Hailed as the first grand winner of the National Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya, the Manarpaacs from Batac City, Ilocos Sur still remember how they felt when they were awarded in 2012.
“Nagsama yung kaba at saya. Hindi ko ine-expect. Sa dinami-dami ng beneficiaries kami ang napili. Napakasaya namin,” said the 46-year old mother Leilani Manarpaac.
Her son Kaiser Dominic thought it was overwhelming to be awarded in front of so many people. He was only 14 years old then but he already knew that it was an honor for his family to be called “huwaran.”
“Malaking honor ito sa amin kasi isa itong avenue ng government na mabigyan kami ng oportunidad na mahihirap na ma-ishare sa ibang beneficiaries ‘yong life story namin,” he shared.
Seven years since the momentous event in their lives, how are they doing now and how have they changed since?
The first national winner
Even before they were proclaimed as the grand winner of the search, the Manarpaacs’ neighbors and co-beneficiaries have always seen them as extraordinary, mabait, and matulungin. The Manarpaac children, Kaiser and Kate, were also admired for being consistent honor students.
When the family won in the competition, their neighbors felt that it was a success of the whole barangay. Finally, they thought, Brgy. Baligat has something to be proud of. The Manarpaacs have been in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) since 2010. They are among the 1,630* 4Ps households in Batac City.
“Masaya kami dahil dito sa barangay namin naipili yung winner. Kahit pobre kami nakamit nila ‘yong title ‘yon,” said one of the family’s neighbors.
The Manarpaacs were awarded with a plaque and cash worth P15,000, which they used to buy a gas stove, rice, and kids’ school requirements. They have also been invited to share their story through media interviews and various city government and DSWD activities.
It was huge change in their lives because Leilani used to always just stay home and mind her own business. She learned about the value of community participation when she became a 4Ps beneficiary. The different training she attended and her responsibilities as a parent leader taught her how to speak to a big audience.
She said, “Noong una hindi talaga ako masyadong nakikisalamuha pero (ngayon) mas naging confident ako… Noon medyo kinabahan pero sa katagalan nasanay na rin.”
Every time Leilani delivers her speech she makes sure to tell her co-beneficiaries to adhere to the objectives of 4Ps, follow its conditionalities, and do not be discouraged despite their hardships. Additionally, she wants her story to reach the critics of the program:
“Gusto naming ma-feature yung stories naming mga huwarang pamilya para maipakita sa mga bumabatikos sa programa na merong patunay na totoo na maraming natutulungan ang programa. Gusto naming maipakita sa kanila na ‘di lang kami umaasa sa program. May mga trabaho rin kami.”
But the most important impact of the search to her was changing her perspective about what one can do amid poverty:
“Hindi namin ine-expect na manalo pero na-realize din namin na hindi pala hadlang ang pagiging mahirap para maging winner or maging matagumpay ka sa isang bagay,” she continued.
Striving for more
The Manarpaacs are definitely in a better position now. Kaiser is taking up BS Civil Engineering and will be graduating this year. He receives grants from Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), a college education program of the national government for 4Ps children.
Kate, on the other hand, is a consistent honor student. She is also the class representative whenever there are competitions in school, like quiz bowls and talent shows.
As their expenses increase, Leilani and her husband Rommel double their efforts to provide for their children. Rommel was able to get a good construction project in Santa, Ilocos Sur. He is a carpenter there, and only goes home every weekend. The children appreciate the couple’s hard work even if it means being away from home for days.
“Si Papa kahit may free day naghahanap pa rin ng trabaho. Free day niya ang Sunday sa pagkakarpintero pero naghahanap pa rin siya ng ibang project. Si Mama nagse-saleslady para matustusan ang pag-aaral namin,” Kaiser said.
Leilani supports his husband’s decisions even though it is not always easy for her to balance doing households chores, taking care of their children, and working without the pade de familia’s presence at home.
She shared, “Minsan naiisip ko sana nandito siya para magkatulong kami. Naintindihan ko naman para sa mga anak naming ‘yong ginagawa niya kasi nandoon ang opportunity niya kaya sinuportahan ko.”
She and Rommel have decided that they will do everything for the future of their children. They do not want to go back to the time when they literally had nothing, even milk for young Kaiser.
“May pagkakataon na gusto na naming sumuko lalo na noong maliit pa si Kaiser. Minsan umiiyak ako sa gabi kasi walang steady na trabaho ang asawa ko. Minsan nagpabili siya (Kaiser) ng gatas (at hindi namin mabili. Sabi niya), ‘Ano ba ‘yan? Lagi na lang kape!’”
The frustration of not being able to give what her children need is also one of her reasons why she always tells them to study well:
“Ayaw naming maranasan nila ‘yong hirap na naranasan namin dati. Kaya kahit gaano man kahirap, mag-aral sila kasi ‘yon lang ang mapapamana namin sa kanila.”
The siblings understand their role in the family and fully accept it. They know they need to find balance between doing schoolwork and helping around the house. Kaiser promises to graduate this year and pass the board exam so he could help in the family’s finances, especially in his younger sister’s college education.
Kate, meanwhile is now a junior high schooler, and she does everything she can to maintain her high grades. She wants to be an accountant someday.
Being a role model
Being a huwaran family surely has advantages but the other end of the spectrum of being a titleholder also exists. Kaiser shares that he and his family are always conscious to be role models because many look up to them:
“Dapat mag-set kami as example to other beneficiaries. Medyo fun pero mahirap din kasi you need to maintain an image.”
But the Manarpaacs learned to manage the pressure and expectations from them. They realized that as a family they need to be enduring and strong. Kaiser saw these characteristics from his parents.
He says, “Kahit anong pagsubok nilalampasan nila. Walang perpektong pamilya. May mga ‘di pagkakaintindihan ang parents ko pero natutunan namin kung paano i-resolve ang problems within the family.”
One of these challenges was when Rommel was sent home from Saudi in 2016 before he could finish his two-year contract. There were security issues in the area where he worked and the company that employed him shut down.
The job abroad could have been their easy ticket out of poverty. It was a trying time for the family because Leilani was the lone provider when Rommel was out of work.
But the family rose above this situation just like what they always try to do when faced with challenges. In the end, what matters is how the family sticks and works together to have a better character and future.
Leilani shared, “May mga pagsubok din pero lumalaban (kami) sa mga pagsubok na dumadaan sa amin.” ###
*Data as of June 2019