Forty-seven Parent-Leaders (PLs) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, representing the three Visayan regions, have gladly shared each of their success stories as partners of Pantawid Pamilya, during the two-day regional forum of parent-leaders held at Ciriaco Hotel in Calbayog City, Western Samar, last June 25-26, 2011.

For the parent-leaders, the Family Development Session (FDS) as one of the program’s conditions has greatly contributed and influenced them not just as parents, but as an individual. One of them shared that she learned at least to combed her hair or put on some lipstick when going out to attend the FDS. It’s is a normal thing to do for most individual, but for her it was something different that somehow boost her confidence.

Professor Ma. Victoria Raquiza of UP Dilliman- National College of Public Administration and Governance together with other representatives of Civil Society Organizations from the three regions, facilitated the said regional forum, which then turned out to be another success story to tell for most of the participants.

Series of workshops through individual reflection exercises, group sharing, interactive and focused group discussions and plenary presentation were given to the participants, which at times tend to be an emotional scenario as the parent-leaders share the positive changes that happened in their lives as Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

On the last day, the participants were tasked to express their oath of commitment through a painting on a canvass. Visayas cluster have chosen an umbrella, which symbolizes the role of parent leaders. Since most of the parent leaders are mothers, they compared a mother to an umbrella. They stated that like an umbrella, a mother protects her family from extreme conditions. Accordingly, when you close the umbrella it also becomes a cane that serves as a guide to the right path like a mother does. Their symbolic and creative expression was illustrated in slanting position, which implies that it is geared towards a direction of a better future. As a proof of their commitment the parent leaders marked their handprints on the canvass.

From the group of participants, another group of parent-leaders to represent the Visayas cluster was formed for the National Forum in Manila. There will be one parent-leader to represent a province from regions 6, 7 and 8.