“I hope, five years from now, at least one of you will become successful in life,” said Jonalyn as she recalled the challenge of the resource speaker in one of their Family Development Session (FDS) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Dili nako kahinumdom sa pangalan sa FDS resource speaker pero ang iyang giingon kay nipatik sa akong alimpatakan ug nahimo kining hagit sa ako nga kinahanglan molambo ang kahimtang sa among pamilya (I could not remember the name of the FDS resource speaker anymore, but I remember what he said, and it has challenged me to improve our living condition),” said Jonalyn.
Jonalyn Navarro, 46 years old, a mother of six children from Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, Cebu, simply hopes that all of her children will finish education.
Together with her husband, Michael Navarro, 51 years old, who works as an electrician, she toils every day to provide food on their table.
“Dili man kanunay nga adunay income akong bana kay project-based raman iyang pagka-electrician mao nga motabang ko niya pinaagi sa pagtinda sa eskwelahan sa akong mga anak (The work of my husband is not regular because he is just a project-based electrician, and that is why I need to help through selling in the school of my children),” recalled Jonalyn.
With determination to sustain the needs of her growing family, she sold hotcakes, tempura, fish ball, mango, and other food items. Through this entrepreneurial activity, she discovered her inner confidence and skills in dealing with people.
As Jonalyn continued to fulfill her dream of owning a business, she received a flyer from a direct selling cosmetics and skincare company, Avon. Little did she know that it will change her life.
She started as an Avon Franchise Dealer in 2007. She aggressively promoted and sold Avon cosmetics, skin and hair care, apparel, perfumes, and accessories while balancing work and family.
Her hard work paid off for after few years, she climbed up the corporate ladder and was promoted as a Sales Leader while encouraging other low-income women like her to become part of the company and used it as their means of livelihood – either as an added or primary source of income.
“Kaluoy sa Diyos ug sa pagpaningkamot, nidako akong income ug nakapa-renovate ko sa among balay (With God’s mercy and my determination, my income increased, and I was able to renovate our house),” said Jonalyn.
Jonalyn recalled that every time there is heavy rain, their place would get flooded, and the rainwater would enter their house. This situation made them anxious because it disturbed their sleep, especially if it happened at night.
After three years of renovation, she was able to see the fruits of her labor, knowing that the house will be more sturdy and flood-resistant.
“Lain napod nga pagsulay sa among pamilya ang kinahanglan namo atubangon ug kabalo ko nga dili kini ihatag sa Ginoo kung dili namo kaya (Another trial struck our family that we need to face it head-on. I know that God would never give this to us if we could not handle it),” Jonalyn remembered the dawn fire on March 12, 2016, that gutted houses in Barangay Guizo and Barangay Mantuyong in Mandaue City.
The fire that hit the two barangays displaced over 1,800 families, including the family of Jonalyn. Together with other displaced families, they temporarily seek shelter in the nearby Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
While staying in the CICC, Jonalyn promised herself to find a house that they can call their own and so that they could start anew.
Michael and Jonalyn Navarro with their children.
“Naninguha gyud ko nga mangita laing kapoy-an ug kanang layo mi sa risgo. Mao nga niadtong 2018, nibalhin mi sa usa ka housing nga pwede namo maka-rent-to-own (I pursued finding another place, which is far away from risk. In 2018, we transferred to a rent-to-own house),” explained Jonalyn.
As they transferred to their new house, her third child also graduated with flying colors at the Cebu Normal University (CNU).
Despite the many challenges, Jonalyn was able to bounce back and rose above the adversities in life.
“Walay imposible kung mangandoy ug molihok pud ta ug pasalamat sa gobyerno nga naka-suporta sila pinaagi sa 4Ps pero mas nindot nga maningkamot gyud ta para sa atong pamilya (There is no impossible if we dream and pursue it, and I am grateful to the government that it supported us through the 4Ps, but it is better if we also persevere for the sake of our family),” underscored Jonalyn.
With the challenge posed by their FDS resource speaker before, she was able to use this as motivation to uplift the living condition of her family and to become self-sufficient. Now, their family is ready to graduate from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). ###
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