Poverty is a thief that steals a child’s dream.
But this is not the case for the Apita family in Bugas, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, who, despite having few resources, managed to create three professionals with the aid of the government’s Pantawid Pamilya Program (4Ps).
Fe Apita, 49 years old, recalled in an interview with PIA their family’s struggle especially during the days when three of her children went to school at the same time.
“Han diri pa ako bulig han 4Ps, makuri po an amon kinabuhi, labi na kay sunod-sunod nga nangingiskwela ang akon mga anak (Life was really difficult back then, when we were not yet 4Ps member, especially since three of my children are studying simultaneously),” Fe said.
“An amon kinabuhi damo la an amon gin-aagian nga mga kakuri-an, numero uno an problema ha pan-adlaw-adlaw nga amon panginahanglan (Our family had been through a lot of hardships, and our number one problem back then was sustaining our daily needs),” Nanay Fe added.
Fe Apita shared her family’s success story during the 5th DSWD Information Caravan thru the Kapihan ha PIA on November 29 at Hotel Doña Vicenta, Borongan City. (Photo: DSWD-8)
Journey of being a 4Ps member
In November 2012, the family was qualified to become a member beneficiary of 4Ps. Nanay Fe recounted that at that time, the meager income of his husband as a barangay kagawad was not enough for their children’s needs. But with the help of the 4Ps program, the support of her husband’s family, and of course, through the perseverance of their children, they were able to survive the challenges and went on to produce three professionals in the family.
“Interesado talaga an akon mga anak mag-eskwela, malo-oy an Ginoo, bisan 20 pesos la an balon, nagikan hira pa-eskwelahan kay pursigido man mahuman pag-eskwela (Despite having P20 pesos allowance, my kids still went to school because they were really motivated to finish their studies),” she recalled.
Her third child qualified as a Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) scholar. The educational grant aims to empower beneficiaries of 4Ps by providing them with the opportunity to get a college education, therefore increasing their chance of getting t better employment in the future.
“Dako an akon pasalamat kay kahit papano, nakabawas han garastosan ha eskwelahan, labi na han college na hira (The program was a huge help in financing their school expenses, especially during college),” she said, recalling the struggles of raising her successively born children in a span of three years.
Unlocking employment opportunities
Three of her children are now gainfully employed as government employees. The eldest, a licensed civil engineer, is now working at the Provincial Engineering Office. The second, a licensed professional teacher who graduated as a cum laude, is now working as a Teacher III at the Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School; and the third, a Bachelor in Science Administration graduate and a Civil Service eligible, currently works at the City Accounting Office.
The Apita siblings: (L-R) Andre, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration graduate; Alyzza, a Civil Engineer; Aina, a Licensed Professional Teacher who graduated cum laude; and Arviejake, a Grade 11 student. (Photo courtesy of Fe Apita)
Her fourth and youngest child is now a Grade 11 student and, with high hopes, will follow the footsteps of his elder siblings. With the family now able to sustain their needs, Nanay Fe shared that they are now in the Level 3 of the program, which means they no longer need help from the government through the 4Ps program.
In the past 12 years that she was a 4Ps beneficiary, Fe served as a parent leader, providing voluntary support to other 4Ps members while also serving as a barangay health worker.
Her willingness to serve other people, despite her own hardships, paved the way for her to be elected as barangay kagawad in their barangay.
“Dako ang akon pasalamat nga usa ako han nahibulig hini nga programa han gobyerno. Labi na han nakakobra na ako kay nakakabulig at ha amon panimalay labi na ha akon pamilya ngan yana mayda na kami tulo nga professionals (Huge thanks for being chosen as one of the members of the 4Ps beneficiary, especially when we already received the cash assistance that provided our daily needs at home as well as being the reason why we now have professionals in the family),” Nanay Fe said in between sobs.
According to Febie Palines, 4Ps Provincial Link, Nanay Fe’s family is one of the 37,007 active families enrolled in the 4Ps program in the province of Eastern Samar. (MMP/VTG/PIA Eastern Samar)
