Pambujan Northern Samar- Driven by her wits and her own will in helping people live a better life through her impregnable  belief on the goals and gains of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s), Amelita Atencio, 34, earned her prize as a parent leader of Brgy.4 Poblacion, Pambujan Northern Samar. It is a prize that will lead to the right path in building a strong household- the unity of her members as 4P’s beneficiaries.

Amy completely understands the program and has seen how it would work for them as beneficiaries. That’s why she never stops walking along the crossroads with other colleagues who simply dreamed of sending their children to school and providing them with the right amount of nutrition their body needs. She became a mentor and a guide to her neighbors and friends who have recognized her efforts in educating them the purpose of the program and how it would help improve their status in life. As a former SK Chairman and now an active woman-leader volunteer in their barangay, it made her easy handling her members. Her willingness to help others is driven by her knowledge and experience as a leader and as a single parent.

Being a single parent urges her to encourage more parents to sustain the needs of their children. She would always let herself be an example for them to never lose hope despite of the scarcity they are experiencing. Oftentimes she would remind them that if she makes it as a single parent how much more for them who are both there for their children as parents.

“Simple la man ak hingyap para sa akon tulo nga anak, an makahuman sira pag eskwela ngan maging maupay pirmi ira panlawas.”(I just simply wish for my three daughters to finish their studies and let them stay healthy always.) She believes that providing her children with good education is the only wealth she could pass on to them. Amy is a mother of three, namely Rhealyn,11 who is in Grade 6, Richelle, 9, in Grade 3 and Rina, 3 who is now enrolled in Day Care. Amy got separated from her husband 4 yrs ago. It was when her husband suffered from nervous breakdown that he went home to his parents. She then noticed that her children became malnourished because she had all her attention to her husband who was sick. From then on, she decided that she must move on and focus to her children’s future. Presently, her husband doesn’t even recognize her; yet she let her daughters visit their father on weekends.

Amy came from a well-off family in Leyte. She had her college in Manila but wasn’t able to finish her studies because she had liberally enjoyed the tempting teenage life in the place where she could do everything she wish for. And when she faced the real score of it, her views in life have changed.

Her experiences serve as an adhesive for her to hold on tightly to life, especially by being there to stand as a mother and a father to her three daughters. To support on their financial needs she sometimes cook food and sell in offices; and sell bar-b-que at night. She also receives a monthly allowance of P1000 from their barangay as a leader among women volunteers. She is not financially stable to support the other needs of her children. That is why she is so thankful that the government has conceptualized 4P’s to help those who are in need like them. 4P’s had given them the chance to slowly take-off to a higher ground and reach the brighter picture of life.

”Naiba an routine san mga residente didi sa amon barangay. Nagkamay-ada sin pagka-urusa an mga tawo dinhi labi na kon yada nam Group Gardening schedule. Pag yada nam Family Development Session, nalilipay sira kay damu ira nahibaru-an. Pati an pag huruygo nawara sa pagkayana tungod san amon mga aktibidadis sa 4P’s.” (It has changed the daily routine of the residents here in our barangay. We now have unity especially if we have Group Gardening schedule. And if we have Family Development Session, it makes them happy because they learn from it. Even gambling is no longer rampant nowadays because of our activities in 4P’s.) Because she constantly reminds them of dropping off things that is not necessary for living, they would even accompany their Municipal Link (ML) Ma. Paz Sapinit, whom they’re fond of calling Ma’am, in reaching out to other beneficiaries in the remote areas during their spare time. The activities of 4P’s had brought them together, united to step to a new pace in life.

Amy has her initiatives to closely monitor the compliance of her co-beneficiaries with the conditionalities of the program She lets her members submit receipts pasted on a bond paper right after they had receive their 4P’s payment; she have  regular visits  to the school and health center where the 4P’s children beneficiaries are enrolled and registered respectively. And because her house is located in the corner across the school, she watches those who are not well-groomed in going to school. She would call the attention of the parents if she sees children not attending classes. Again, she would remind them of the conditions of the program.

Residents of other barangays even envy her members because of her extra effort as a parent-leader. Her members get to know on how to maintain being a part of the program because of the updates they have from their parent-leader. That’s why they look up to her with respect.

At first it was a challenge for her to build enthusiasm from her members to religiously comply with the program, yet as they realized its goals and gains, she continue to be an instrument for the success of the program. And now she enjoys what she’s doing. She’s not just a mother to her children but a mother to lead and to guide her co-beneficiaries together hand-in-hand crossing the road to progress.# (JOAN J. BACLAY)