He grew up believing that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

That’s how Anere Calamcaman of Brgy. Mina, Leon, Iloilo was raised by his parents particularly by his father whom he described as “disciplinarian” when it comes to education.

A 27-year-old Anere said his father always reminds him that he can only achieved something, if he worked hard for it.

It was a training he had received early and a standard that he chosen to live up to, having been inspired by his parents’ example. Working hard to be the best was a philosophy and attitude of his hardworking parents being the farmer and housekeeper which instilled among him and two other younger siblings.

Life is not an easy for Anere being the eldest child. His parents had been working hard in the farm just to sustain their daily needs and send them to school.

Putting God always at the center of their lives, has convinced Anere to serve the church as one of the altar boys during his elementary days. This opened him the opportunity for a scholarship grant which was sponsored by one of the parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and took the Bachelor of Science in Philosophy where he spent his five years at the Seminary.

Many are called but few are chosen. Although, Anere was not able to follow the footsteps of a priest who sponsored his studies but his passion in working with the people and community has drove him to work with the government.

Sharing almost the same vision and mission with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Anere became a staff of the department in 2011 under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program assigned in the province of Aklan.

The town was one of the two pilot areas in the province with 70% poverty incidence rate. Most of the clients he catered belongs to Akeanon Bukidnon, an indigenous People (IPs) of the Aklan. He felt instantly the connection with the community he is serving with. He often shared his voice of experiences telling Libacaonon, there must be a change in themselves to improve their way of living as well as standing in the community.

Anere vast experiences in social service and strong commitment to his profession could spell a world of difference as he served with competence and devotion. He found himself in the midst of those who had least in life. He views his work more as a vocation than job.  Anere is happy that he is able to make contributions towards improving the people’s lives.

“It was a fulfillment on my part actually. I am so happy with what I have now and what I become and reach in life. That is why my whole life is part of who I am now and what will I become”, he said.

WALKING BLACKBOARD

Anere has been serving the department for more than six years already as Municipal Link (ML) assigned in different municipalities in Aklan wherein his latest assignment is in Libacao.

He has been serving beneficiaries from 24 villages of which seven are considered Indigenous Peoples communities. Out of seven IP communities, four are located along Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) whom he spent most of his weekends doing tutorial with the IP children.

Using his stored knowledge and leadership formation, Anere taught IP children how to pray, read, write and solve basic Math without asking any in return. He has 50 low-learner students whom he separately visited regularly.

For him, God gave us wisdom that we may share it to others especially those less fortunate people because Anere wants every individual to be empowered of their basic rights and privileges.

SALIKA

Aiming to empower Pantawid Pamilya members, Anere together with the Libacao Municipal Action Team (MAT) had started organizing the Samahan it Libacaonon para sa Kauswagan (SALIKA) – an independent, grassroots, community-based, politically progressive federation of the poor working for social and economic justice and greater unity in the community.

“This is an association for the poor who wants change. It is also a start that we, MAT Team, organized something new for the beneficiary to start savings. This is our mission and a start to help the people of Libacaonon alleviate from poverty”, he said.

SALIKA is a municipal federation composed of 24 associations in Libacao, Aklan with 2,449 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries registered in 2015.

It is regular member of the Municipal Development Committee and duly accredited by the Sangguniang Bayan of Libacao, an active member of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT), and registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Anere said the association was conceptualized through the help of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to address poverty by delivering long-term solutions to make the members more productive, empower and sustainable livelihood using local natural resources like abaca, rice and coconut.

Now, many non-government organizations are reaching out these associations to provide financial and technical assistance.

NOMINEE

Anere was one of the regional nominees in the Search for H.E.R.O (Has Exceptionally Rendered Oneself) Staff (Municipal Link category) in the province of Aklan.  He has been the pride of Aklan Provincial Operations Office.// Montesa Grino-Caoyonan and Beverly Salazar, Aklan SWO III).