“Sugod sa akong kaminyo-on ug hangtod aduna na akoy mga anak, wala nakoy laing gihunahuna kun dili ang makapakaon sa akong mga anak, makapa-eskwela, ug makahatag sa ilang tanang gikinahanglan. Usahay malimtan na gani nako ang akong kaugalingon (When I started married life until I had my children, I do not think of other things than to feed my children, sent them to school, and provide all their needs. Sometimes, I forget about my own well-being),” said Porferio Fortuito.

The Fortuito family’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, hard work, and the transformative power of strong support systems from each family member and from the government.

Porferia R. Fortuito, a devoted housewife, and her husband, Porferio B. Fortuito, have worked tirelessly to create a better life for their seven (7) children. Together, they call Purok Cantalawan, Barangay Maningcao, Sibulan, Negros Oriental their home. Their lives, once defined by poverty and hardship, have been transformed from survival to self-sufficiency.

Witnessing Hardships

Born in poverty, Porferia and her family struggled to meet their basic needs. With limited education opportunities, Porferia could only complete elementary school, spending her childhood working on the farm with her parents.

She and her siblings never had the chance to finish their studies, making it challenging to dream of a comfortable life. Her husband, Porferio, also came from humble beginnings but was fortunate to receive a scholarship to study Civil Engineering at Silliman University due to his musical talent. However, family challenges forced him to abandon his studies after three (3) years, which deterred him from realizing his dream of becoming an engineer.

Despite their educational setbacks, Porferia and Porferio were determined to give their children the opportunities they never had.

When they married in 1986, Porferia focused on managing the household while Porferio worked in their cultivated farm fields, where he planted various vegetables like corn and coconut. They lived in a humble abode made from bamboo and nipa hut, where the rainy season often meant catching leaking water with bowls placed around the house.

His hard work on their farm was never enough for their needs, the determined Porferio landed a job at the national malaria program of the Department of Health as a field attendant, earning Php 242.00 a day. This job, though modest, brought some stability to the family and augmented his income through the harvested crops on their farm.

Despite the financial strain, Porferio and Porferia committed to sending all their children to school to have their college degrees.

They both believed that education was the key to a better life for their children, and they made sacrifices to ensure their education and for them to choose their college courses.

As a dedicated father, Porferio, while struggling with his work deliverables, would often attend school events to support his children and sometimes skip meals to save money for school supplies or his children’s weekly school allowance. Together with his wife, Porferia, they taught their children the value of hard work and the importance of education.

“Pirme nako ingnun akong mga anak nga ayuhon nila ang pag eskwela aron kung makahuman na sila, makapangita sila og maayong trabaho ug dili nila mahiaguman ang kalisud sa kinabuhi (I always told my children that they should be good in their studies so that after having their college degree they can land a good job and they won’t experience poverty in life),” said Porferia.

Service to the Community

Despite different challenges, Porferio did not stop looking for opportunities. Armed with determination, hard work, and a responsible father, he was able to serve in their community. He was also elected as a Barangay Kagawad from 1989 to 1994, during which he helped implement different community projects.

One of the most relevant projects Porferio helped to establish in their community was the institutionalization of the “Kasakit” group, which aimed to support grieving families through their combined contribution of Php 20.00 for each member with a grocery pack.

His active community service continued with or without having an elected position. Their neighbors, who are in need, seek advice or financial assistance from Porferio, in which he usually uses his own money to help others.

In 2013, he was re-elected as Barangay Kagawad and served until 2018.

Legacy of Education

In 2011, the Fortuito family became beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which provided them with much-needed financial assistance. This program implements the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS), which help the family improve their financial literacy and provide them opportunities to seek various government programs and services, especially in health and education.

The family also expanded their vegetable garden, which provided them with nutritious food and gained them extra income by selling to their neighbors or in their public market.

The family’s financial stability continued to improve with their membership in Dungganon Bank, Inc., a financial institution that helped small farmers, offering loans when needed. They also enhanced their small coconut farm and gained valuable knowledge with technical and financial assistance from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Additionally, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) further supported the family in 2017. Porferia joined the Maningcao Pantawid (MaPa) SLPA and became involved in a communal vegetable garden, creating additional income for the family.

Though Porferio is now retired from his job in DOH and no longer holds an elected public position, he continued working on their farm, as his pension could not suffice their daily needs. He remained active in their community and currently serves as one of the members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa, helping resolve local disputes and conflicts.

The couple’s hard work and sacrifices paid off. Five of their children graduated with their chosen degrees at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), in which two of their children became engineers and fulfilled Porferio’s lifelong dream.

The first child, Maria Nueva Ernesta Fortuito Mante, is a licensed teacher and teaches at Maningcao National High School. Meanwhile, their second child, Jane Fortuito Elumbaring, works hard to support her family despite the life challenges.

Their third child, John Ronald Fortuito, is a civil engineer and now owns the JR-G Fortuito Construction Services. He also works as a part-time teacher at NORSU.

The fourth child, Porferio Fortuito Jr., is a licensed architect and a master plumber. Elaine Fortuito, the fifth child, earned her degree in Elementary Education and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in 2023.

The sixth child, Lloyd Julius Fortuito, a geodetic engineer, works in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The seventh child, Event Fe Fortuito, takes an Information Technology course at NORSU, respectively.

The Fortuitos home, once a tiny, leaky hut, now symbolizes their progress and a good reminder of their sacrifices.

In 2019, the LGU Sibulan in Negros Oriental recognized the Fortuito family as the Model Family of the Year. In 2024, DSWD 7 recognized the Fortuitos as the “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya” regional winner. These recognitions filled them with pride and gratitude.

The Fortuitos family journey is a beacon of hope, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable with resilience, hard work, and support from the community and different government programs and services.

Today, Porferia and Porferio look back with gratitude, knowing they have given their children the opportunities they never had—a brighter future built on love, sacrifice, and unyielding strength. ###

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