The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), announced the winners for the third edition of the Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid.

The writing tilt has three categories that highlight the following characters in the family: Kwento ni Tatay (father’s story), Salaysay ni Inay (mother’s narrative), and Sa Mata ng Batang 4Ps (4Ps child point-of-view).

Twelve provincial winners from the different cities and towns in the Central Visayas region recounted their family stories and how their lives improved through the intervention of the program. The winning stories were written in the Filipino language. 

For Kwento ni Tatay, the Encabo Family of the City of Naga, Cebu emerged as the winner. The Cambangay Family of San Miguel, Bohol, the Ancing Family of Lazi, Siquijor, and the De la Peña Family of Basay, Negros Oriental placed second, third, and fourth, respectively.

“Labis ang aking kagalakan na ako ay mapiling Presidente ng 4Ps Parent Leaders Federation sa aming syudad. Ito ay nakakadagdag ng kumpyansa sa aking sarili kasi nakita ng iba pang benepisyaryo ang aking kakayahan bilang isang pinuno. Nakasali rin ako sa 4Ps Parent Leaders Training simula level 1 hanggang level 3 (I was very happy because I was selected as the President of the 4Ps Parent Leaders Federation in our city. It boosted my confidence because other beneficiaries were able to see my capabilities as a leader. I was also able to attend 4Ps Parent Leaders training from level 1 to level 3),” Gever Encabo shared about their life since becoming 4Ps beneficiaries in Barangay Inoburan, City of Naga, Cebu.

Gever was also proud that he was able to organize the Inoburan Pantawid Farmers Association, wherein they were able to have their own communal vegetable garden in their barangay. 

His aspiration to finish his studies will now be within reach as he is currently enrolled in an Alternative Learning System (ALS). He will later aim to get a certificate as an electrician. 

Under the Salaysay ni Inay, the story of the Basallo Family of Daanbantayan, Cebu was adjudged the regional winner. The stories of the Perez Family of Ayungon, Negros Oriental, the dela Cerna Family of Siquijor, Siquijor, and the Amoncio Family of Bien Unido, Bohol were runners-up.

“Maging ang aking mga kasamahan sa programa, mas lalo silang naeenganyong lumapit sa mga iba’t ibang programa at serbisyong inaalok para sa pangkalusugan, edukasyon at maging sa pansariling kalinangan na binibigay ng gobyerno. Malaki kasi ang naging ambag ng aktibong pagpapakalat ng tamang impormasyon ng 4Ps patungo sa pagbabago ng kaisipan, damdamin at paniniwala ng mamamayan sa pamamagitan ng buwanang Family Development Session (FDS) (Even my other co-partner beneficiaries were encouraged to avail different programs and services for health, education, and even self-development offered by the government. The program greatly helped by disseminating the right information towards changing mindsets and beliefs to the citizens through the monthly Family Development Session (FDS),” underscored Miralyn Basallo.

Miralyn is a solo parent and courageously raised her three children after different misfortunes she encountered in life, including two failed relationships, the death of her third husband, and the Super Typhoon Yolanda that battered her hometown in 2013. 

She overcame her grief and continued to move forward. The program became instrumental for her to join in different community activities, including as a community volunteer under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) and as a Barangay Health Worker (BHW). 

Miralyn is presently taking up a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education so that her children can look up to her and also pursue their own education. 

In the third category, under the Sa Mata ng Batang 4Ps, the Sanico Family of Basay, Negros Oriental, ranked first. Second, third, and fourth place went to the Lachica Family of Ronda, Cebu; the Tidalgo Family of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol; and the Catipay Family of San Juan, Siquijor, respectively.

“Para sa akin ang pag-asenso ay hindi pala swerte kundi kinakailangan ng tiyaga, tapang, tibay ng loob kasama na ang panalangin at gabay ng Maykapal. Malaki din ang naitulong ng ESGP-PA at 4Ps upang matustusan ang aking pinansyal na pangangailangan at napatunayan ko sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon, maluwalhati kong nakamtan ang pangarap ko sa buhay (For me, success is not luck; it needs perseverance, courage, and inner strength coupled with prayers and guidance from God. The ESGP-PA and 4Ps helped in sustaining our financial needs and I was able to prove that through education, I was able to achieve my dream in life),” testified Nicolas Sanico.

When Nicolas reached college, he became one of the Expanded Student’s Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) student-beneficiaries that provided him with the opportunity to pursue his college education. He is now working for the Philippine Coast Guard. 

All the regional winners and finalists will receive a cash incentive and a certificate of recognition from DSWD. 

The Encabo Family, Basallo Family, and the Sanico Family joined the ‘Salaysay ng Buhay ng Pamilyang Pantawid Virtual Recognition’ on September 28, 2022, with other 4Ps family-beneficiaries from other regions for the national level competition. 

The Basallo Family emerged in first place in the Salaysay ni Inay category, while the Encabo Family and Sanico Family ranked third in the Kwento ni Tatay and Sa Mata ng Batang 4Ps categories, respectively, in the national level competition.

The activity is in line with the National Family Week (NFW) celebration. The activity aims to convey the hope and aspirations of 4Ps families that they will be able to get out of poverty through their own hard work and with assistance from the program and partner stakeholders. ###

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