Courageous mom saves family
Disaster
preparedness lecture helped Pantawid Pamilya mother save her family
DAO, Capiz -- Cristina Bendoy, 33, of Brgy. Manhoy in Dao, Capiz packed
essentials such as flashlight, food and clothes when she and her family needed
to evacuate their home to avoid the heavy rains and powerful wind brought by
super typhoon Yolanda.
Community risk reduction and preparedness is
one of the things that Cristina learned in the Family Development Sessions
(FDS) of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. FDS, conducted once a month, serves as a venue where
topics on effective parenting, husband and wife relationships, child
development, laws affecting the Filipino family, gender and development and home
management are discussed. In one of the sessions, beneficiaries were taught to be
disaster-ready – a very useful topic as the Philippines is prone to
typhoons and other disasters. So when typhoon Yolanda made a landfall on
November 8 in Western Visayas and other parts of the country, Cristina and her
family were ready.
“Bago
kami umalis ng bahay papuntang evacuation center, nagdala ako sa bag ng flashlight, pagkain at damit para sa pamilya ko. Natutunan ko
ang pagiging handa sa sakuna sa FDS,” said Cristina, a Set 4 Pantawid
Pamilya beneficiary.
Cristina’s house was one of the millions of properties
that the typhoon destroyed. The wind blew off their roof, thus allowing the
rain to enter her house and damage some of their properties.
“Nag-alala
ako para sa mga anak ko kaya kami umalis. Safe naman kami pero yung mga gamit naming
naiwan sa bahay, nabasa talaga,” she narrated.
Cristina is grateful that aside from the cash grants
her family receives from Pantawid Pamilya, she also learns many practical
things when attending FDS.
She related, “Hindi
talaga ako umaabsent sa FDS.
Importante yung mga tinuturo sa amin tulad ng pagkakaroon ng tamang values at pagbibigay ng tulong sa kapwa,
pagmamahalan, at pakikipagkaibigan.”
It would take several days for Bendoy family to
completely recover from their difficult experience. But despite what happened,
she is hopeful that they will be able to surpass all challenges as long as they
are together and receive assistance from Pantawid Pamilya.
“Ito
pong cash grant ay gagamitin ko pambili ng pagkain para sa
mga anak ko. Para makakain naman sila ng masarap at masustansya. Pambili din
ito ng ibang gamit na nasira dahil sa bagyo,” she said.
As a balut
vendor, their income does not suffice the needs of her three children.
“Ang
hirap-hirap po talaga ng buhay namin. Kaming mag-asawa maghapon kaming
nagtitinda sa terminal. Minsan alas-otso na kami nakakauwi,” she
said.
When asked what have been the changes in her since she
became a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary, she said, “Malaking tulong kasi wala namang ganito noong bata pa ako. Mula pa
maliit ako ganito na ang buhay ko, nagtitinda ng balut. Ayokong maranasan ng
mga anak ko ang buhay namin ng asawa ko. Gusto ko makapagtapos sila ng
pag-aaral.”
Her three kids are her source of inspiration. She is
proud of them as they are all doing well in school. Her eldest daughter has
been a consistent honor student since Grade 1, and her other kids want to
follow suit.
“Simula
Grade 1 hanggang Grade 6 nasa honor
roll siya. Pati yung mga kapatid niya gusto siyang gayahin. Natutuwa kaming
mag-asawa kasi masipag silang mag-aral,” she said.
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