A father is usually the one expected to lead his family, provide their necessities and ensure that the children get good education to protect their future. This is not an unfamiliar experience for Wilfredo Cardinal Jr. of Barangay San Julian, Janiuay, Iloilo.
Being a son to a single mother, Wilfredo did not hesitate to carry on his shoulders the responsibility of being the head of the family and a father figure to his sister and two brothers.
At a young age of 20, he learned the bitterness of life and became familiar of ignoring both physical and emotional injuries, enduring all the pain just to lay down a platter of food to his family’s table.
While he did not finish a formal education, everything he does selflessly while providing for his siblings’ school fees and to at least lessen his mother’s burden.
Being an exemplary citizen to their society and a good son and brother to his family, Wilfredo was elected President of the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in 2007 in his town under the Unlad Kabataan Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Although laden with the responsibility to his family, Wilfredo never failed his duties as the PYAP President and even with his time divided, he still managed to have an active involvement in their youth activities such as seminars, trainings, conventions, meetings, youth encampment and conferences, setting a good model to his fellow youth in their community.
Finally in 2007, Wilfredo’s family status hinted improvement when he decided to join the Tinapay ng Bayan (People’s Bread) Livelihood Training and Hunger Mitigation Project of DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Association of Flour Millers (PAFMIL), Chamber of Flour Millers (CHAMFLOUR) and US Wheat Associates.
Wilfredo underwent trainings for professional bakers conducted by the Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation.
His undeniable persistence and determination once again won him a title of PYAP Tinapay ng Bayan SEA – K President on September 21, 2008. For Wilfredo, nothing more is priceless than the trust and companionship he earned from the people around him.
He continued to become a good leader for three years until he was hired as a baker in Dubai on July 4, 2011. As much as it pains him, he decided to leave his family and grab the once in a lifetime opportunity to improve their economic status. There is no other better timing than this as his brothers and sister started to go to college by that time.
With his positive outlook in life coupled with his family’s support, Wilfredo became a successful baker. Since then, he provided his family’s needs like a father should.
One by one, his siblings finished their college degrees and built their own dreams, learning from the principles their elder brother held. Indeed, for a good man like Wilfredo, best things fall in place at the right moment and perfect timing.
Luckily for Wilfredo, he finally has a family of his own – loved by a caring wife and a wonderful daughter. They are now residing in Dubai.
With the surge of a familiar feeling to lead his own family, being a good father may not be too difficult anymore, remembering the times when he had to deal with the responsibility on taking care of his siblings and leading his fellow youth.
Perhaps, that have prepared him to be a better person, the best that he is. Perhaps, his success didn’t start when he became a baker but when he became a real father./dswd6/Xzyrabelle Servento

Captions:
1. Wilfredo as a baker
2. The Tinapay ng Bayan building in Janiuay