Financially crippled, that is how Julia de Asis Concepcion would describe their previous life status, but when Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program came, according to her, it is as if a crutch was given to them.

“We belong to a poor family but our lives changed when we became beneficiaries of Pantawid. Our financial problem was solved, all thanks to the cash grants we received,” testified Julia.

She also availed the additional capital assistance from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) last February 2015 which she used to start up a small business as a seller/ dealer of beauty products.

As a Pantawid beneficiary, Julia was able to further develop her intellectual ability and social skills. She became the president of the organization called CARMELA which has 20 members. She also became a Parent Leader of Sibacan, for almost 2 years now. She was able to attend seminars like Educ Child Parenting Program and Family Development Sessions.

She is also active in community activities like Feeding Programs where she assists in cooking and serving food to the children. She became the General Parents Teachers Association (PTA) at MP Cuaderno Sr. Memorial Elementary School as well. She also helped in building a new waiting shed in the school from the successful campaign of Pirma Mo Tulong Mo.

Julia and her husband also plants trees and vegetables in the school which earned them the recognition as Dakila Ka Itay, Dakila Ka Inay. But more notably, she also accompanies and assists some of her co-beneficiaries in the hospital and in settling their requirements in availing medical assistance. ###