Street vendor Gilbert Ramos never imagined that he would one day be a decision maker in his barangay. An active member of his community, Gilbert now allocates the budget for priority projects in their area.

Gilbert was one of the parent leaders who were invited to share their stories of change during the Parent Leader’s Dialogue with Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held last February 19, 2015 in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.

“Bilang isang Parent Leader, natuto akong mag ayos ng aking sarili. Dati, kung ano na lang ang maisuot ko kung ako ay magtitinda. Pero dahil sa Family Development Session (FDS), natutunan ko ang kahalagahan na maging presentable kahit na ako ay isang hamak na tindero lang. (As a Parent Leader I learned how to fix myself. I was not really concerned before about what to wear whenever I went out to sell. But because of the Family Development Session, I learned the importance of being presentable even if I was just a humble vendor),” Gilbert shared.

The FDS is a monthly session where the partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program are required to attend as part of their co-responsibilities. Through the FDS, parent/s or guardians are educated about personality development which includes proper grooming and hygiene; strengthening family relationships; and fostering respect by inculcating one’s rights, roles, and responsibilities within the family and their community. Parents also discuss disaster preparedness, financial literacy, and other topics that may be helpful to the family.

Apart from being a parent leader, Gilbert is also part of the community health teams.

On the other hand, fellow parent leader Magnolia Robina shared how the program has empowered her as a wife.

“Dahil sa programa, tumaas ang aking self-esteem. Hindi na ako mahiyain ngayon. Kung dati, ang asawa ko lang ang nagdedesisyon, ngayon kasama na ako sa nagdedesisyon sa bahay namin (Because of the program, my self- esteem increased. I am no longer shy now. Before, my husband is just the one deciding, but now, I am now involved in the decision-making inside the house),” Magnolia said.

Amelia Lopez, a parent leader from Labrador, Pangasinan, recalled how the program transformed her into a more responsible citizen and productive member of their community.

“Dati hindi ako tumutulong sa barangay lalo na ‘pag nagpapatawag ang kapitan. Hindi naman ako ang sumasahod, bakit ako tutulong? Mas madalas nasa kapitbahay ako at nakikipag-chismisan. Pero ngayon sumasama na ako sa mga gingawang barangay clean-up drive. Ngayon, chismosa pa din ako pero nag level-up na. Ang chismis ko na ay tungkol sa programa at kung paano kami natutulungan lalo na ang aking mga anak (Before I do not help in our barangay, especially if it’s the barangay captain who is asking for our help. I don’t get paid so why should I help? Most of the time, you will see me with my neighbours gossiping. But now I am part of the barangay clean-up drive. I still do gossip but it has levelled- up. I talk about the program and how it is helping us especially my children),” Amelia testified.

The families of Gilbert, Magnolia, and Amelia, are just some of the 4,442,781 households nationwide whose lives have been transformed by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program that invests in the health and education of poor households’ primary of children aged 0-18. It utilizes the conditional cash transfer scheme where the partner-beneficiaries receive their grants provided that they fulfill their co-responsibilities, including sending their children to school, availing of health services, and attending the monthly FDS.