“Malaki po talaga ang pagpapahalaga ko sa edukasyon. Hindi po naging hadlang ang kahirapan ng aking pamilya upang hindi ko pagbutihin ang aking pag-aaral (I really value education. My family’s poverty is never a hindrance to my desire to make good in my studies).”
This was emphasized by Angelo Urbano Caigas, 12, of Navotas City, during his testimony during the flag raising ceremony of the Department of Social Welfare and Development at the Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
Angelo was chosen as this year’s winner of the Search for Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child in the National Capital Region (NCR). He will vie for the National Search on October 25.
Angelo and his 3-year-old sister became beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2012.
Steadfast
Despite his youth, Angelo knows that education is the stepping stone towards fulfilling his dreams and aspirations, hence, he is steadfast in his resolve to finish his studies.
Intelligent and outspoken, Angelo is a consistent honor student at the Bangkulasi Elementary School in Navotas.
He bested other children-nominees with his excellent academic and extra-curricular achievements.
Aside from actively participating in oratorical and essay writing contests, Angelo is also the current President of the Supreme Pupil Government, commander of Batang Emergency Response Team (BERT), member of Young Journalists, and Vice-President of the Science Club.
Angelo aspires to become a teacher someday.
“Pangarap ko po na maging guro sa hinaharap, kasi ang paniniwala ko ay kung walang guro, ay wala rin ang lahat ng propesyon tulad ng doctor, pulis, at sundalo (I dream of becoming a teacher in the future, because I believe that if there are no teachers, there are no other professions, such as doctors, policemen, soldiers),” Angelo firmly stated.
Investment in education
According to his mother, Marites, from among her four children, Angelo showed determination in his studies.
“Tanda ko po noong bata pa si Angelo nabanggit niya sa akin na gusto niyang umakyat ng entablado at makatanggap ng parangal at medalya (I remember when Angelo was still a small child, he used to tell me that he likes to go up the stage and accept awards and medals),” Marites stated.
She also narrated that Pantawid Pamilya is a big help to their family.
“Naging instrumento ang Pantawid Pamilya upang makayanan naming makatawid sa araw araw, gayundin ang pagsuporta sa pag-aaral ni Angelo (Pantawid Pamilya helped us cope with our daily life, including the support for Angelo’s studies),” she explained.
“Kaya natin ang pagbabago! Ang mga taong nagnanais ng pagbabago ang siya ring dapat kumilos upang makamit ito(We can create positive change in our lives. If we want change, then we should initiate this ourselves),” Marites added.
Marites and Angelo’s testimonies prove that Pantawid Pamilya is achieving its goal of sending poor children to school to give them a fighting chance of getting employed after they graduate from high school, thus, breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty in their families.
Pantawid Pamilya provides monthly cash grants of P500 for health and P300 per child in elementary or P500 per child in high school with a maximum of three qualified children per household for their educational and nutritional needs. They have to comply to program conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health center for check-ups, and attending Family Development Sessions (FDS).
To date, there are 4,321,250 households enrolled in the program. ###
