My younger son Elexer James was just nine years old since he last saw his father. Five years have passed by now but we cannot still forget the pain much more with Elexer James, my fourth child among my five children.

He was just in grade two that time but he saw our agony when some of his brothers went home with awards after their graduation day and saw their father already lying in a coffin. My husband died of cardiac arrest.

The same scenario seemed to have been replayed in his mind in March last year, when we went up at the stage to get his award as class valedictorian of San Florentino Elementary School in San Rafael, Iloilo.

Elexer James always says that he misses his father and what he remembers of him has since been his strength.
I feel so much pain every time I hear my children’s reminiscing their happy memories with their father especially with Elexer who have been so close to his father.
Hearing my son’s words always inspires me despite of the struggles I am facing as a solo parent.

TIMELY
After my husband’s death, I feared that I might not be able to send my children to school because I had no job.
Because of love for my children, I accepted any work everyday such as laundry, selling ready-to-wear clothes, food stuff and manicure and pedicure to have money for us.
Sometimes, I went on selling food stuff early in the morning without eating my meals. I just ignored my hungry stomach thinking that I will be earning money for us. I gained many friends and customers for manicure and pedicure because of my perseverance and dedication.
It was just timely that on the same year when my husband died, my family was validated and became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Elexer James and her two other siblings have been covered by the government’s Pantawid Pamilya. Every after two months, I received the cash grant for the children’s education and health.

This was already the answer to my problem especially for my children’s education and health. We are thankful to the government for implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program which has reached us.

AN ENGINEER
Elexer James is now in first year high school enrolled at San Rafael National High School under the Science Technology and Engineering class.
I always hear him say, “Ma, I promise myself to study hard so that someday when I’m gonna be an engineer, I could help you already. I know I will encounter problems but I will face them with full of determination.”
I want my children to reach their dreams that’s why I’m doubling my effort for them. I do believe it is not impossible for them to reach their dream with the help of Pantawid Pamilya.
Now, my eldest son Edjohn is employed in a private company after he graduated from a two-year course, Associate in Computer Technology in Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC), Lemery, Iloilo. My second son is already a teacher in a private school, the third is already in first year college while my other children are both in high school.
I know with God, Kaya Namin makamit lahat ng pagbabago and to be a successful individual someday. We just entrust everything to Him because He knows what is best for us./dswd6