From 4Ps Parent Leader to Barangay Kagawad: Pushing a Healthy Lifestyle
CULASI, Antique (Pagtataya) – My name is Judith G. Patricio, 51, I’m married to Rolando O. Patricio, 61, a farmer and a part of the Iraynon Bukidnon, and we’re raising three wonderful kids together.
Our eldest daughter Janine Anne is a college student, while the two younger children are Jesly Anne, and JC Rainier, both in high school. Our family used to earn as little as ₱3,000 a month from our small vegetable farm and various extra jobs like assisting with hog raising and making charcoal. My husband and I didn’t have the financial means to provide for our three children. I often had to borrow money just to buy their school supplies and to provide their daily allowance.
To earn a little extra, I would sometimes resell products, making a small profit of just 10 pesos on each item. I was and I am willing do everything I can for my children. When I became a beneficiary of the program in 2019 and elected as Parent Leader, I was relieved, because the financial assistance I received helped our daily needs especially the school allowance of our children. Through the cash grants, I was able to buy their school supplies on time, provide their daily allowances and their basic needs.
I was also able to apply my learnings during the Family Development Session (FDS) by preparing nutritious food for the family making the best effort to follow the “pinggang pinoy” concept using vegetables from our backyard garden. With grit and perseverance and assistance from the program, I was able to procure my own hogs and continue to diligently cultivate our garden. Despite of our hectic schedules, our family is helping our community and very active in different barangay activities. People in our community witnessed it so I was elected as Barangay Kagawad in 2023 Barangay Elections.
Since then, I was determined to achieve it no matter what. I always had an interest in community service and being a public servant and so I strived to get involved and understanding the needs of the community. Our family serves as the role model in our community. My husband would plow and prepare the soil and I would plant the vegetables. We both take turns tending to our garden and when harvest time comes, I would take care of the logistics and he would be back to prepare the garden to start the cycle once again.
These efforts have led the DSWD-4Ps MOO Culasi to recognize our backyard garden with an award as “Best Backyard Garden” during the Culasi Pantawid Fun Day in February 2025. As Parent Leader for the 4Ps program and as elected Barangay Kagawad, I worked hard to understand the needs of those who rely on me, even the complaints and demands of the community. I remain open-minded and sensitive but assertive and firm.
As a grateful gesture, for my first salary as Barangay Kagawad, I gave back to the community by celebrating the birthdays of over 100 senior citizens within the Barangay of San Luis, Culasi, Antique. I wouldn’t say I am successful yet because I have better plans for my fellow 4Ps members, the community, and my family. My responsibilities as PL and to the community has taken up a lot of my time but I never neglected my responsibilities at home to my husband and to my children, at the end of the day, I go home and tend to my garden once again. Truly, serving both in the program and community makes me feel serving God.
(Culasi MOO, Antique POO)