“Daghan pangarap sa buhay pero kay pobre og kulang sa financial, ako gihapon kayanon para sa mga anak.” Said Geneboy.
A hardworking husband and a loving father of three children, Gene Boy D. Ojas, 43 grew up in Libuganan, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur. Gene Boy’s wife, Evelyn Ojas, 37 is a resident of Manila who is still there looking for a job. They have three children, two of them are already attending school, the eldest is currently a grade 9 student and the latter is a preschooler and the youngest is still an infant.
Being the lone income provider of the family Gene Boy incomes 30,000 pesos quarterly from farming crops such as corn or coconut. He also earns 500 to 600 pesos from their small sari-sari store. This money is just enough for his growing family expenses. Accordingly, the family expenses sums up to 200 pesos including his children’s allowance. Their monthly electrical fee is 380 pesos and he sends 3,000 pesos to his wife and their baby at Manila.
“Lisod kay dili permamente ug dugay ang kwarta nga ginakuha sa copras ug maisan, dili dayon ka makahatag sa mga kinanglanon sa imong mga anak para sa ila ginaeskwelahan.” Geneboy sighed.
This is Gene Boy’s every day battle. Being the sole provider he works diligently looking for work and extra income such as, taking care of carabaos and livestocks. He doesn’t smoke and drink nor have any other vices. He is a family-oriented man focused on earning for his family.
Gene Boy’s hardworking and never tiring effort for his family have grown enough trust and attention among the society and being a 4P’s member of the Barangay he was recommended to join the SLP association. The members of the association then assigned Gene Boy to be their caretaker for the livestock.
“Ako sila dayon giingnan nga kong ako ang ila pillion nga mag caretaker sa baboy dili gyud sila mag mahay. Naa ko experience ug naa ko oras ug dili suha suha nga ihatag sa pag-alaga sa mga baboy.”
True to his words Gene Boy has enough experience taking care of livestock such as hogs because during his younger days he already experienced raising such. He now serves as the caretaker of the livestock of the association earning an added income of 4,500 pesos a month. He is now relieved that he can now give extra allowance to his children when they need it.
“Dili na parehas sa una nga mag ingon ko nila ‘paabuton sa nato nak ha ang kwarta sa maisan o copras’ kung naa sila kinanglanon sa ila mga project.” Said Gene Boy.
He is very happy that he can now give immediately to his children unlike before. Gene Boy still continues on being hardworking.
“Maintain lang gihapon, dili asa-asa muadto, dili pasmohon ang baboy, tan awon gyud ang trabaho, dapat systematic ka.”
“Pasalamat dako kay ako ang napili nila, lipay sila kay ang baboy dali nag dako, lipay ko kay dili nako mag pa abot tulo or upat kabulan para maka income.” – Gene Boy