Annabelle O. Pulmano is a member of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and is currently residing at Barangay Carangian, Tarlac City, Tarlac. The grantee is a solo parent, a widow since 2011, and an active Barangay Kagawad in their area. Grantee’s late husband, Joven E. Pulmano, was unemployed since 2009 due to a motorcycle accident while earning a living as a tricycle driver which resulted to a hip fracture. The accident caused grantee’s husband to stay at home since he cannot work with his condition. On that same year, Mr. Pulmano unfortunately passed away due to cardiac arrest leaving the grantee with their nine (9) offspring. Grantee has averred that during this time she was physically and mentally distraught. Her nine (9) children were attending school and as a solo parent who is unemployed, she was worried that she could not provide for their daily basic needs.
On the year 2012, Mrs. Annabelle Pulmano became a recipient of 4Ps and was also chosen as a zone leader in their area. Mrs. Pulmano has expressed that life for them became better ever since the arrival of 4Ps since it lessened her burden on financial worries for the school expenses of her children. For the reason that the grantee is being aided by the 4Ps, she became an active zone leader and her efforts were recognized. She was awarded with “Active Zone Leader of the Year”. October of 2013, Mrs. Annabelle ran for Barangay Kagawad of Carangian, fortunately, she won, bagging the number one spot. Year 2015, Mrs. Pulmano’s son, Andrey O. Pulmano, became a scholar of the Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) under the 4Ps scholarship.
As per statement from the other 4Ps members in Carangian during conducted interview, from the time that Annabelle became a Barangay Kagawad, she had helped many constituents especially other 4Ps members regarding Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) cases, constituents who are needing medical assistance and cases of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL). As a Barangay Kagawad the grantee was assigned to the barangay’s Health and Peace & Order concerns. She was able to contribute as a servant-leader and as a parent leader to the community by joining community services in the barangay such as “Linisin Ating Barangay” Day (LAB Day). When it comes to the CICL, Annabelle was able to help them by referring them to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSDWO) and to the barangay police regarding their cases. She was also the one who encouraged other 4Ps member to enroll their children at the Alternative Learning System (ALS) conducted by the Tarlac Police at Tarlac West Central Elementary School; from this, seven (7) children were able to graduate from the said program.
Annabelle used to sit and listen to the City Link (CL) during Family Development Sessions (FDS) on topics like women empowerment, but these days, she has averred that she herself know that she is now empowered. As a Barangay Kagawad for her second term, there are times wherein she stands before her constituents empowering them too through her life story. Sharing to them, especially to her co-grantees in 4Ps, “Kahit walang gaanong nabago o napagawa sa’ming bahay, malaki pa rin ang pinagbago ng aming buhay dahil mas inuna kong pahalagahan ang pag-aaral ng mga bata kaysa sa mga materyal na bagay” (Even if our house did not improve, our lives changed in big ways because I prioritized my children’s schooling rather than the material things).
As a member of 4Ps, Annabelle has an active participation during FDS and any 4Ps activities. Her children ages 0-18 have 85% attendance in school. Grantee also has a small garden filled with vegetable crops within her front yard. She is a proud and active implementer of “waste segregation” and emergency balde (e-balde) for emergency purposes during times of natural calamities.
During her reign as a Barangay Kagawad, she was given a chance to improve and hasten her abilities through seminars and trainings namely:
1. Workshop re: Salient features of R.A 9003, The ecological solid waste management act of 2000;
2. Capability building program dubbed as “Disaster Risk Reduction and Managemet (DRRM);
3. Training on Gender-Responsive and socially protective (child friendly Barangays);
4. Basic sensitivity training and orientation on anti-VAW law;
5. Skills training cum DILG PPA and GAD orientation;
6. Seminar workshop on: Mamayanang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamayanang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga (MASA – MASID);
7. Orientation-Seminar on laying the foundation for good governance for the new sets of Barangay officials;
8. Seminar-Workshop on procurement planning and reporting and updates on budgeting an R.A 9184.
“Nasisiguro ko pong patawid na kami sa kahirapan. Sa tulong ng Pantawid, nairaos ko pong mapag-aral ang aking mga anak. Ngayon po ako’y isa na rin akong kagawad, na katuwang naman sa pagpapaunlad ng aming komunidad, (I can say that we are now leaving the pit of poverty. Through Pantawid, I was able to send my children to school. Now, I am already a Barangay Counselor, I am now moving toward the improvement of our community),” shared Kgg. Anabelle Pulmano.
Written by: Emmanuel Paul Catalan
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