“Ginoo, salamat sa mga grasya nga among nadawat sa matag adlaw ug hinaot proteksyonan mi nimu sa mga katalagman ug tagae mi’g maayung panglawas (Lord, thank you for all the graces that we received each day and I hope that you will protect us from all types of catastrophe and give us good health),” Rosemarie silently pray as she kneels inside the century-old church of Our Lady of Divine Providence in the bucolic town of Maria.

Beside Rosemarie is Paulino Catubig. Her husband of thirty-three long years.

They usually pray together before they proceed to their monthly routine in their parish church as part of their service to God.

“Dili sayun ang kinabuhi nga na-agian namu sa akung bana (It was not an easy life for me and my husband),” Rosemarie recounted on the hardships that they experienced.

Paulino handed a “silhig” (broom) to Rosemarie as they start sweeping the floor near the altar of the church.

Like any other couple, they also had birth pains as they build their own family.

Rosemarie hails from Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental while Paulino is a native of Brgy. Bogo, Maria, Siquijor.

“Usa ako nga yanong inahan ug walay nahuman nga kurso apan nagmalipayon kay gitagaan mi sa Ginoo ug walo ka mga anak nga tungod nila dako akung kalipay ug garbo (I’m just an ordinary mother and I did not finish any course but I’m happy because God gave us eight healthy children, the source of my joy and pride),” Rosemarie said.

In terms of educational attainment, Paulino finished second year college in agriculture and Rosemarie finished high school.

During their early marriage, they lived together in the house of Paulino’s parents.

“Aron makasuporta sa among adlaw-adlaw nga panginahanglan, walay kapoy nga nagtrabaho ko sama sa pamagol, pamunot ug pangisda samtang siya nitabang pag-atiman sa akung masakiton nga inahan (In support of our daily needs, I worked tirelessly as a coconut farmer and fishermen while she helps in taking care of my sickly mother),” Paulino said as he wipes the dust on those long molave-made bench seat used by all parishioners during holy mass.

After the death of Paulino’s mother, they decided to move and built another house in a nearby own lot. There, they began to raise their children.

Raising the children

The couple was blessed with eight children.

The first child is Lindie, 34 years old and is now married and currently works in Cebu. Second to him is Lynnie Mae, 30 years old, a solo parent and lives in Manila.

“Sa pagkakarun, kami ang nag-atiman sa anak ni Lynnie Mae nga si Lance Joseph (As of now, we take care of Lynnie Mae’s child, Lance Joseph),” Rosemarie beams with a smile as she treats Lance Joseph like her youngest child.

The third one is Lalainie, 26, also married and followed by Lendon, 23 years old who works in Dumaguete City as a food chain staff.

It was when she conceived her twins that she felt not financially capable. In fact, she just gave birth in their house.

“Sa pagpanganak naku sa akong kaluha, nakadungog ko nga ni-ingun ang magulang ni Paulino nga adunay swerte o demalas ang naay kaluha nga anak (When I gave birth to my twins, I overheard Paulino’s elder sibling that having twins has its own luck or misfortune),” Rosemarie said as she felt bad and wept on the superstitious belief that was passed on from different generations.

The twins are now both 22 years old. Lyn Mary Rose, married and Lyn Mary Ann, single and currently lives with them and still waiting for employment.

The seventh is Luwelyn, 19 years old and a third year Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEED) student in Siquijor State College located in the neighboring town of Larena. The youngest is Linnie, 13 years old, and a Grade 8 student at Ave Maria Academy.

“Ang edukasyon mao ra ang bahandi nga among ikabilin sa ilaha kay kami pobre man nga pamilya (Education is the only treasure we can give to them since we are a poor family),” Rosemarie constantly reminds her children.

Their efforts are not wasted because most of her children are graduates of secondary level.

After putting the dust inside the trash bin, Rosemarie gazed at the image of Santa Rita de Casia, the patroness of impossible causes and the patroness of abused wives, widows and heartbroken women.

“Tinuod nga muabot gyud ang mga pagsulay ug mga problema sa among kinabuhi labi na nga wala gyud mi sakto ng pangita ug usahay dili ka igo ang among pagka-on (It’s true that we would all encounter trials and problems especially that we don’t have enough means of income and sometimes the food would not be enough for all of us),” she shared as she takes a minute break.

As for Paulino and Rosemarie, they ensured that all of their children knew about household chores including gardening and fishing.

In fact, performing household chores are the most cherished bonding moments of the family.

“Kung walay klase ang mga bata ug ting-summer, kaming tanan magtinabangay sa pamaol (If the children don’t have classes or if its summer time, we do farming together),” Paulino shared as they pass through the wooden main doors of the church.

Disciples of Christ

As they made their way to the church convent, they were greeted by other parishioners and there they met the local parish priest.

“Maayung buntag Father (Good morning Father),” greets Paulino and Rosemarie.

“Maayung buntag pud (Good morning too),” replied Rev. Msgr. Candelario Catubig.

Monsignor Catubig is the elder brother of Paulino. He also shared that with self-determination, perseverance and with the help from good hearted benefactors he was able to finish his theology and pursued to become a priest because their parents cannot afford them to send to school.

“Paulino and Rosemarie are both active in different church activities. I can depend on them in decorating our carrosas and church altar during our town’s fiesta and during Lenten and Advent season,” Monsignor Catubig testifies the piety of the couple towards God.

A few other couple also went to the church convent and joined the conversation.

The active members of Couples for Christ (CFC) convene for a short meeting as they discuss their future activities.

“Kalipay namu nga muserbisyo sa Ginoo ug pinaagi sa CFC nahimamat namu ang uban pang magtiayon nga sama namu gihalad ang tanang pag-antos sa Ginoo (We are happy to serve God and through CFC we meet other couples who, just like us, offer their sacrifices to God),” the Catubig couple underscored.

The CFC members also take turn to visit each member’s house to a praise and worship activity.

Aside from being active members of CFC, they are also members of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Choir as Rosemarie stands as the current President.

After an hour of discussion and finalization of schedule of activities, the couple went back to their home in Barangay Bogo.

Eco-Warriors

Before going inside in their house, Rosemarie picks some eggplants in their front yard for viand that she would cook for lunch.

The couple surrounded their house with various types of vegetables like pipino, kangkong, sili, alugbate, malunggay and talong.

Sometimes the family gives free vegetables to their neighbors who ask for it free. Others also buy from them.

“Mas maayu gani nga magsige rami kaon og utan aron layo mi sa mga sakit-sakit (It is much better if we always eat vegetables so that don’t get sick),” Rosemarie emphasized as her children do not complain if they always eat vegetables.

“Kung makapanagat akung bana, makakaon pud mi ug isda og amo pud kini ibaligya sa merkado (If my husband goes fishing, we could eat fish and we sell some of it in the market),” Rosemarie said. Fishing also augments the meager income of the Catubigs.

Rosemarie started to beat eggs for the tortang talong she would cook for lunch.

Their grandchild, Lance Joseph, arrives from the Child Development Center (CDC) which is also a beneficiary of the DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program. He was fetched by her aunt, Lyn Mary Ann.

Meanwhile, Paulino checks on their few owned livestock like their cow and chickens at their back yard.

A few meters away are two mangoe trees from which they get fruits and sell it during harvest season.

Paulino shared that he planted the fruit-bearing trees when he was still single. For him, the mangoe trees are silent witnesses of his life.

He also likened his self to the trees because it stood the test of time.

Paulino went back to their house just in time for their lunch.

At their long dining table, Lance Joseph hurriedly take his seat and prompted Rosemarie to ask if he was able to wash his hands before eating, which the grandmother granted.

The kid smiled and said “Yes!”.

Paulino led the prayer before taking their meal.

While partaking their lunch, Rosemarie remembered that the rice on their table is already part of the rice subsidy given to Pantawid Pamilya partner-beneficiaries.

“Ganahan unta ko mupalit ug mais pero ni ingun man akung mga anak nga nganu mais akung paliton kay rice subsidy man ang pangalan (I like to buy corn but my children told me why should I buy corn because its name is rice subsidy),” Rosemarie shared the funny conversation between her children.

She definitely agreed that the rice subsidy helps a lot for their daily consumption as rice is the staple food of the family.

“Dili na kaayu mi magproblema pangita ug pagkaon kay naa naman mi vegetable garden ug karun naa nay rice subsidy sa Pantawid (We do not have problem anymore in looking for food because we already have a vegetable garden and now we have the rice subsidy for Pantawid),” Rosemarie added.

After taking their lunch, Rosemarie cleans the dining table while Lyn Mary Ann washes the dishes.

Paulino takes some of the left overs in the biodegradable can.

The couple also teaches their children the proper way of segregating waste as part of protecting and conserving Mother Earth.

They adhere to the concept of 5Rs which is reuse, reduce, recycle, respect and rethink.

In fact, their plant pots are recycled sacks and plastic containers.

All plants were fertilized with animal manure and biodegradable wastes since the family is practicing waste segregation in support to organic and natural way of farming.

“Usa sa pamaagi nga ang tawo usa ka masunuron nga anak sa Diyos kay ang pagrespeto sa kalikopan (One way of knowing that a person is an obedient child of God is that he or she respects the environment),” Paulino said.

Every afternoon, the couple checks on the growth of their vegetables planted in a fifty meters cultivated lot.

They planted it with string beans, squash, bottled gourd, sweet potato, okra and onions.

The family is looking forward to harvest the vegetables so they can sell it in the market as an additional income for them.

Rosemarie turns on the radio as she keeps abreast to the latest news.

Empowered citizens

At around 2 in the afternoon, Paulino went to their barangay hall. He is a barangay tanod.

For him, being a barangay tanod is a challenging job because he is tasks to maintain peace and order in the community.

“Isip barangay tanod aduna mi schedule sa pagduty ug makadawat gamay nga honorarium nga Php 600.00 (As a barangay tanod, we have our own schedule of duty and we received Php 600.00 as an honorarium),” he said.

But more than the honorarium, Paulino takes pride in serving his kabarangay in his own little way.

As a sign of trust and confidence to his leadership, he was chosen as the Chairperson for the Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP’s Barangay Participatory Situation Analysis and was elected the President of General Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of Bogo Elementary School for School Year 2015-2016.

During his term as PTA President, he led the repair the school kitchen, installed door grills and window grills in the e-classroom and provided 5 computer tables for the e-classroom.

He also participated in crafting the School Improvement Plan (SIP) for SY 2016-2019.

The couple also supported the other school projects and activities like school feeding and scouting.

Meanwhile, Rosemarie is presently elected as the President of Bogo Pantawid Sustainable Livelihood Association (SLPA).

During the Sustainable Livelihood Program’s Community Driven Enterprise Development, Marvin Uzarraga, the SLP Project Development Officer II (PDO), shared that whenever Rosemarie speaks out, she could easily get the attention of the members and they listened to her as she talks especially when she explains something about the concern of the association.

Mr. Uzarraga has observed that the members look up to her as a leader.

Rosemarie is also a Pantawid Parent Leader in Barangay Bogo.

Nellie Hinuctan, a co-parent leader attested that Rosemarie is a good parent and role model to other mothers.

“Aduna siya’y maayong hiyas sama sa kasaligan ug kinasing-kasing ug andam motrabaho nga boluntaryo. Patas man siya pero dili pud mahadlok ug pamadlong sa uban mga bulayagon nga beneficiary (She has good qualities like being reliable, passionate and ready to work as a volunteer. She is fair but does not afraid to reprimand erring beneficiaries),” Nellie added.

Nellie even shared that there was an occasion that Rosemarie raised a grievance to her co-Pantawid beneficiary for she caught them gambling along the street.

By 4 in the afternoon, Rosemarie was already seen taking away grasses in their 50 meter farm.

She said that the seedlings were provided by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) in their town.

“Dako akong pasalamat nga nahimo kaming beneficiary sa Pantawid kay nakatabang kini sa pagpa-eskwela sa duha naku ka mga anak (I am really thankful that I become a beneficiary of Pantawid because it helps in keeping our two children in school),” she said while toiling the soil of the plants.

Family Development Session

“Ang dili nko makalimtan sa FDS kay ang topic mahitungod sa pagpalambo sa pamilya (Strengthening the family is my most unforgettable topic in the Family Development Session (FDS),” said Rosemarie.

According to her, she learned from that particular topic the value of respect and open communication within the family besides providing the basic needs of the family.

“Importante nga mapakaon natu ug sakto ang atong mga anak ug mahatag ang ilang mga panginahanglanun apan importante pud ang pagpaminaw ug pagrespeto sa ilang  mga gibati ug dili pugson ang akung gusto alang sa ilaha (It is important to provide them enough food and other basic needs but it is also important to listen and respect their feelings and not force my own decision to them),” Rosemarie recounted.

By this time, Luwelyn already arrived home from school and approached her mother to take her hand to have pagmamano as a sign of respect to her.

Rosemarie never fails to attend the family development session because she is excited to gain new insights.

She is very grateful that her husband is always present during the monthly FDS and for this both couples work hand-in-hand to maintain the love and harmony of the family.

Prayerful Family

Wearing her uniform, Linnie arrived with her father from school.

She is currently the only monitored child under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Just like her elder siblings, Linnie is also an honor student and actively participates in various co and extra-curricular activities in school.

The family then started to prepare for their dinner.

Lyn Mary Ann, Luwelyn and Linnie take turn in performing their household chores while Rosemarie cooks their food.

By 6 pm, they altogether gather in the dining table and happily shared their healthy meal.

Before going to bed, Rosemarie leads the recitation of the Holy Rosary as the couple inculcated to their children the significance of prayer in their life.

“Ang tanang mga pag-antos gihalad namu kanimu ug tungod sa imung pag-giya kanamu na nalupig namo ang tanang mga pagsulay nga niabot sa among pamilya (We offer all our sacrifices to you Lord and through your guidance to us we were able to surpass all challenges that we have encountered as a family),” Rosemarie said in her concluding prayer.

After the prayer, the family altogether stand up and went to their respective rooms to sleep.

“Good night!,” Rosemarie said as she tucked Lance Joseph to bed.

“Kung muabot ang panahon nga mawala na kami sa Pantawid kay okey ra, kay nakatabang na kini ug dako sa amo labi na sa pag-eskwela sa among anak (If time will come that we will no longer be in Pantawid and that will be okey to us, because it already helped us a lot especially in keeping our children in school),” Rosemarie confidently said.

Paulino added that they will continue to work hard in order to pursue the education of the remaining two youngest children in the family.

He planned to expand their garden and plant it with various vegetables.

Paulino and Rosemarie lie down in bed with a positive disposition that tomorrow will be a brighter day for their family. ###

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