“Hindi kayo nagkamali sa pagpili sa amin sa Pantawid Pamilya (You  were right  in identifying us as Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries).”

This was part of the message of 15-year- old Alyannah Terite, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiary who graduated valedictorian of her class from the Pasay City Science High School.

Alyannah spoke before fellow Pantawid Pamilya graduates during the post-graduation event dubbed, “Pagtatapos Nyo, Tagumpay ng Pilipino”, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

More than 4,000 graduates from the National Capital Region (NCR) participated in the event, which celebrated the hard work of the children-beneficiaries to finish  their studies especially  those who graduated with honors.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman led the celebration and presented the graduates to Department of Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro.

Sec. Soliman also cited the likes of Alyannah for never giving up amid poverty.

“Ang katuparan ng inyong mga pangarap ang pinaka-intensiyon ng programang Pantawid Pamilya.  Umpisa pa lamang ang inyong pagtatapos sa high school.  Patuloy pa kayong magsikap upang makamit ninyo ang mas magandang buhay (The fulfillment of  your dreams is the goal of Pantawid Pamilya.  Your graduation  from high school is just the first step.  Continue to strive towards a better life),” the Secretary emphasized.

Inspiration

Alyannah added, “Gawin nating hamon ang mga pagsubok na napagdaanan natin upang patatagin ang ating pagkatao at magpursige upang makamtan ang ating pangarap (Let us be strengthened by the challenges we have been through and continue to work hard to achieve our dreams).”

She also said not to forget to thank all the people who have helped them.
“Maraming salamat sa DSWD, sa institusyong tumulong sa amin sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilya na naging inspirasyon ko upang makapagtapos ako ng high school  (Thank you to DSWD, the institution that helped us through  the Pantawid Pamilya which served as my inspiration to study hard),” Alyanah remarked.

Alyannah who is set to take up civil engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Campus said she will try her best to excel in school to live up to the expectations of the program.

Just the beginning

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who was the keynote speaker, agreed with Alyannah saying that we must not run away from challenges, these must be faced and addressed, and used as an anchor in achieving one’s dreams.

He congratulated the graduates and motivated them to continue dreaming and exploring all opportunities available to achieve a better life.

Secretary Luistro, on the other hand,  emphasized that graduation  is only an end to one chapter in their lives,  it also signifies the beginning of another phase in their academic  life. He added that the students can now begin to explore opportunities that will bring them closer to their dreams.

For those who want to continue their college education or gain additional skills, they can apply for scholarships  with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

For her part, Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz shared the various programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Sec. Baldoz said that they can try applying for the  Government Internship Program (GIP) where  students can be employed in government offices for six months.  She also mentioned the Special Program for  the Employment of Students (SPES)  which aims to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing income or augment their income through encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations.

Secretary Baldoz added that the graduates may inquire for more programs and services under their Bureau of Labor and Employment (BLE).

During the event, private companies set up booths for the students to inquire about possible employment,  scholarships as well as career guidance.

Positive proof

Another highlight of the event was the interview portion of successful Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries with Ms. Kris Aquino.

When asked by Kris what she has to say about being a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary,  Rose Bongon, a beneficiary from Camarines Sur, said, “We are the clear manifestation that the taxes, ay napupunta naman sa magandang cause ( is going to a good cause).”

Kris was delighted by the candid answer of Rose prompting her to give the lass a tight hug.

Among those interviewed by Kris were outstanding students, two of whom were beneficiaries of the Expanded Students Grants in Aid program, a scholarship program of CHED for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries,  who recently passed the Licensure Examinations for Teachers.

Over 300,000

The graduates who were present at PICC were among the more than 300,000 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who graduated from high school.

Sec. Soliman said they are the first batch of Pantawid Pamilya graduates in high school since the program extended the education grants to children 15-18 years old to cover secondary education.

Each child studying in high school receives P500 monthly cash grant.

During the post-event press conference, Secretary  Soliman was asked  whether she thinks the amount of the cash grant is enough,  she candidly answered,

“’yung cash grant hindi talaga sapat para matugunan lahat ng pangangailangan ng pamilya.  Iyong P500 para sa high school student, hindi  ‘yun sasapat sa lahat ng gastos, kaya talagang nagsisikap din ang bawat pamilya na gumawa ng paraan para matugunan lahat at di lang umasa sa binibigay ng programa  (The cash grant is really not enough to respond to all the needs of a Pantawid Pamilya family.  The P500 given to high school student is not adequate for all the expenses.  That is why family-beneficiaries really do their best to earn for their family’s basic needs).”

“Inuulit namin na hindi nagtatapos dito ang ating pagtulong, kung kaya’t nandito ang DOLE, CHED, and TESDA at  mga pribadong sektor at iba pang partners upang magsama-samang magbigay ng tulong sa mga graduates (We reiterate that this graduation is not the end of our assistance to the graduates.  That is why we have DOLE, CHED, TESDA, the private sector, and other partners, converging our programs and services to provide additional opportunities to the graduates),” the Secretary added.

Sec. Soliman said that the goal of the program is to ensure that the students will graduate from high school and have a higher rate for employability  and eventually help lift their families out of poverty.