“Naranasan ko ang paghahakot ng buhangin, bakal, at hollow blocks at pagsusulandra ng mga buhangin para magamit ng kasama kong trabahador. Kasama rin ako sa pag-check ng mga DTR (I experienced hauling sand, metal, and hollow blocks and filtering sand to help my fellow construction workers. I was also one of those who checked the DTR).”

These words were told by Rosanna DC. Perin, 42, as she recalled her days as a paid laborer during the construction of their community sub-project in Barangay Mataas na Kahoy, General Mamerto Natividad, Neva Ecija. Their community sub-project was funded by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS, a program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Giving a quick glance on Perin, one would never have a clue that this petite lady with a bubbly personality would be able to work as a construction worker. “Katakot takot na sakripisyo ang aming naranasan noong una, ngunit [dahil] sa tulong at suporta ng aming kapitan, nagkaroon kami ng lakas ng loob para magpatuloy (At first, we were confronted with a lot of hardships. However, because of the assistance from our barangay captain, we gained the courage to go on),” she said.

Perin, along with her farmer husband, raises their six children. Admittedly, she said that her additional income from her construction work helped a lot in her family’s daily expenses. A Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary, Perin is also known in her community as one of the most active volunteers.

Aside from being a member of the audit and inventory team, Perin monitors the laborers in the sub-project. “Nagkaroon ng pagsasaayos ng mga dokumento, paghahanap ng materyales, at pag-inventoy ng mga gamit na dumadating galing sa mga suppliers (We organized documents, looked for materials, and did inventory on equipment from the suppliers),” she added.

Committed to community service, Perin is honored to be one of the nominees in the Regional Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya of the DSWD. According to her, being a barangay health worker for two years is enough to be called ‘huwaran’. She hopes that her dedication to volunteering becomes a great example to all the women in her community. Engagement to the community, according to Perin, is the key to women empowermement. ### (Ma. Denielle M. Lomboy/Manilyn B. Cruz)