“Kababaihan Katuwang ng Bayan sa Paglutas ng Kahirapan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan.” This slogan was made by a parent-leader of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantrawid Pamilya) during the Slogan-Making Contest in celebration of Women’s Month, her entry bagged first place.

Gadeza Ligutan, 32, is an active Pantawid Pamilya parent-leader from Brgy. 95-Caibaan, Tacloban City. She stated that making a slogan out of the theme “Kababaihan, Gabay Tungo sa Tuwid na Daan,” was not that hard for her because she just simply expressed how she feels as a leader, a mother and most importantly as a woman. Yet, she did not expect it would be a winning piece among 15 other slogans made by parent-leaders who joined the said contest last March 4, 2013, during the DSWD opening program in observance of the National Women’s Month.

During the awarding of winners last April 5, 2013 at the Leyte Park Hotel, Gadeza mentioned that indeed the feeling is very much empowering as a woman. She never expected that at her age, knowing that she is just a high school graduate, could still be recognized. She added that it did not even cross her mind that she will get to mingle with the regional DSWD employees and Pantawid Pamilya Program officers in such occasion. Now, this serves as an inspiration for her to do her commitments to the program, as well as of her being a woman.

Gadeza also disclosed how she manages her tasks as a mother and a parent-leader. As a mother of three, namely: Crisly,12, Hannia, 10, and Joy, 7; she ensures that their daily needs at home and her daughters’ needs at school are met. As a parent-leader, she constantly reminds her members to religiously comply with the program’s conditions for the sake of their children’s future. She even advocates on the Department’s campaign for the national election called the “Bawal Ang Epal Dito” by letting all her members be aware of the delisting process. She made it clear to them that it is only themselves who could remove their names in the program, if they will not comply with the program’s conditions through the delisting process of the DSWD.

According to her, it’s just a matter of getting used of doing the conditions of the program and not about the cash grant. As she explained, she had learned so much about parenting, during Family Development Sessions. She added that the program’s conditions are but the usual obligations of parents. With or without the cash grant, every parent has an obligation to nurture their children to become better individuals and to invest on the health, nutrition and education of her kids.

As a winner of the Slogan-Making Contest for the Women’s Month celebration- she shares this recognition with her co-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, with her daughters and to all women.