Former USA President Theodore Roosevelt once said that, “with self-discipline, most anything is possible.”
For the Marcos family of Almeria, Biliran, this statement rings true.
Jenelyn Marcos, 47, says “Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa Amahang Langitnon ni Jesus Christ at sa Department of Social Welfare and Development, malaki po ang naitulong ng gobyerno sa amin na napili kami bilang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.”
As members of 4Ps, Jenelyn and her husband, Rodolfo, learned how to be disciplined. “Marami ang pagbabago sa aking pamilya, katulad nalang ng pagdidisiplina sa aming mga anak at lalo na sa pagdidisiplina sa aming sarili bilang mga magulang.”
Through discipline and with support from the program, The Marcoses were able to send their four children to school. They also instilled the value of discipline and hard work in their children. It is because of these values that their eldest, Jessa, was able to graduate and earn her Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree from the University of the Philippines.
“Pinahalagahan namin ang natatanggap na pera sa programa at ginagamit ito ng tama. Dahil dito, napagtapos namin ang aking anak na si Jessa na ngayon ay may magandang trabaho na, habang ang iba naman ay nag-aaral pa,” she adds, as she proudly informs us that Jessa now works as an Assistant Manager at the National Housing Authority.
As for her fellow 4Ps beneficiaries, Jenelyn emphasizes how discipline can help achieve their goals. “Bilang isang mahirap dati na nakapagtapos ng anak sa pag-aaral sa tulong ng programang ito, ang akin lamang mapapayo ay pahalagahan ang tulong na natatanggap, gamitin ng maayos, at makinig sa oras ng Family Development Session, dahil dito niyo matutunan lahat ng mga paraan para makaahon sa kahirapan.”
With these lessons in mind, the Marcoses are Indeed living proof that through discipline, hard work, and with support from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, anything and everything is possible.
(credits: DSWD 4Ps ML Regine Canonigo)