All eyes were riveted on a tall, slender, beautiful lady as she narrated during the flag raising ceremony of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office yesterday, how the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program became the instrument of positive change in her life, and that of her family.
With her regal carriage and exotic looks, Brenda Turner Canete, 37, of Marikina City could easily pass for a model or a beauty queen, which she actually is.
Brenda was crowned “Ginang Pantawid Pamilya ng Marikina City 2014” recently. Representing Barangay Fortune, she bested contestants from the other barangays in the city.
“Naniniwala ako na bukod sa pagiging mabuting ina, asawa, at kapitbahay, dapat ding pangalagaan ng isang babae ang kanyang sarili (“I believe that aside from being a good mother, wife and neighbor, a woman must also take care of herself),” she enthused.
A Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary since 2012, Brenda is married to Florencio Canete with whom she has two children, aged 8 and 16. Both her children are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries which inspires and motivates them to study harder.
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 centers for checkups, and attending Family Development Sessions (FDS).
“Sinasabi ko sa kanila, kapag wala kayong absent sa school, bibigyan ko kayo ng reward kaya lalo silang nagpupursige sa pag-aaral (I would tell them, if you don’t absent yourself from school, I will give you rewards so they become more determined in studying),” she added.
Change of attitude
Brenda said that the biggest change in her life when she became a beneficiary was her change of attitude.
“Natutunan ko sa FDS kung paano maging isang mabuting ina, na hindi dapat pinagtataasan ng boses ang iyong anak para madisiplina sila (I learned from the Family Development Sessions how to be a good mother, that we should not raise our voices to our children when disciplining them),” she explained.
“Nabago din ng Pantawid Pamilya ang pananaw ko sa buhay, na dapat umiwas sa mga bisyo katulad ng pag-inom o pagsusugal (Pantawid Pamilya also changed my perspectives in life, that we should avoid vices such as drinking and gambling),” she added.
At the FDS, parent-beneficiaries learn and discuss about responsible parenthood, financial management, home management, and interpersonal relationships, among others.
Moreover, the mother of two related that as a parent leader, she has to be a role model for the other beneficiaries.
“Kapag leader ka, ikaw ang dapat makisama sa mga members at makinig sa kanila. Hindi ‘yung ikaw lang ang tama at dapat pakinggan (When you are a leader, you have to get along well with your members, and to listen to them. You should not think you are always right, and they should always listen to you),” Brenda continued.
For her fellow Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, she offers this advice, “Gamitin sa tama ang nakukuha ninyong grants.Huwag ninyong sayangin dahil hindi lahat ay nabibigyan ng ganitong oportunidad (Use your cash grants wisely. Don’t waste it because not everyone is given this opportunity),” she ended. ###
