ALWAYS prepare for the rainy days. This is what Maribel Audencia’s mother instilled in her when she was growing up, always emphasizing the importance of saving something for tomorrow and the days ahead.

This was the same mantra that Maribel lived by when she herself started her own family.
Maribel, 42, of Brgy. Balijuagan, Roxas City is married to Rodgie, a houseboy. They have three children: John Argie, 11 years old; Jude Arjan, 8; and Jule Manny, 6.

Maribel said her prudence was put to test when typhoon Frank hit Western Visayas in 2008. Considered by many as the typhoon that triggered the worst flooding and devastation in Panay Island in recent memory, typhoon Frank claimed the lives of more than 500 persons and damaged millions worth of properties.

“Naluwas

ko ang pamilya ko sa gutom sang mag bagyo Frank. Halos tatlo ka adlaw wala kami ka gwa sa balay kay grabe ang baha kag ang nawasak nga balcon sang tiangge ko nagbaral sa pwertahan namon. (I was able to save my family from hunger when typhoon Frank struck. We were not able to get out of our house for almost three days because our surroundings were flooded and the damaged part of my sari-sari store blocked our door),” Maribel recalled.

“Bisan paano, may unod ang amon bulugasan. Bisan lugaw lang, makakaon ang mga bata kag wala kami nagutom bisan pa mabudlay ang sitwasyon (Good thing we had enough stock of rice. Despite our difficult situation, we had something to eat even though its rice porridge only),” she added.

FORETHOUGHT
As a practice she has developed, Maribel sets aside her husband’s monthly income of P3,500 to buy a sack of rice for her family’s daily consum

ption. The rest of the money is divided into the monthly bills and her children’s school allowance. She augments the family’s income through her sari-sari store.

This practice helps her family ensure that they will have something to eat should eventualities arise, such sickness and calamities, that would hamper their ability to work.

“Basta may bugas lang, bisan lugaw na lang or asin ang sud-an, okay na ang mga bata. Amo ini ang gintudlo sa akon sang mama ko: pag-abot sang grasya, indi dayon pag-ubuson, permi gid magpabilin para sa bwas. (As long as there’s rice, my children are okay even with porridge or salt as viand. This is what my mother taught me: don’t spend everything at once; always prepare for the next days),” she said.

HELP FRO

M PANTAWID PAMILYA
Being a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Maribel’s family receives P1,400 a month as subsidy for their health and nutrition and her children’s education.

Every cash grant release, Maribel said she buys 10 reams of pad paper for her children to be used in school so that “whenever they need it, I won’t worry anymore.” She also stocks up on basic medicines such as paracetamol and buys vitamins.

Maribel is full of gratitude to the assistance she gets through Pantawid Pamilya.

“Sang una, ang mga kabataan ko indi kaupod sa mga camping kay wala kami inugbayad. Tapos damo ang gusto nila intrahan sa eskwelahan

galing ginahambalan ko nga wala kami inug-gasto (Before, my children could not join encampments because we could not afford the expenses. They wanted to join a lot of school activities but I would tell them we don’t have money for it),” Maribel said.

Hard up as they were, Maribel stressed that she would always find means to send her children to school everyday with a full stomach.

THE VOICE OF

HER COMMUNITY
But more than the assistance for her children’s education, Maribel also credits Pantawid Pamilya to the change in her personality. She described her old self as someone who “would just stay home and take care of her family and small business.”

As a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya, Maribel was required to attend to the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS) conducted in their barangay by the staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Her capabilities, initiative and good working relationship were not lost to her co-members as she was chosen as a Parent Leader. As such, she was the voice and the “assistant” of her fellow Program beneficiaries.

Maribel said she overcame her shyness when speaking in front of a group of people, even strangers. Her self-confidence improved when she attended the skills enhancement training for fellow Parent Leaders of Pantawid Pamilya from other barangays.

Her exposure to Pantawid Pamilya activities paved the way for her induction as president of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) at Don Francisco Denglazan Memorial School, where her children attend school, for two terms, in 2011 and 2012.

“First time ko ya

dto mapilian bilang president. Sang una, manogboto lang ako. Tapos nag back-to-back president pa ako. After two terms, indi na pwede anay kapadalagan liwat (That was the first time that I was elected president. Before, I was just one of the voters. After two terms, we cannot be elected to the same position as a matter of school policy),” she said.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY
Last July 19, Maribel was seen assisting her City Link Jessarel Sebido in the conduct of the FDS with disaster preparedness as the main topic.
“Kanami kay may mga amo sini nga kahigayunan nga maka-share man ako sang akon eksperyensya kag kinaalam sa akon mga kaupod kung paano mangin preparado kung may kalamidad (It’s good that we have opportunities like this where I could share my experience and knowledge on how to be prepared during disaster),” she said.

Although Maribel acknowledges that one could not be really ready when disaster strikes, she underscores that her mother’s words of precaution, preparedness and presence of mind could save one’s self and family. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)