CAUAYAN, Negros Occidental – Perseverance is always the couple’s capital in investing for the education of their seven children.

For couple Judy and Cristina Millendez of Brgy. Guiljungan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, education is one of the keys to improving their living condition and the quality of life they are wishing for their children in the near future.

These are all made possible with the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as the family has been a beneficiary for almost 10 years now.

Not to be boastful but the couple had already four children who were all diploma holders.

Their eldest child Jovelyn and third daughter Joylen, both graduated in course of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the Central Philippine State University (CPSU), the second child Mary Grace finished a two-year Secretarial course at Fortress College while the fourth child Ivy graduated with B.S. in Elementary Education at CPSU. She is now a public-school teacher at Bali Elementary School.

The two other children namely Judy Ann and Crisel Mae are both enrolled at CPSU following the agriculture course of their eldest sisters. They are already in their third and second year, respectively while the youngest Cris John is in Grade 10 at Guiljungan National High School.

The couple is proud to say that the program has been part of all their children’s success. Cristina said if they will only rely on her husband’s income as a fisherman, they could not send all their children to school.

The couple always reminds their children to study well so that they will have a better future. They don’t want their children to experience the sacrifices they had been through. These words are already memorized by their children that is why they gave importance to their education.

Cristina said proper handling of financial expenses which she learned from attending the monthly Family Development Session (FDS) helped a lot. She also said that the FDS is also a great help for them to be better and responsible parents.

According to the grantee, the grants they received from the program were used mainly for the education of their children and the health of the family. Cristina said that if the grants were used properly it is a really huge help for a poor household like them.

Aside from the government, Cristina wanted to extend her gratefulness to all her siblings who also extended help to them. “It is also because of family love why we survived poverty,” she said.

The family believed that the journey for a better life could be hard but with dedication, hard work, and faith in God it is attainable. (Prepared by Kimberly Lorenton, ML, Cauayan, Negros Occidental POO2).