, Josibel creates big impact in her society through her little ways.

But before, this is not the kind of life that she used to live.

“Nagpapasugal po ako sa harap ng bahay namin, bawat ‘table’ kumikita po akong P50 pesos,” she confessed. “Nakakadalawang ‘table’ ako sa isang araw kaya kumikita ako ng P100 pesos. Pag Sabado at Linggo naman, nakakatatlo hanggang apat na ’table’ ako kaya umaabot sa P200 ang aking kita,” she continued.

Looking back, this is what Aling Josibel did for a living. She made both ends meet through making their residence a small time gambling house. But all of that changed when she became a beneficiary of the program, though she admitted that at first, she was skeptical.

“Noong una nag-aalangan po ako na maging miyembro ng Pantawid kasi po nagpapasugal ako sa harap ng bahay namin. Nakakaraos naman kami sa araw-araw naming pangangailangan,” Josibel admitted.

But still, she studied about the program and when she learned that the Pantawid Pamilya is geared in investing in the health and education of her children, Josibel turned over a new leaf.

“Napag-isipan ko at napagdesisyonan na ituloy ang pagiging beneficiary ng Pantawid dahil mas makakabuti ito sa kinabukasan ng aking pamilya,” Josibel shared.

She also realized that the profit she generates from gambling will not be able to sustain her family’s needs in the long run.

“Hindi rin magandang halimbawa sa aking mga anak ang pagpapasugal, kaya ito ay akin ng tinigil.” And with her eyes that shine with joy and pride, Josibel uttered, “Mabuti na lang at dumating ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program sa aking buhay.”

And since the moment she signed her Oath of Commitment as a beneficiary of the program, Josibel began to live a whole new different life. Better. Brighter.

“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa DSWD dahil sa pagpapatupad nila ng programang ito. Napakalaking pagbabago ang idinulot nito sa aking buhay. Dahil sa Pantawid Pamilya, tinalikuran ko ang mga hindi magagandang Gawain. Higit sa lahat,nabigyan ang mkakatulad kong maralitana sa gitna ng kahirapan, kayang-kaya naming makatawid tungo sa kaunlaran,” Josibel ended, to which the crowd gave a resounding applause.

EMPOWERED ADVOCATE

Aling Josibel was one of the lucky beneficiaries trained under the Skills Enhancement Training for Parent Leaders as program advocates. She said that the training has boosted her confidence in interacting and speaking to different kind of people.

There were mock TV and radio interviews during the skills enhancement which gave the beneficiaries a real experience on speaking with the media.

“Malaking tulong yung training sa amin dahil naturuan kamikung paano namin maipapahayag ang aming mga damdamin,lalo na ang mga magagandang epekto na dulot ng programa,” she said.

But above all, Josibel said that the training gave her a stronger personality at the same time, deeper sense of responsibility as a Parent Leader who vows to advocate for the program.

Josibel committed that she, will be one of the many living proofs, that amid the choking grasp of poverty, thus to put her words in verbatim: “Kayang-kaya ng Pinoy Tumawid Tungo sa Kaunlaran!”

It was August 18, 2014. For others, this date may not ring a bell, but for Josibel, this day is something that she will always remember. On this day, Josibel engraved inspiration in her fellow beneficiaries. Josibel earned the admiration of the people, including DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman herself.

But of course, there is always that one day that she will be thankful of. And this is the day when she became a recipient of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. ###By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Information Officer II- Pantawid Pamilya