This is the story of a mother who discovered her strength in one of life’s weakest moments. Neri Grano Carumba has always been an honest woman. At 49 years old, she anchored her values and her beliefs on honesty foremost, among all the other virtues. Little did she know that in one eventful point in her life, honesty could give her opportunities she never even dreamed of.

Needing Help, Needing Hope

Neri is married to Ireneo Caritatibo Carumba, a 58-year-old farmer. The Carumba family established their home and their life in Purok Goma, Bgy. Masao, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay. Neri and Irineo have been blessed with 5 children: Irene (25), Airol (23), Irone (22), Ian (13) and Aiza (7). The Carumbas rely on farming their land, a quarter of a hectare, to sustain the family’s needs. However, the little income from the rice field and rubber farm could never hold up, and they always find themselves frustrating over the puzzle of where to get the meal, or how to get through the day.

Thankfully, the Carumbas were chosen to be a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya Set 2 in 2009. With the Department of Social Welfare and Development program as their formidable support system, life for the Carumbas began to change drastically. The children could now hold their head high in school, as tuition and small contributions are no longer a problem; Neri no longer had to plea and beg off financial obligations because they could finally afford to hand over what is expected of them. The family now had the opportunity to look for other means of income, as they already had the financial power to explore peso-generating projects. Most importantly though, the Carumbas, especially Neri, gradually gained confidence in their worth and value as members of the community.

Neri loved attending the Family Development sessions. It gave her new perspectives on marital relations and motherhood, and gradually, Neri eschewed traditional beliefs and made room for new ones, particularly on household management, strengthening family relationship and disaster preparedness. As her confidence continued to grow, so did her responsibilities, not just at home but in her community as well. She slipped into leadership roles with ease; she became a Catechist Coordinator, a Barangay Health Worker and a Community Health Team-navigator.

The Carumbas live in a humble home. Constructed with light materials, their house has no concrete flooring, and half of the roofing is thatched with nipa. There is little furniture inside the home. Despite the austerity, the Carumbas boast that they have a happy home, and that one could never meet a more contented family than their own, especially now that the DSWD has given them a new chapter in life.

A Test of Strength

Fired up to take on new and more responsibilities, it was no surprise that Neri became a volunteer of KALAHI CIDSS, PAMANA CYCLE 3 in 2010. She became a member of the Monitoring Implementation Team (MIT),which gave her the substantial role of checking whether KALAHI CIDSS projects are being handled well. One incident tested her mettle, when she had been forced to sign a delivery receipt when no materials were provided for a project. Disturbed about the scenario, she immediately coordinated with fellow volunteers, and the KC-MT personnel. Neri then initiated a meeting with the Barangay Captain and with all others concerned, and successfully resolved the issue at hand. After 2 days, the materials for the project were promptly delivered, and as Neri watched the men unload the delivery, she was greatly thankful she had been honest, and that she dared assert her conviction to stay that way.

Neri’s quick response to solve the dilemma earned her the trust and confidence of barangay officials and of her fellow community members. Because of her honesty, she earned numerous rewards, including the awarding of a Municipal Agriculture Office project a Masao Farmers Association (MAFA) initiative that provided financial assistance for Hog Fattening; she also received financial aid for another project that involved poultry rising and goat raising. Being a Catechist Coordinator, Neri also took on an Income Generating project (IGP) that allowed her to do some hog raising. In addition, Neri also became one of the recipients of the Coconut, Cacao and Palay (COCOPAL) under the project of the MAFA. The TATSULO programs helped empower Neri, turning her into an organic fertilizer advocate (vermicasting) and a supporter of the Municipal Demo Farm, wherein she takes care of on-going preparation for broccoli, cabbage and ginger seedling production. Apart from the grants and projects, Neri also became a Sustainable Livelihood Program-Mauswagon SKA member. This entitled her a grant of                     Php 8,000.00 per month, which she used in her food vending project.

When Neri talks about the DSWD, she brightens up with love and gratitude. She is grateful that the TATSULO programs changed her family’s life. The TATSULO planted the seeds of change in each of her children, in her husband and in herself. These seeds continue to germinate, and as the Carumbas spend more years in the TATSULO programs, they are sure to develop and to grow into strong members of the community, empowered and virtuous.