“Ang among balay sa una mura lang og stage sa eskwelahan nga gitaplak-taplakan og sin ug mga ginuba nga bongbong sa payag ug dili kini luwas sa panahon og ulan ug bagyo. Bisan paman sa among sitwasyon ato sa una, naninguha mi sa akong bana nga pun-on og pagmahal ang among pamilya (Our house before was just like a stage covered with salvaged materials, and it is unsafe during rainy days or typhoons. Despite our situations at that time, my husband and I ensured that we filled our family with love,” said Leonora Doblas, 42 years old and mother of five children.

The Doblas family lives in Barangay Behind the Clouds in Batuan, Bohol. According to Leonora, the name Behind the Clouds was used to mislead Japanese soldiers during World War II, as the place used to be a refuge for evacuees from Cebu, Leyte, and Bohol. The barangay is also classified as a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) in Bohol.

Leonara related the pitiful situation they had – having an unsafe house, no electricity, and not enough income for the family.

She could not earn extra income during that time because her main focus was taking care of the children, who were asthmatic and needed extra attention. The family relied solely on the earnings from their vegetable farm, which her husband, Domingo, painstakingly cultivated.

Their challenges intensified when all five (5) children began attending school. With only an elementary school available in their barangay, it took a lot of work for their young children to walk to the nearby barangay where the high school is, as they had to cross a river to reach the school facility.

Due to limited resources, they sometimes borrow money with interest to transport their sick children to neighboring municipalities for medical care. The family struggled to support their five children, which occasionally resulted in a lack of school bags, school supplies, and other basic needs. The children were sometimes unable to participate in school co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The family’s main priority during that time was to ensure food was on their table.

Becoming 4Ps Beneficiaries

The Doblas family, motivated by life’s challenges, developed new strategies to meet their needs. Their lives changed in 2012 when they became program beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).They also transferred to a new lot wherein they built a much stronger house.

“Grasya sa Ginoo namugna ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program sa DSWD ug dako kaayo kini nga tabang sa among pamilya. Giabagan kami sa among kalisod. Ang program nahimong tulay para sa kalambuan sa edukasyon sa among mga anak sanglit mapalitan ko naman og kompleto nga gamit sa pag-eskwela, sa ilang vitamins ug gatas para magpabiling himsog (It is a blessing from God that 4Ps came through DSWD because this helps us. The program serves as a bridge to success for the education of our children because we can now afford to buy all things for their education, as well as vitamins and milk so that they will remain healthy,” said Leonora.

Before, Leonora could only afford to buy viands to complement the rice. Now, she can purchase vitamins and milk to ensure her children will not be sick while maintaining their vegetable garden to provide nutritious meals for the family.

Leonora also stressed that their difficulties made her and her family hopeful amidst adversity. She admitted that the challenges they experienced, like natural disasters, underscored their abilities to survive, thrive, and pursue their dreams.

“Bisan pa man giagi-an mi og linog ug kusog nga bagyo sama sa bagyong Odette niadtong 2021 nga ning guba sa among balay, magpabilin kaming malig-on ug mobarog alang sa among mga pangandoy. Pangandoy nga makahuman sila og eskwela, makatrabaho, makaangkon og kaugalingong yuta ug kanunay nga magmalipayon (Despite the calamities we experienced as the typhoon Odette in 2021 that destroyed our house, we remain resilient and stand up for our dreams. Dreams that they will be able to finish their studies, find a job, own a lot, and be always happy),” said Leonora.

Aside from their family’s dreams, Leonora also wants to contribute something to their community, a desired initiative developed from attending their monthly Family Development Session (FDS).

She offered her time and service in volunteer work and community development. She became a 4Ps parent leader and a KALAHI-CIDSS community volunteer. Through this involvement, she was appointed as a barangay nutrition scholar (BNS) and a barangay health worker (BHW).

While doing community work, she also doubles her time as a saleswoman in their hometown to augment their family income.

Domingo, who once served as a barangay councilor, also continued his agricultural work and is now working as the treasurer for the Special Area of Agricultural Development (SAAD), which aims to advocate for farm-to-market road improvements and to support agricultural development in their barangay. He was also the Parent-Teacher (PTA) School President at his son’s elementary school.

For the past years, their combined income has significantly improved their daily living conditions with the support of the program’s cash grant, which augmented their education and health.

Their eldest son, Christian Jay, recently graduated with a degree in criminology from Buenavista Community College. Despite financial challenges, he worked on their family farm and managed his expenses as a working student while preparing for his board examination. He was also elected as a Barangay Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Secretary.

Fretzie Joyce, the second child, is now a third-year student taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English at Buenavista Community College. She is also a consistent Dean’s Lister.

Stephen and Stephanie Marie graduated from senior and junior high school and are currently first-year college and Grade 7 students, respectively. They are preparing for their next educational level, with Stephen also working as a skilled barber in their barangay.

Paul Adrian, the youngest child, is enrolled in elementary school and excels in his class. He is also a consistent honor student.

Despite extreme poverty and numerous challenges, Leonora and Domingo remain hopeful while pursuing their dreams, demonstrating perseverance and hard work. The family’s success is inspirational, given that several children in the barangay barely completed elementary school because of their geographical location. Their involvement in the 4Ps and community work has facilitated significant changes in their lives. The family’s collective efforts in education, agriculture, and community service highlight their commitment to pursuing their goals.

Domingo emphasized having a family vision coupled with determination and faith in God is important. He also commended the support from the government, like DSWD and their local government unit, who assisted them in achieving their life goals and becoming a self-reliant family. ###

(38) Views