“Ang pag-graduate sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) timailhan nga among nabuhat ang mga maayong lakang nga makahaw-as kami sa kalisud. Bisan pa man sa mga kalisdanan, nagpabilin kaming positibo inubanan sa among pagkugi ug pag-ampo sa Ginoo (Graduating in the program signify that we did our part so that our living situation will be alleviated. Despite the struggles, we remained positive coupled with hard work and prayers to God),” said Regen Lagudas, 34 years old.
Their tuk-tuk vehicle is also parked beside their store.
Regen shared that their family is now financially stable through their established business, and they can now stand without intervention from the 4Ps. She and her husband, Felmor, were determined to lift their family out of poverty.
Young Couple
Regen and Felmor met in San Juan, Siquijor, while Felmor worked as a tricycle driver and Regen as a service attendant at Coco Grove Resort, a posh beach resort on the island. The couple decided to have their own family and married on May 15, 2009.
After getting married, the couple stayed with Felmor’s parents because they had yet to build their own. Eventually, Regen got pregnant with their first baby and stopped working as a service attendant.
While Regen looked after their child, Felmor continued to work as a tricycle driver to make ends meet. The couple struggled to meet their daily needs during those early years of marriage.
“There was a time when we did not have enough food or extra money to buy essential things, but we remained steadfast and thrifty in our resources,” said Regen, vividly remembering their struggles.
After a year, Regen got pregnant again with their second child, and the family ran out of savings to support their two children.
With no other means of livelihood, Regen decided to venture into a new business by opening a sari-sari store in Barangay Napo in San Juan. The couple was inclined to have their own business. However, due to financial difficulties, they could not start immediately. Later on, they initially purchased a few grocery items depending on the extra income Regen saved from her husband’s work.
As they carefully managed their family business, they began to dream more. With action and determination, they made the dream a reality.
The Lagudas family became a beneficiary of the 4Ps in 2015 under Set 7A. The two children, Real and Earl, also started their elementary education. Regen utilized the cash grants they received from the program on the health and educational needs of her children.
“Dako ang natabang sa 4Ps kay nahimo kining kaabag namo sa panahon nga naglisud ko asa ko mangita ipangbalon sa akong mga anak ug uban pang mga galastuhan sa eskwelahan (The 4Ps really helped a lot and it augmented our income during the time we are having difficulty on where I will find pocket money for my children and other needs in school),” said Regen.
Regen was also one of the active 4Ps grantees who religiously attended the monthly Family Development Session (FDS), which tackled different developmental topics discussed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) workers and other partner stakeholders. The module on responsible parenthood and financial literacy are a few topics the program imparts to the 4Ps beneficiaries and applies in their daily lives. As a result, Regen applied these to her family to help them become self-sufficient.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with no tourists visiting the island, Felmor had to stop working as a tricycle driver. The family then went to hog raising and a buy-and-sell for a soft drink product in their community. Their efforts and sacrifices paid off because of their increased sales revenue. They used the generated income to expand their family sari-sari store.
In 2021, Felmor decided to work as a ‘tuk-tuk’ driver in Coco Grove Resort to sustain their family needs and improve their living conditions. Regen focused on enhancing their sari-sari store to a mini-grocery store.
Through their combined efforts and income, they slowly built their own dream house, which is concrete and can withstand a storm.
Eventually, they expanded their family sari-sari store into a mini-grocery that sells various items, including ready-to-wear (RTW) clothes, school and office supplies, hog feeds, rice, and corn mills.
As their family business steadily grew, the couple also decided to purchase two (2) ‘tuk-tuk’ for hire that tourists could rent to tour around Siquijor island.
Self Sufficient Level
Through their teamwork, determination, and hard work, they now manage a thriving business.
Regen takes care of their general merchandise store and two (2) tuk-tuk, with an average daily profit of Php 2,000.00. Felmor continues to work as a driver in the nearby resort.
The family has Social Security System (SSS) insurance, which indicates they are financially secure.
Their two sons, Real and Earl, are in Grade 9 and Grade 8, respectively. Both students are also consistent achievers, which signifies their commitment to their studies and to excel in school.
The family has become self-sufficient and overcomes poverty together. They lifted their lives with their commitment, their skills, and support from each other.
Regen vividly remembers their life-changing situation when they became part of 4Ps in 2015.
“After eight (8) years in the program, we are grateful for the financial support and knowledge we get through the 4Ps. As a 4Ps graduate, we can now stand and continue to sustain our life’s improvement, ensuring our children’s future,” said Regen. ###
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