HUMBLE BEGINNING

Edgar, 44 and Lolita, 43 started their married life in a small Purok of Pacatan, Aurora, a second class municipality in the province of Zamboanga Del Sur, with a population of more than 48,000 according to the 2010 census. Even without any support from their parents, since both were born out of Poverty, the only thing they can be proud of is to have a family that they can nurture and be considered as lifetime treasures. Blessed with five children, Janiegar, (19); Janiere (18); Jaed (16); Graceli May (14) and Jackeline (12), the family strived hard to provide their needs. With meagre income of Edgar as helper in rice drier and Lolita as a plain housewife, they were able to sustain little by little the needs of their children especially in school.

Step by step, the couple was able to build and live a decent life they dreamed for their family. For them, seeing all their children grow up with their guidance and constant care will make their family succeed in any obstacle that they may face.

SUDDEN MISFORTUNE   

On the night of Febuary 2008, a huge fire swallowed their simple dwelling leaving all their properties burned. The only thing was saved are their children and the only clothes they wear.The family’s hope was shattered together with the huge smokes and ashes. The misfortune truly challenged the faith and strong relationship of the family. The couple once again started from where they began just like when they got married. This time it was even harder since they have five children to take care of. Lolita can still remember the trauma and experience felt while their house was drowned by fire. “Sobrang hirap ang buhay namin noong mga panahong yon,  dahil sa isang iglap nawala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan naming mag asawa. Hindi namin alam kong paano kami ulit mag sisimula. Sinubok ang aming pag mamahal sa panginoon. Pero  bisan pa sa tanan nga pang hitabo nakaingon ko , diyos ko ikaw na ang bahala sa amin.” Lolita said.

After the tragedy, the children were not able to attend their classes for couple of weeks because all of their school supplies including uniforms were all burned down too. “Ni minsan hindi ko nakita umiyak ang asawa ko. Pero sa mga panahon yon nakita ko ang mga anak ko na umiiyak. Mabigat sa loob ko na nakita ko sa mga anak ko ang kung ganoo sila ka apektado sa pang yayari. Gustuhin man nila mag aral ng lumipas ang limang araw, hindi nila magawa dahil wala silang damit na maisuot,walang Tsinelas,walang gamit pang eskwela. Umabot kami sa  punto na parang nawalan na kami ng pag asa na bumangon ulit.” She added

Though temporary displaced, it didn’t stop them to start even from scratch again. They are aware of the difficulties they have to face, but no one can ever be as strong but the couple themselves who served as sturdy foundation to their children. “Balisa ang aking utak, hindi alam kung ano ang gagawin, saan hihingi ng tulong, sino ang tutulong, hindi ko alam ano ang mang yayari sa akin,sa amin ng pamilya ko. Para akong nag dudugtong ng puzzle sa daming worries pumasok sa utak ko.”

With the help of some concerned individuals, they were able to build a makeshift house. Donations came in to include blankets and clothings. Also, the family was able to get some financial assistance of Php 2,000 pesos through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Aurora. With that, they were able to buy some kitchen utensils and other basic home needs. “Tumulong din ang amo ng aking asawa, nag bigay siya ng tatlong puno ng kahoy. Sa amin na yong pera pang putol ng kahoy pero dahil may mga mababait na kapit bahay  binigyan kami ng kaunting pera para pang gasto sa pag putol ng kahoy” Lolita shared. The family is thankful for all who have helped them in one way or the other to slowly get back to their normal lives. With the effort of the Edgar and his brother, they were able to finish a temporary house in two-days. Lolita can still remember how the family have to adopt their new way of living after the tragic experience. After few months the family was able to have a small Nipa hut, no rooms, no electricity. “NakikiCR lang kami sa malapit na kapitbahay, sa malapit na ilog naman ng Barangay Bagong Maslog kami kumukuha ng maiinom at doon na rin naliligo at naglalaba”

Edgar had to strive even harder to provide for the family but no matter how hard he worked, his wage as rice drier never suffice. Amidst the difficulties, Lolita never heard his husband complain. She even tried helping the family to augment the income for their daily living and education of their children. She worked as sari-sari store attendant in the market and at the same time accepts laundry works. While working, she had to bring her two young children with her as no one else can look after them.

SURPASSING THE ASHES

The family was enumerated by National Household Targeting System of DSWD in 2009 and was one of the first set of households in Aurora to be included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Program in 2011. It is by then the family felt the relief and regained the confidence to rise and begin the change they truly aspire. Even before the receipt of the first grant, the Quimod family had already planned out how to use the grants for their children’s education and other family needs. The family started to construct a mini poultry house, a family livelihood project, where they can use for the additional income of the family. The poultry house had been useful to them since 2011 up to present.

PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Aside from their hard work to earn a living, they never missed to actively join in community activities which made Lolita well-known among their neighbors and kabarangays.  Her active involvement earned her a position as Barangay Kagawad in the Barangay Council of Alang-alang, Aurora from 2009 up to present.

During her last term, Lolita is the chair for Committee on Education of which she attended and coordinated with school heads and teachers to ensure that the school attendance of the students are improving and stable. She also served as resource speaker in behalf of the barangay council in some school activities.

She also became an officer in the Parents-Teachers Association in Aurora National High School of which she was given a Certificate of Recognition being an active PTA officer.

Having seen the need to protect the environment and to keep the community healthy, and, at the same time, being assigned as chair for the Committee on Health in 2011, Lolita authored the passage of Brgy. Ordinance no. 1 s. 2011 entitled “Ordinansa nga nagdili sa pagpataka ug labay sa basura sa bisan asa nga lugar sulod sa Barangay Alang-alang” (Ordinance prohibiting the improper disposal of wastes within Barangay Alang-alang).

In addition, she strongly supported the making of vegetable gardens in the barangay as additional means of food supply for the families. Lolita and Edgar together with their children maintained a garden where various vegetables and root crops are planted.

As additional income and help for the environment, the family also planted trees in one of the lots provided to them by the landowners which Lolita’s father used to serve as tenant. Today , the trees planted by the couple are now full grown.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING AND INVESTING

With the unexpected tragedy that came to the family in 2008, the couple taught their children the importance of saving for their future. The couple opened a savings account in MIFAMCO with initial deposit of P6, 000 and separate savings accounts for their children in AIMCOOP with minimal initial deposit of which they can deposit any amount from time to time from their school allowances.

At young age, the Quimod children were already taught by their parents to save so that they will have something to use during emergency situations. “Maraming Salamat sa Family Development Session dahil naturuan ko ang aking mga anak ng mga mabuting asal tulad ng respeto sa kapwa at pag mamahal sa Panginoon. Tinuruan ko din sila mag tabi ng pera kahit pakonte konte upang may madukot sa panahon ng krisis or emergency. Inimulat ko din ang mga anak ko sa kahalagahan ng edukasyon. Dahil eto lang yaman na kaya naming maibigay sa kanila.” Lolita said.

CELEBRATING CHANGES

The active involvement of the family in various community activities can also be reflected in the big improvement of their home.Through the hardwork and efforts of the family, their makeshift house in 2008 was slowly turned into a concrete house.

Their indomitable spirit has never been shaken by any misfortunes and challenges. Truly,the family epitomizes resiliency and bravery to many who have in one way or the other have also experienced serious hardships. The family’s effective management, responsible parenthood and positivity have embraced all their difficulties and burden where step by step they tried to work it well to alleviate the load they carry as they go along the journey.

Today, brick by brick the family has shown and shaped up the positive changes brought by determination to improve their well-being. The foundation has never been this strong, yet they remained undivided and intact. The program has sharpened their strong commitment to their self, family and community. It indeed taught them to appreciate life and has improved their empowerment not only to fight the hard life they’ve experienced. “Naintindihan ko ang kahulugan ng buhay. Sa kabila ng pang yayari nabukasan ang isip at puso namin na mas mahalaga ang buhay. Nalaman din namin na hindi lahat ng pagsubok na binigay ng diyos ay maging dahilan ng pag kasira ng pamilya, kong di ito ang maging daan para kami mag sikap ng husto, maging mas matatag sa lahat ng pagsubok na darating sa aming pamilya.”

The Quimod family is very thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program because of the great opportunity to rise, to walk on the journey and to celebrate each day for the great opportunity to improve their lives. The family believes that every family must have strong faith and values within, for them to be robust and successful. The Quimod family can no longer recount the hardships they’ve gone through but it doesn’t matter to them for as long as they have their children who have grown up responsible, god fearing and most of all who have understood the shortcomings and successes of their family.

Today, the family continues to send all their children to school to finish and reach the ambition they aspire. Every change that transpired in their lives is a manifestation how solid their perseverance not only to bridge out of poverty but to improve their quality of life.  The family remains to be an inspiration to their neighbourhood and fellow beneficiaries. They have gained respect and most of all appreciation from those who have seen their struggles.