I feel so blessed when we became beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, Zyra Velano, a wife to a farmer and a mother of one, said. Zyra recalled that she used to struggle so hard to survive.

Zyra, 28 and husband Robert, 27 devote their time working day after day in a farm during the planting and harvesting season and have no source of income in between the cropping season.

But with the coming of Pantawid Pamilya, Zyra’s life has changed… from a housewife to one of the parent leaders of Barangay Dikildit, Maria Aurora, Aurora. Her commitment to the program and leadership abilities as a parent leader has earned her appointment as Barangay Population Worker. She receives a monthly honorarium that augments their family income that derives from their sari-sari store and harvest from their small farm lot.

Zyra considers her responsibilities as a blessing and a means to hone her abilities in managing bigger responsibilities in serving her community in the future.

Given the responsibilities as a parent leader, Zyra’s priority is still her husband and only child James, 6 years old and a grade 6 student. On top of this, she takes care of her blind grandmother who lives with them.
Her family’s level of well-being has been raised to level 2 status as a result of the family’s improved economic and social status.

“Simula ng maging benepisyaryo ako ng Pantawid Pamilya, masasabi kong “Kaya ko ang Pagbabago” dahil napakaraming pagbabago ang ibinigay ng programa sa akin. Isa na dito ang pag-attend ko sa Family Development Session kung saan natuto ako ng maraming bagay lalo na ang pagiging mabuting ina, asawa at mamamayan.

Napalalaking impluwensa sa akin ng Pantawid at mula sa simpleng maybahay at asawa napili akong parent leader at humawak ng kapwa ko mga benepisyaryo ng programa. Naging Barangay Population Worker din ako at isa rin sa napiling mag-train sa mga pagsasanay sa paggawa ng camote at banana chips. Laking pagbabago nito sa buhay ko dahil sa mga produktong ito nagkaroon ako ng puhunan at nakapagbukas ng maliit na tindahan. Dahil sa pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga nagdulot ito ng pagbabago sa maraming bagay.

Dati isa lang akong taong bahay at asawa, ngayon ay nakakatulong na ako sa kapwa at sa aking asawa. Napakalaking bagay sa pamilya ang pagtutulungan at pagmamamhalan. Masasabi kong kayak o ang pagbabago at ipagpapatuloy ko ito dahil ito ang tuluyang mag-aangat sa amin sa kahirapan,” Zyra proudly said. ### (Evelyn T. Manalo)