It is the start of the school year again. READ how Gilda and Mario Olaybar from San Ricardo ,Southern Leyte keep their strong belief in the value of Education towards a better future for their 7 children. With their belief in the importance of Education coupled with perseverance, and augmentation from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other government assistance, the couple was able to produce four (4) college graduates. Here’s their story.
-BELIEVING IN THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION-
“Gabayan natin ang ating mga anak [habang sila ay lumalaki]. Suportahahan natin ang kanilang pag-aaral upang sila ay makatapos sa kanilang pag-aaral at magkaroon ng maayos na trabaho para hindi nila madanasan ang hirap na dinanas natin noon. Sapagkat ang ating mga anak lamang ang ating tunay na kayamanan.”
[We should provide our children with guidance while they grow up. We should ensure that they complete their education and secure good jobs so that they cannot experience the hardships we faced in the past. Our true wealth lies in our children alone.]
Gilda Olaybar, a Pantawid beneficiary from San Ricardo Southern Leyte, shared how she invested in her children’s future through education and providing them with guidance while they navigate life.
However, having seven children to raise with a bare income became a struggle for low-income households like the Olaybar couple. Gilda had a small sari-sari store while Mario, her husband, was a mechanic. Their income could not suffice the needs of their children. Gilda and Mario thought it would only be a pipe dream for them to send their children to school and have them finish their college degrees. This dream got closer to reality when their family became a recipient of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program recipient in 2012, and other government programs like the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Three of their children became monitored children under the Pantawid Pamilya Program. Further, one child availed of the TES.
Many challenges came in their way such as when Typhoon Odette hardly hit their place in 2021, it closed their sari-sari store business. On the other hand, Mario became ill in 2023. But this does not dishearten the couple to continue persevering for their family. Fortunately, Gilda got elected as a barangay official and the honorarium she received benefited them.
Now, the couple has four college graduates who have their jobs. Though it is not an obligation of the elder children to help the younger siblings who are still schooling, they are willing to help with the school expenses. Their situation has been alleviated with the help of the government assistance, their strong belief to the importance of education, and the team work among the family members.
The household also exited from the program after attaining a Self-Sufficiency level of Well-being.
Gilda stated, “Ang tulong sa edukasyon na sakop ng 4Ps ang siyang labis naming ipinapasalamat. Dahil sa cash grants [mula sa 4Ps] na natanggap namin, natutustusan ang mga pangangailangan ng aking mga anak para sa kanilang edukasyon at kalusugan. Dagdag pa rito, sinamahan din namin ng sipag at tigaya at gabay naming mag-asawa na pagtapos naming sila hanggang sa kolehiyo. Ang tagumpay ng aming mga anak ay tagumpay namin bilang kanilang mga magulang. Nakikita na namin na magiging maayos na ang kanilang tinatahak sa buhay. Naging daan ang programa ng 4Ps na maisakatuparan ang pangarap ng aming mag-asawa na mapagtapos ang aming mga anak sa kolehiyo, daan patungo sa pag-unlad sa buhay at maging mabuting mamamayan ng ating bansa.”
[The education assistance covered by the 4Ps is something we are very grateful for. Thanks to the cash grants [from 4Ps] that we received, the needs of my children for their education and health were met. Furthermore, together with my husband, we persevere and work hard, and guide our children to help them graduate from college. The education assistance covered by the 4Ps is something we are very grateful to. The success of our children is our success as their parents. We see that their future will be okay. The 4Ps program has come to fulfill our dream to graduate our children from college, to pave the way to improved well-being and to be good citizens of our country..]
Gilda and Mario believe in the importance of education towards an improved quality of life for their children. They expressed their gratitude for the 4Ps and other government assistance for the augmentation.
credits: DSWD 4Ps ML Jessa Blones
