Roel Corda and his wife live a harmonious life in the humble barangay of Pianon in the municipality of Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte. Surely they had a fair share of struggles in life as individuals. But together, they share a promise hope and love that poverty can never shatter.

Amidst the financial difficulties that the couple faces being in a far-flung barangay, Roel finally decided to tie the knot with his wife back in 2005. He was positive that with his skills, he can support the family that he was building. Regardless of the small income that they get from farming, the newly wedded couple managed to live a pretty decent life.

In the year 2006, the couple was blessed with their first child. To Roel and his wife, nothing can be sweeter than seeing their child grow beautifully and conveniently. As most of the parents do, they started to dream for their child. They dreamt of things that they wish to provide for their child such as good education, abundant dining and convenient life per se.

But Roel could hardly earn enough from farming and his wife would only earn a minimum wage of P150.00 per day as a job-order employee in the municipal office. The couple knew that they needed to strive harder to support the family’s growing needs.

Believers that they are, the couple sought strength from The One above praying that they surpass each day without losing grip from their faith and hope.

In 2008, a field worker from the DSWD walked in and assessed their household. The worker said that the assessment was for the Listahanan, then known as the National Household Targeting System for Poverty-Reduction (NHTS-PR). Roel and his wife thought that it was such a hard work for the field worker to go and visit their place since barangay Pianon is a mountainous area with rough roads and accessible only through habal-habal as means of transportation from the municipality proper. The couple graciously welcomed the field worker to their humble abode.

Next thing they knew, they were identified as one of the needy households and became one of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. The family then began to receive financial aid from the program that helps provide the needs of a family in terms of education and health.

As a grantee of the program, his wife also availed the Seed Capital Fund from the Sustainable Livelihood Program. Since she has the ability in managing a business, she started a small sari-sari store in her house just to have an additional income for the family. With her dedication and perseverance, they are now getting an income not less than P6,000.00 a month. Roel, on the other hand, was recently hired as a road maintenance of DPWH under the Trabahong Lansangan. The family now has an income not less than P15,000 a month.

They say that when you have less, you make the most out of what you have regardless how little it is. This is emphasized in the situation of the Corda’s child who excels academically. The kid knows that they do not have much and so she has to make sure that the grants from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program intended for education is worthily spent.

Aside from the increase in their monthly income, they were awarded as 2^ND placer in HUWARANG PAMILYA conducted last July 2015 at SWADT Office, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte. The award recognizes the families who demonstrated outstanding compliance to the conditionality of the program, who exemplified positive Filipino values in the community and good upbringing.

Being one of the households identified to be the part of the program, the family is grateful to avail the programs, services and opportunities intended for the Pantawid Beneficiaries.

Roel did not finish high school but he proved that insufficiency in education does not hinder one towards achieving a higher level of well-being, a character which is worth replicated. ###RANELIO REGANON/YURI CHOI,DSWD