With 3 children and a fractured husband to support, a mother in her 50’s defies social stereotype on gender roles in the society.

Liza F. Parangan, a 4Ps beneficiary from Upper Piao, Sindangan, Zamboanga Del Norte starts her day by attending to the needs of her children before they step out and on to their respective schools.

Wearing her long sleeves and sunglasses for protection from the scorching heat of the sun, she then drives her children to their schools to ensure that they are safe.

After performing her duties as a mother, Liza hits the road to scout for passengers that would pay for her driving service as a motorcab or tricycle driver.

Among the more than 2,000 tricycle drivers in the municipality, Liza and another peer are the only female drivers dominating the highway as Queens of the Road. She earned the respect of her fellow drivers and male counterparts by proving that she, too, can do a job that is stereotypically performed by a man.

“Hindi naman pwedeng magtunganga na lang kahit may Pantawid. Naghanap din ako ng paraan para sa mga anak ko. (I cannot just sit and wait for our grants from Pantawid. I also find ways to support my children,)” Liza said when asked about people’s reaction to her doing a man’s job.

 

BEING THE MAN OF THE HOUSE

Liza is a dedicated housewife to her 72-year-old husband who now suffers a fracture on his back and strain on his arms. With this condition, he cannot endure tasks especially on the road that might endanger his health. Liza stood and agreed to take on the role as the provider of the family.

After her husband got laid off from work at the local government unit due to change of administration, Parangan family rented a tricycle which they use to generate income for their daily needs.

With a daily rental of 150 pesos, Liza is able to earn an average of 300 pesos daily. Clearly, this is not enough to cover for food, bills, medicines, and educational needs of the children who are in college and Senior High School. So in order to augment the family’s income, on her rest day from driving, she peddles green produce such as kangkong and talbos ng gabi which they harvest from their backyard.

 

BRAKE FROM POVERTY

Parangan Family was registered as a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty-alleviation program implemented by the DSWD, in 2008. Back then, Liza recalls living in a slightly salvaged house made of light materials. They even had no toilet and comfort room of their own. She made ends meet by offering laundry services to the neighborhood. She made 600 pesos a month from washing other people’s dirty clothes.

When the global pandemic hit in 2020, Liza’s heart broke from hearing the words that any parent would least want to hear.

“Mang, wala na man tay subsidy, mo-undang na lang ko (mo-eskwela) [Mom, since we don’t receive subsidy (from 4Ps) anymore, I guess I will just stop (schooling),” her son said.

Her only dream for her children is for them to finish their studies and not be victims of the cycle of poverty as they were. Liza reached second year high school before she needed to work in Manila as a househelp. She was left with no choice back then but had to accept her fate and continue to survive. Her husband’s past was no different.

And in 2020, poverty might just hit them again with the same trouble it did them back in the day. Her son wanted to sacrifice his studies so his sisters could continue theirs. He proposed to work and earn a living to help his mom. But Liza was stronger and determined than any life humps and obstacles. She worked tirelessly to support the education of the 3 children and their family.

With this sense of determination, there is no other way but to move forward.

 

EN ROUTE TO SUCCESS

Liza’s son and daughter both took up a bachelor’s degree in education and are now in 4^th and 2^nd year, respectively, while her youngest daughter makes a good impression as a Grade 11 student.

One of the best qualities of the Parangan family is that they talk and discuss plans that concern the family. The parents consult their children about their future plans and family decisions. The children, on the other hand, listens to advices of their parents and thoughts of their siblings.

The family believes that their perseverance would pay off someday. The learning that they get from the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the 4Ps is applied to their lives to facilitate their journey toward self-sufficiency.

Sooner or later, the Parangan family will exit/graduate from the program bringing with them the learning, hope, and success of a 4Ps household.

“Kahit matanggal ako sa Pantawid, magdrive pa rin ako ng tricycle. (Even after I graduate from the 4Ps program, I would still ride and drive my tricycle,)” Liza’s ending statement.