There was a time when days were really tough for the family. The needs of the children were almost impossible to provide due to insufficient household income. No matter how much they strive, the basic needs especially of the children still could not be met.

With the advent of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) and the proper utilization of the conditional cash grants, the family members now have better access to education and health services: healthy foods, allowance, school supplies, uniforms, and other basic needs. Children were inspired to strive further to get out from the hopelessness that poverty has struck them.

The parents, on the other hand, learned more about strengthening family relationships, family planning, proper nutrition, rights of the children, and the importance of the love of God and family, and other Filipino values through Pantawid Pamilya’s Family Development Sessions (FDS). They have become involved in various endeavors. Husband has been a part of the Farmers Association of Sta. Cruz and the Knights of Columbus. Wife has served as president in Parents and Teachers Associations, chairman in KALAHI CIDDS sub-committees, and as secretary in a women’s group. They have been advocates of good nutrition by actually helping in the conduct of re-echo training in their barangay. In their own home, they have learned to cultivate their backyard which is now planted with different kinds of vegetables and herbal plants where they get additional source of food and income.

Thus, the family members have become empowered. The children got more awards in school. Husband and wife became more participative in community and environmental activities. Indeed, they have gained the inspiration and confidence to share their insights with other members of the barangay, even with non-beneficiaries.

The family may have already been active in the community before, but now the members’ awareness and enthusiasm to improve themselves and help the entire community have tremendously increased. They again started to hope for better days ahead. All these make them a Model Family— an epitome of hard work and passion to realize their potentials amidst difficult circumstances.

Yes, times were tough. But they never gave up. Together with hope that someday a lighter world will come, Pantawid Pamilya paved its way. This is no ordinary story of a family. This is the story of a household who through thick and thin has stayed together and exhibited an overwhelming enthusiasm of having a meaningful existence through active and selfless participation in community activities. This is the life of the family of Rico Villocino, 36, farmer and laborer, his wife Angelita, and their children namely, Rica Angelica who is a Grade VI student at Javier Central School, and Rianne Aliyah, Kinder at Faith Baptist Learning Center.