It took Aileen Fernandez-Desamparado 15 years to complete her college degree because her family was not financially capable to send her to a university.
Due to her family’s situation, Aileen went to work and eventually met her husband Abner with whom she has two children, Airen and Ann Jela.
After she got married, Aileen stopped working and dedicated her time to raising her family and helping out in their small farm.
DESAMPARADO
Airen and Ann Jela are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the government’s conditional cash transfer program that invests in the education and health of poor children aged 0-18.
“If not because of the help we get from Pantawid Pamilya I wouldn’t be where I am today,” said Aileen, 31, a parent-leader in barangay Baod, Bantayan, Cebu who recently passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
Aileen graduated Magna Cum Laude at Madridejos Community College (MCC) last March. She took the review class before taking the exam, as she successfully divided her time as a mother, a wife and a student.
Aileen disclosed that the financial grant she received from the program has helped her family to meet their daily needs, allowing her and Abner to save extra money that she later used to enroll in a community college.
Abner, who works as a sales agent of St. Peters Life Plan, supported his wife’s dream.
“Her dream is also my dream and I support her because finishing her studies will also bring pride to our family and, hopefully, a better future for our children,” said Abner.
Aileen said that her being a parent-leader in Pantawid Pamilya has helped build her self-confidence.
“During Pantawid Pamilya’s family development session, different topics were discussed, such as how to become a good leader and citizen, responsible parenting and family planning and disaster preparedness,” she said.
The Desamparados’ house was among the thousands of properties damaged in Bantayan Island when Supertyphoon Yolanda struck in November 2013.
“The typhoon badly hit us but because we are beneficiaries of Pantawid, we were able to continue sending our kids to school,” she recalled.
“I hope the program will be sustained because there are other struggling families who need it,” Aileen stressed.
Aileen is currently enrolled in a vocational course while waiting for the February 2016 teachers ranking. She hopes to teach in a public school someday.
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