by: Eden Franco and Irene Olipendo, Passi City

The sun was up, the leaves of a big mango tree sways gently as the wind blows, the hen crows and the smell of Nena’s fried eggs and dried fish spreads in their little home. Early in the morning, Nena prepares herself for a strenuous job. She works as “labandera” in the town far cry from their small village to provide “kinawara” for their entire family. Tunying, the patriarch of the family, works as a laborer in a farm. His skin was an epitome of hard work and patience and his body was well built because of his early morning farm routine. Their eldest child Rizza, was busy feeding her other six younger sibling’s hungry stomach.
Rizza now 16 years old is still in grade eight. Due to financial problems, she stop schooling twice. She has a weak personality, shy and acts timid in public. At an early age, she was bestowed with an earth-shaking responsibility of taking good care her younger siblings. She has no time to play, laugh and experience a blissful childhood like any other kids in their village.
Anthony, also 16, was her enthusiastic suitor which after a week won Rizza’s heart. Despite Tunying and Nena’s strong resistance to their relationship, they continued their rebellious, passionate and restricted young love.
One early morning, Rizza felt something unusual happening on her stomach and hurriedly went to their kitchen sink and throws up. She felt her knees weaken like jelly and a bunch of sweat drips on her face. At the age of 16, Rizza will no longer feed her siblings instead she will feed a new baby.
According to Department of Health (DOH), there’s an increasing trend of teenage pregnancy in the country. All agencies involve were working hand in hand to make symposiums and awareness campaign to lessen the increasing number of teenage mothers. The government taps the local officials from the city level to barangay level who has the first hand reach to deliver informations and campaign to lessen teenage pregnancy cases.
Recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI conducted a campaign against teen pregnancy in the city of Passi. Different sectors from government and non- government agencies, youth representatives, school heads and guidance counselors and parents participated in the symposium.
Because of the symposium, teenagers from Rizza’s village became aware of the negative effects and the tough responsibilities of being a teenage parent. On the other hand, in Rizza’s case, the government offered a counseling program and medical assistance for her and for her upcoming baby.
Her family was then included as a part of Pantawid Pamilya after further evaluation of the city of link in their area. The Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children aged 0-18 years old.
Rizza’s story is just one of the many alarming problems in our country. The government alone can’t solve this issues without the effort and help of every Filipinos. We should do our share in spreading the advocacies of the government./dswd6/Eden Franco