“Sauna nagtuo ko nga nagtabang ko sa uban apan sa ulahi, akong naamgohan nga gitabangan ko ang akong kaugalingon tungod kay biktima usab ako sa kapintasan sa panimalay (Before, I thought that I was helping others. However, I realized that I was also helping myself because I, too, was a victim of domestic violence),” said Justina Villego from the town of Basay, Negros Oriental.

Born into an impoverished family, Justina was not able to finish her college education because she was forced to work in order to provide for the financial needs of her sick siblings and parents.

She eventually got married to her first husband, who unfortunately died while their two children were still toddlers. She thought that having a partner in life would mean an escape from her parents, but life became more difficult when she needed to raise her own children alone.

In order to feed her two children, she worked tirelessly at different kinds of jobs. She became a single parent and raised her children with the double figure of a mother and a father to provide all the love and support her children needed. Later on, she met Gleen, and as the days went by, Justina fell in love, and after they shared a common interest, both decided to get married. In their marriage voyage, the couple was blessed with two children, namely, Gleen Diane and Gleen Xavier.

Justina is a hard-working person in the community; she engaged herself in different activities and became an active community volunteer; however, that participation of Justina in the community led to a misunderstanding between the couple; Gleen got jealous and even laid a heavy hand on her.

But then, as Justina said, “Wala ko nagpapugong sa akong bana tungod kahibalo ko nga aduna koy katungdanan ug tanan nga akong gibuhat para sa akong pamilya. Dili ko niya angay ipriso sa balay tungod dili man pud niya kaya ihatag ang tanang kinahanglan sa among mga anak (My husband could not stop me because I knew that I had the responsibility and everything I did was for my family. He cannot lock me in the house, because he cannot provide all our children’s needs).”

Despite her husband not wanting her to join in any community-related activities like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the KALAHI-CIDSS, she still didn’t budge, even though it caused conflict between the couple.

However, the couple eventually found a way to compromise and support each other’s aspirations. With the help of the DSWD program, which also helped her husband change his behavior, Gleen became an active community volunteer and a responder in times of emergency. In the end, the couple was able to raise their two children well.

Active Community Volunteer

Justina took up the Bachelor of Arts, majoring in broadcasting, but was sadly not able to finish because of her family’s financial constraints. However, it did not stop her from pursuing her dreams, and she believed that the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would help her achieve her goals for her family. Justina became a 4Ps Parent Leader, a KALAHI-CIDSS community volunteer, and an advocate for women’s rights. She actively worked to raise awareness about domestic violence and its impact on every woman. Indeed, Justina’s life serves as an inspiration to many women who are struggling to break free from abusive relationships and societal stereotypes.

Justina worked as a barangay health worker (BHW) for 24 years and is a committed member of the community. She actively served with Lupong Tagapamayapa, the Barangay Anti-Drug Accuse Council (BADAC), and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). She has been the desk officer for Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) for 7 years.

From 2014 to 2018, she simultaneously held the positions of choir leader, lector, and catechist while serving for seven years as Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) chapel president. She also worked for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for a year in 2008 as one of the program’s exceptionally active parent leaders. Justina served as a resource person in a Gender and Development (GAD) training session for couples and Pantawid Pamilya held in Barangay Cabalayongan, Basay, Negros Oriental, on June 16, 2016. This undertaking is one of the community-based projects of the Empowered Men and Women of Basay Association (EMWOBA).

With all of Justina’s efforts, including giving her time to participate in all activities and programs of the DSWD, the agency recognized her great contribution as a community volunteer in the successful implementation of various key programs of the DSWD.

Reynanay of Villego Family

In 2022, the DSWD-7 searched for an ambassador of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) dubbed ReyNanay. This is an opportunity for all women who have been given a chance to show their communication skills and power. The 4Ps ReyNanay recognizes outstanding mothers who have made significant contributions to their families and to their communities.

For Justina, winning the crown is an achievement and a testament to her dedication and hard work as a mother.

Her advocacy to support and assist her community in the Health and Nutrition Program, Growth Monitoring, Family Planning, and Expanded Program for Immunization have been recognized. This 45-year-old lady’s outstanding efforts in promoting health and dedication to improving the lives of those around her are truly inspiring.

Justina walked towards the crown as she said, “Life is full of ups and downs. The trick is: you enjoy the ups and have the courage during the downs.”

Self-Sufficient Level

Justina and her family’s lives changed when opportunities came, especially when the KALAHI-CIDSS program entered their community. She was employed as one of the community empowerment facilitators (CEF) under the Municipal Coordinating Team (MCT).

As Justina said, “Ang cash grants gikan sa Pantawid Pamilya nakatabang kaayo kanamo. Nakatubag kini sa mga panginahanglanon sa eskwelahan sa akong mga anak, ug nakapalit pa gani ko og motor nga magamit sa akong bana sa paghatod sa among mga anak ug kanako ug sa pagsideline sa pag habal-habal driver ug sunod-sunod ang mga oportunidad nga naabot hilabi na sa pagsulod sa KALAHI-CIDSS program kay nakatrabaho ko (The cash grants from Pantawid Pamilya helped us a lot. It has met the needs of my children’s education, and I have even bought a motorcycle that my husband used for personal purposes and for sideline habal-habal and the opportunities came, especially when the KALAHI-CIDSS program entered our community because it gave me the opportunity to work in the program).”

For the past 20 years, Gleen has been operating a motorcycle, or “habal-habal,” for rent, earning between P150.00 and P350.00 daily.

The Villegos also run a small farm that provides them with root crops, assorted vegetables, and corn. Justina runs a small sari-sari store that provides for the daily financial needs of their children. She is also known for making and selling peanut butter, peanut brittle, native snacks, and other delicacies in the school and neighborhood.

The sales of piglets, eggs, meat, swine, and poultry production significantly contribute to the daily increase in their income. The family also cultivates various leafy vegetables and herbal or medicinal plants for a healthy lifestyle, including ginseng, peppermint, fruit trees, coconut trees, and forest trees that line the perimeter of their house. The family profits from these trees in both monetary and non-monetary ways.

Jollar Dave and Jamaica finished their studies and now have their own families. Jamaica became an SK chairperson in their community.

At present, the two younger Villego siblings, Gleen Diane in grade 12 and Gleen Xavier in grade 9, are 4Ps monitored children. Both are studying at Basay National High School and have been doing well academically.

Justina expressed her gratitude to the program for providing financial assistance to her family, which helped them send their children to school and improve their living conditions. She also mentioned that the program has empowered her to become a better parent.

As a payback for the blessings she received, she also started providing educational assistance to deserving students in their community. Currently, she has two scholars.

“In the form of small financial assistance and school supplies, we cater to students who come from poor families,” shared Justina.

The Villego family now lives in a concrete house and enjoys a comfortable life. Aside from that, the family promotes taking care of the environment by practicing segregation of solid waste and continues to help their community in the protection, preservation, and conservation of the environment by adopting appropriate farm technologies and planting and growing trees. The Villego family served as an inspiration to their community.

In the latest Listahanan household assessment, they were already identified as a non-poor family.

“Malipayon ko sa nakab-ot nga kabag-ohan sa among pamilya pinaagi sa tabang sa programa ug sa among pagpaningkamot (I am happy for the positive change in my family through the help of the program and of our own determination),” added Justina.

For Justina, the 4Ps program has not only helped her financially but also empowered her to become self-sufficient. Her success story is a testament to the impact of social welfare programs on alleviating poverty and promoting economic growth. ###

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