FATHERS are often expected to lead the responsibility of providing the necessities of the family, especially of their children, being the household head, the lead provider, and the problem solver. There are times, however, when the fruit of a father’s hard work could still barely suffice the needs of his family.

Johnny Malahay and Pikinari Attar found themselves in the same difficult situation before but their perseverance and right attitude earned them the opportunity to improve their lives by securing a more stable job.

JOHNNY’S SON
Johnny of Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City in Negros Occidental would earn a maximum of P150 a day, during school days, driving a trisikad (pedicab). His day’s earnings however, could barely cover their needs on food, the kids’ school allowance and projects, and medicine for his sickly son. His eldest son Jomar was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia since he was five months old. Since then, not a year passed that Jomar was not confined in the hospital.

“Basta magmasakit gani, dalagan gid kami dayon sa hospital. Kay ang tatay ko sang una may asthma. Napatay lang sya, wala gid nadapatan bulong kay ti pigado mo… (Every time he gets sick, we would rush him to the hospital. My father had asthma before. He died without getting proper medication because we were so poor),” Johnny said.

Johnny recalled the pain he felt swallowing his pride and asking for financial help from anyone he could ask help from.

“Pangutang lang permi eh. Asta kay mayor, gakadto ko para mangayo bulig kung ma hospital. Kilala na ako gani sa CSWDO kay permi lang ako didto gapangayo bulig. Nahuya man ko tani eh, galing wala mahimo kay ti, pigado mo (I would borrow money. I would even ask for financial help from the mayor. The CSWDO staff already knew me because I was a frequent client. It was embarrassing for me to ask for help but there was nothing I could do, we’re so poor),” said the 41-year old Johnny, tears streaming down his face.

The CSWDO or City Social Welfare and Development Office is the social welfare arm of the local government unit which provides financial assistance to indigents in need.

Johnny said his wife Jennifer also helps augment the family’s income by working in the kampo (sugarcane plantations). During planting season, Jennifer earns P300 a week. Still, their combine income seemed hardly enough for their five children.

“Ang kita sa sikad, kung kis-a indi gani kabakal sud-an. Kung wala klase, makita ko lang P60-80. Bugas lang na ang mabakal. Ang mga bata, gaagwanta sud-an asin o ginamos lang eh (Sometimes, the income from the pedicab could not even buy viands. If there are no classes, I’ll only earn around P60-80. It’s only enough to buy rice. The children had no choice but to be contended with salt or shrimp paste to go with the rice),” said Johnny.

PIKINARI
A picture of poverty was also how 45-year-old Pikinari Attar of Brgy. Banago, Bacolod City described his family.

He has three children. And his income depended largely on fish vending. When times were tough and sales were not good, Pikinari would take on any available job – even if it means cleaning up soda bottles at P1 per bottle cleaned.

“Tungod siguro sa kapigaduhon, tungod indi namon mahatag ang kinahanglanon sang mga kabataan, may ara na sa ila nga naga-sunggod, wala na kami gaistoryahanay (Maybe because of poverty, maybe because we could not give what our children needed, there existed hostility at home, we no longer talk to each other),” Pikinari said.

TRABAHONG LANSANGAN
Changes gradually dawned on Pikinari and Johnny when they availed of the Trabahong Lansangan, an employment facilitation scheme of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the latter’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Under the Trabahong Lansangan, DPWH prioritizes the hiring of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. Both Pikinari’s and Johnny’s respective families are covered by Pantawid Pamilya between 2010 and 2011.

Pikinari started working under the Trabahong Lansangan in November 2011. He earned P277 per day for the next six months. His good behavior and diligence did not go unnoticed from Engr. Arturo Badajos, Jr., chief of DPWH’s Maintenance Division in Bacolod City, who cited Pikinari for his “exemplary performance.” Upon learning that Pikinari knows how to drive vehicles, Badajos took him in as company driver in a job order position in June 2012.

Up to this day, Pikinari is with the DPWH Engineering District in Bacolod City, earning P409 a day.

Johnny, on the other hand, also completed six months of work under the Trabahong Lansangan, from March to August 2012. Citing also his “exemplary performance,” Maintenance Section Officer-in-Charge Engr. Alex Lorayna of the DPWH’s 4th Engineering District absorbed Johnny as job order under the Roadside Maintenance Unit in January 2013 up to the present.

BEYOND WORDS
Johnny happily recalled how he spent his first ever salary of almost P8,000.

“Ginabakal ko gid dayon duha ka sako bugas, sud-an para sa mga bata kag bulong para kay Jomar (I immediately bought two sacks of rice, viands for my children and medicines for Jomar),” Johnny said, noting that it was the first time he was able to afford such.

Even with his job at DPWH now, Johnny said he still drives the pedicab every weekend. Only recently, he was able to buy materials to repair their house from the income he has set aside.

But more than the economic improvement in their lives now, Johnny said what he treasures more is regaining his self-respect and dignity as a father.

“Ginatipigan ko gid ang ubra ko agud indi madula ang ila pagsalig sa akon. Kung may ubra, may masaligan ka, indi puro lang pangayo kag hulam. Gani indi matakos ang pagpasalamat ko sa DSWD (I’m taking care of my job because I want to keep their trust in me. If you have a job, you can avoid asking and borrowing money. That’s why my gratitude to DSWD is beyond words),” he said.

A DAUGHTER’S PRIDE
One of Pikinari’s great joys now is hearing how proud his youngest daughter Janzel Nina of him. Whenever people ask the 10-year-old child of her father’s occupation, Janzel Nina would boasts: “driver in DPWH!”

“Dako gid ang nabulig sang trabaho nga ni sa amon pamilya. Nabatyagan ko kung paano nga proud ang pamilya ko sa akon. Mas naging determinado ako nga mas kay-uhon ang ubra ko agud indi maguba ang ngalan ko kag ang pagsalig nila sa akon (This job greatly helped my family. I can feel how proud they are of me now. It makes me more determined to take care of my job to keep their trust in me),” Pikinari said.

Johnny and Pikinari’s individual battle with life’s challenges may seem far from over. But with their renewed faith and confidence in themselves, success seems within their reach. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)