“Kaniadto ang among kinabuhi lisod gyud kay wala koy trabaho ug walay stable nga income. Maglisod pud og pamalit sa mga butang sama sa sanina sa mga bata kay ang kita namo igo ra man sa adlaw adlaw nga pagkaon (Before our life was really hard because I do not have work and there is no stable income. It is difficult for us to buy essential things like clothes for the children because our income is just enough for our daily food consumption),” recalled Virginia Dumagpi.

Born from an impoverished family, Virginia, was the youngest of three siblings and was born in Lapu-Lapu City. At the age of three, her family decided to move to Alcantara, a southwest town of Cebu, where she grew up.

Despite her aspirations as a child, Virginia’s education was cut short during her third year of high school when her father fell ill, leading to his eventual passing. This tragedy forced her to stop her studies to prioritize other family’s needs.

Later in life, she met her husband Jimmy, and together they built a life, facing various challenges along the way.

Hoping that her children will not experience the same challenges as her family, Virginia tried her best to plan for a brighter future for her children.

She dreams of seeing her children to complete their education and to secure good jobs. She envisions a life where her family would prosper.

“Sa pagsugod namo sa kaminyuon, naninguha kami sa akong bana nga makahatag sa tanang panginahanglanun sa among mga anak apan unahon gyud namo kung unsay ikaon sa matag adlaw (During the start of our marriage, my husband and I tried our best to provide the basic necessities of our children but we prioritize first our everyday meals),” said Virginia.

At that time, she hopes to have their own electricity and water connection and to improve their housing condition.

Jimmy doubled his efforts by regularly working as a motorcycle driver in their town while cultivating the land owned by his father.

Tragedy struck the family when Jimmy had an accident in November 2009 while driving his motorcycle, resulting in the amputation of his left leg.

Despite any hurdles and challenges in their plans, Virginia remains steadfast in God, believing every problem has a solution.

“Bisan sa aksidente nga nahiaguman sa akong bana, wala ko nawad-an paglaum nga moabot ang panahon molambo gihapon among pamilya (Despite the accident of my husband, I did not lose hope that someday our family will prosper),” said Virginia.

She wants to show her children that their hard work and sacrifice are all for their future.

With this mindset, she carefully manages their income and saves some to have their own electricity and water connection. She also started to have a backyard garden to grow vegetables, ensuring that her family would eat a balanced and nutritious meal while also cutting down on their daily expenses.

4Ps partner-beneficiary

The Dumagpi family became part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in 2012 after being identified as a poor household under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The 4Ps cash grants helped Virginia purchase essential items such as clothes, notebooks, and bags and for daily allowance for her children.

As a prudent housewife, she ensured wise spending of every peso and used it for their basic needs, prioritizing their family’s health and education.

Virginia understands that the cash grant provided by the government comes from the taxpayers and should be properly used and not wasted by the eligible family beneficiary.

Aside from using the cash grant for her children’s needs, she saved some for their house improvement. Their bamboo floors are now concrete, they used galvanized iron for their roof, and the walls are concrete, though unfinished.

Before, they could only afford to buy rice by the kilo, but now the family can purchase it by sack.

Jimmy, now a member of a Persons with Disability (PWD) group in Alcantara, occasionally receives financial assistance from the local government unit (LGU), which also helps the family’s income. To make ends meet, he also raises chickens and continues to be a laborer in the lot owned by his father but for minimal work time.

Virginia sought employment in the LGU of Alcantara to sustain their needs. She was hired as a Job Order employee, earning a modest income. Currently assigned to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and would assist clients who would like to avail of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), a social safety net program funded by their LGU.

“Kasabot gyud ko sa gibati sa mga kliyente nga moanhi sa opisina ug mangayo og tabang, mao nga dili lalim kung naa ka sa krisis nga sitwasyon labi na kung wala kay natigom kay unsaon naman lang nimo ang paggastos labi na kung adunay nasakit ug nahospital nga miyembro sa pamilya (I understand the feeling of the clients who comes here in the office and would like to ask assistance that is why, it is not easy to be in crisis especially if you do not have savings to be used during medical emergencies),” added Virginia.

Virginia also stands as the President of the Cabil-isan Rural Development Association, an association funded by the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the DSWD. The general merchandise store managed by the group provided the members with additional financial support.

Despite Virginia’s struggles as a mother and wife, she remains hopeful for a better future for her family. She shared that her three (3) children are studious, and she will never give up on her dreams for her children.

The three children are monitored under the 4Ps and are currently studying at Alcantara National High School. The eldest child, Jevie Anne, is a Grade 12 student enrolled in the Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) – Information Communication and Technology (ICT) strand and is good at singing. The second child is Jimmy Boy, Jr., a Grade 11 student whose passion for drawing encourages him to pursue the TVL ICT track. The youngest child is a Grade 7 student, Jeian, currently in Grade 7. Like her elder siblings, she is also an honor student. ###

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