The couple Donata and Maximo Caminade have been living at Sitio Tiposo, Brgy. Taloot, Argao, Cebu for several years. Donita confessed that their living conditions are quite difficult. However, one thing they want in their lives is to see their children become successful in life.

Fishing and farming, which Maximo basically does, being the breadwinner, are the family’s main livelihoods. As a wife, Donata helps her husband put food on the table by accepting labor chores from her relatives.

Despite life’s difficulties brought on by poverty, the couple remained hopeful and resilient, looking for ways to better life. They strove to provide their family the best life they could amid limited resources. Maximo and Donata had worked hard to make ends meet, but their efforts seemed to be in vain.

The couple only relies on Php 150.00 income per day, and aside from the growing family, they cannot even afford to sustain their children’s schooling. Four of their ten children decided to get married without a college degree.

Becoming 4Ps Beneficiary

In 2012, the Caminade family was registered under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). They were qualified to be part of the program because they were identified as poor households under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and their six (6) children were still in school, namely, Geronimo, Airene, Sherly, Eugene, Mary Joice, and Myra Flor.

The three youngest children, Eugene, Mary Joice, and Myra Flor, became the monitored children under the program.

The education grant provided by the program has reduced the couple’s financial burden for their children’s education. “Nalipay gyud ko nga tulo sa akong mga anak ang nakarga sa programa (I am happy that three of my children benefited from the program),” said Donata.

To show gratitude for the program, “Kung unsay angay i-pasa nga mga dokumento sa opisina sa 4Ps, ako gyud dayun lihokon ug dili gyud ko mu-absent sa binuwan nga Family Development Session o FDS (If there are documents that need to be submitted, I will submit them immediately in the 4Ps office, and I will never be absent in the monthly Family Development Session or FDS),” added Donata.

For the couple, the program turned into a wall that they could lean on during those financially challenging times.

Life is Getting Better

“Ni ingon jud si Geronimo nga dili niya gustong mahimong farm laborer hangtod sa hangtod (Geronimo told me he does not want to become a farm laborer forever),” recalled Donata.

Geronimo embodied the determination to finish his degree by all means, even though he was already in his late 20s at the time. He also understands their family’s situation and that his parents cannot support his college journey.

To make his dream come true, he applied to Magsaysay Global Services, Inc., which offers a full scholarship for his college degree in marine engineering. Fortunately, he got it and began his journey toward his dreams, which changed his entire life and family.

In 2015, Geronimo cut the mustard and made it happen. He got his college diploma and inspired everyone that education has no limit in terms of age; all you have to do is have patience, determination, and the will to carry on, and without knowing it, you are one step closer to your dream. With his family as his inspiration, he was able to achieve his dreams.

As a former scholar, he was directly hired after graduation and aboard an international ship as his first employment.

Inspired by their elder brother’s determination, Airene and Sherly also applied for a full scholarship at PLDT-Smart Foundation, Inc., and the Coco Foundation. Fortunately, both of them proceeded to college without worrying about their college tuition at all.

Later on, Airene and Sherly succeeded in their courses in education, and both of them were already board examination passers. Airene is now working as a private teacher, while Sherly is an online English teacher.

Graduating from 4Ps

As it is said that you cannot make an omelet without breaking some eggs, just like the life of the Caminade family, the outcome of their sweat and all the experiences that they have been through made them realize the importance of having a dream and working on it to achieve it. For Donata and Maximo, who were blessed to be part of the program, they are beyond grateful.

The three former 4Ps monitored children, Eugene, Mary Joice, and Myra Flor, are now in college and are determined to reach their goals, and the three of them are now being financially supported by Geronimo. He encouraged his younger sisters to stay focused on their studies to have a brighter future.

Even though Geronimo already has a life partner, he still supports his family. He still sends financial support to his parents, as well as Airene and Sherly sharing their income with their parents.

Although the couple can stop working and stay in their house, they still choose to work on the farm. One thing that makes it more interesting is that the couple now has their own farm where they can plant vegetables and corn for their consumption and also engage in livestock businesses such as hogs and goats.

Their old house is now turned into a two-story house, which contains three rooms on the second floor and one room on the first floor. It also has a kitchen and a comfort room. Before, it was made of light materials; now, it has concrete walls.

Donata and her family really did achieve their dreams, coupled with the perseverance and hard work of her children, who fulfilled their dreams of a better life. ###

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