“Hindi namin sinabi na hanggang hirap na lang. Talagang gumagawa po kami ng paraan para maiangat ang sarili namin. Sabi nga nila: ang pagbabago nasa sarili muna. Paano ka tutulungan ng gobyerno kung ang sarili mo mimso ayaw mo iangat sa kahirapan?” – Erlinda

Mercader Family is made up of their challenging past, meaningful present and inspiring future. They are the epitome of a changed story the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) envisioned ever since; the kind of family we want the world to see. The kind of story we want every critics to hear.

Samuel, 44, father in the family, recalled his past. He grew up in a reorganized family. Things were not well for him; he wasn’t able to go to school, and his frail body welcomed hitting as a form of discipline – things he swore not to give to his children. 

Erlinda, 44, mother in the family, said they had almost nothing. When she married Samuel, they constructed a nipa hut (kubo) where they built their home. They know they did not have much, but they won’t settle for it. They know very well that through perseverance, they can have more. They live in Barangay San Agustin, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.

          In their marriage, they wake in poverty every day. Samuel works seasonally in a farm while Erlinda is a homemaker, “Nakikipagtrabaho lang ako sa bukid, halos hindi malaman kung saan kukuha ng pambili ng bigas, sa pang-araw-araw. Napakahirap po ng buhay namin noon,” Samuel said. He earns 150 pesos to 200 pesos daily. There are days he earned nothing.

 It was in 2009 when they got in the program. Since then, they considered the opportunity fleeting. “‘Yung programang ito ay hindi pang habang-buhay, kaya isipin natin (to the children)  na maswerte kayo at isa kayo sa mga napiling benepisyaryo ng 4Ps,” Erlinda shared what she told her children.

Education

“Ang tulong ng gobyerno, nakalaan lang para sa pagaaral ng mga bata. Para oras na magipit kami, may nakalaan para sa kanila. Hindi sila ma-stop.” – Samuel

They didn’t waste the opportunity and followed religiously what the program encouraged them. The cash grants they received were dedicated to what they were intended for. Erlinda said that educational grants were used to aide their children’s needs in school, “Noong time na ‘yun, nabibigay namin ‘yung pangangailangan nila: may baon, may pagkain.” Samuel added he wanted their education to continue straight to college.

At present, Sharmaine, 21, is now a degree holder of Bachelor in Computer Science; Sherwin, 19 is on his second-year college taking Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management; while Sharlene, 15, and Sharina, 16, are on their 10th grade and 3rd grade respectively. All of their children have cell phones for communications and own laptops to aid them in their study. 

Health

“Sa buhay, strategy lang ang kailangan.” – Erlinda

According to the report of the Department of Health, the family members are generally healthy. They are enrolled in family planning since 2012; their children completed their vaccination, and they fill their nutritional needs from vegetable crops in their backyard garden. 

Family members rarely get sick but when they do, they immediately go to their health center for check-ups.

They religiously practice waste-segregation in their house. Biodegradable wastes are used as fertilizers in their backyard garden.

When it comes to disaster preparedness, they are more than ready to leave for evacuation. ”Binalita palang sa radyo na mag-ready na, may health kit kami. Sinupot na mga damit para kung kailangang mag-evacuate naka-ready na,” Erlinda said.

Economic

“Habang nand’yan pa ‘yung Pantawid, nagkukusa kaming magtrabaho pa at humahanap kami ng pagkakakitaan para lalo pang mainangat ang antas ng pamumuhay.” – Samuel

From an average of 150 pesos per day, Mercader family now earns about 1,500 to 2,000 pesos per day. Their main source of living is Carabao raising. From 1 carabao to about 20 at present. They sell one year old carabaos for 10,000 pesos, where half of the cost goes back to the Philippine Carabao Center and they keep half of it.

Aside from breeding, they sell carabao’s milk in the community and to their cooperative. According to them, nothing from the carabaos is wasted. Even the animal’s feces is harvested and used for vermiculture and are also sold to farmers at 200 pesos per sack.

Erlinda and her husband also rent land to cultivate crops. They harvest corn and sweet potato at least four times a year. 

On top of this, Erlinda makes cleaning products as her sideline. She uses an online platform in selling this and personally deliver orders within their community.

Family Relationship

“Maraming pamilya pa ang mas nangangailangan kesa sa amin. Hindi kami mahirap, ‘di rin kami mayaman. Kaya naming kumain tatlong beses sa isang araw, nabibili namin ‘yung gusto namin.” – Samuel

Mercader family attributes almost all of their positive practices in the family to Family Development Session. Erlinda shared that they get through challenges together, “all for one, one for all kami, open sa mga problems,” she said. They discuss how to get through a challenge and do necessary actions immediately. They always share with their children the kind of life they had when they were their age, and keeps on reminding them they don’t want that life for them, because Erlinda and Samuel knows they can do something to prevent the cycle of poverty from repeating generation after generation.

Erlinda proudly shared that Samuel never even tried to hit him. They are not perfect so they also misunderstand each other sometimes. When they do, they talk about it silently. Laughing together, they reminisce about their children suspiciously asking if they have secrets when in fact, they’re quarreling. They said they do this because they don’t want their children to be distracted from school.

Samuel uses no force when imposing discipline on their children. “Nandyan ‘yung palo, sampal sakin – hindi ko pinadanas sa kanila,” he said.

Even though they are economically busy, they don’t forget to spend quality time with each other. Often times, Samuel is spontaneous in asking his family to go to the beach. They leave immediately once everyone agreed.  

Community Involvement

“Pinapakita ko na matagumpay ‘yung tulong na binigay sa amin. Hindi lang kami naghihintay ng tulong sa gobyerno, hindi namin binabalewala na pagdating ng araw wala man lang pagpupursige sa buhay. Kaya gusto ko pong ipakita sa kanila na may pagpupursige kami, ‘hindi pala nabaliwala ang programa.” – Samuel  

Erlinda is not only productive within her family. She also contributes to the overall development of their community. Often times, she is invited to discuss Gender and Development both to beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the program. From a homemaker, she realized she can do more. She believes a woman can do what men can. 

She is also being invited for seminars and orientation on Carabao Raising. She was the speaker for many aspiring carabao farmers in Dipolog City. She said she was able to inspire them when she presented her pictures doing things they thought only men can do.

With the dedication and success of the Mercader family, Samuel was elected as the president of the Eastern Primary Multipurpose Cooperative. It has 64 members whom he is helping to be efficient carabao raisers. As a president, he ensures that every member is being served.

With their business in carabao raising and farming, they were able to generate work for other residents in the community.

Aside from this, they also actively participate in volunteer activities such as clean-up and tree planting activities.

A Product of Convergence

“‘Wag lang umasa sa Pantawid, tulungan din ang sarili na magbago, tulungan din kumita. Sa lahat ng panahon, nanad’yan ang gobyerno; basta pakita mo na may kusa ka. Hindi porket mahirap ka, wala ka ng pagasa na mabago.” – Samuel

They are proud that the government is helping them. One of the ways they think they can repay the government is through the responsible use of resources granted to them.

The Department of Agriculture taught them skills in vermiculture. The Department of Trade and Industry gave them a milking machine worth 120,000 pesos. DSWD, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agrarian reform conducted different seminars to them such as Financial Management and Conflict Management. “‘Yun pala ‘yung kailangan matutunan ng katulad ko,” Erlinda said.

Today, they were able to invest also in facilitating equipment such as a tricycle, hentractor, single motor, farming equipment, communication technology materials in aid of education. 

When asked if they think the have freed themselves from poverty, Erlinda said, “Yes, nakatawid na kami. Kasi kahit hindi na kami kasali sa 4Ps, kaya ko na silang pagaralin… sabi ko nga doon sa anak ko, “Sige, anak, kahit na anong kursong gusto mo, kaya ko na.”

“Sinusuklian lang namin yung tulong ng gobyerno. Talagang pinagmamalaki namin na kami ay talagang tinutulungan ng gobyerno kaya sabi nga po namin: kailangan pang magsusumikap; hindi yung kailangan pang umasa sa gobyerno habang buhay.” – Samuel

To the many who lost their faith in the program, may this story fill what was gone empty. To the few who continue to believe in the program, may this story make every tiring journey more fulfilling.

Story by: Reiner L. Grospe