Every mother wants the best for her children and always brings out the best in them. As they say, “Mother knows best.”
Milagros S. Gascon, 46, Parent Leader, and a mother of three, from Brgy. Buyong, Calasiao, Pangasinan believes this mother-child ideology. She said, “Ang tungkulin ko sa aking anak, asawa, at miyembro ay lalo pang pinapatatag ng mga natututunan ko sa buwanang pagdalo ko sa Family Development Session (FDS) (My responsibility to my child, husband, and members is strengthened by the lessons I learn from attending monthly FDS.)”
She thinks of ways to augment the income of her husband, Herardo, 53, a project officer of a lending company waging PhP8,000.00 a month. Meanwhile, Milagros seasonally earns PhP4,000.00 a month from selling mangoes, vegetables, fish, and the like every market day. “Bago ako uuwi sa bahay, bibili na muna ako ng mga kakailanganin namin sa araw-araw kaya wala din natitira sa napagbentahan ko (I buy groceries and our other everyday needs first before going home so what I earn from selling also runs out.)”
She added, “Ang magiging kahihinatnan ng isang bata ay nakasalalay sa kung paano siya pinalaki. Kaya dapat gabayan sa tamang paraan ang mga anak (The upbringing of a child dictates who he/she will become. So guiding them the right way is a must.)”
She keeps her head high as she shared her youngest child Maria Kissandra’s academic achievements. Maria Kissandra topped her Grade 4 class last school year. Since Grade 1, Maria Kissandra has been on top of her class and was awarded as most outstanding during her pre-school.
Motherly mandate
Strictly no room for foul words. Gossiping is not allowed. Excessive liquor drinking is banned. Thumbs down to gambling. Honor God above all. Milagros strongly employs these rules inside and outside their house. She explains, “Wala akong pinalalampas kahit sinuman na lumabag sa mga ito lalo na kung kapwa ko benepisiaryo. Pinagsasabihan ko sila agad. Kaya nga dumadalo tayo sa FDS para matuto. Magsimula ang lahat ng mabubuting bagay sa ating mga magulang para sundan tayo ng ating mga anak (I never allow anyone especially my co-beneficiaries to break these rules. Right there and then I remind them. That is why we are attending FDS to learn good values. We, parents, should start doing good deeds so that our children will accordingly follow us.)”
“Ang isang kagaya kong Parent Leader ay dapat maging isang magandang halimbawa sa lahat (A Parent Leader like me should be a good example to everyone),” she humbly uttered.
Four joyful years of being a Parent Leader, to infinity and beyond
Milagros is grateful because unlike other beneficiaries in their barangay, her husband is very supportive in all her endeavors for the Program. She narrates, “Tuwang-tuwa siya dahil alam niyang doon ako masaya sa ginagawa ko. Malaking-malaki talaga ang puso ko sa kapwa ko (He is very happy because he knows I find joy in what I do. I really do have compassion for my fellow.)”
“Kagustuhan siguro ng Diyos na mapabilang ako sa Pantawid Pamilya kaya sabi ko malaking pagpapala ito para sa akin. Kaya noong wala pang napipiling Parent Leader, nagpresenta na ako dahil gustong-gusto ko talagang maglingkod (Maybe, it is God’s will that I became part of Pantawid Pamilya so it is a great blessing to me. So when no one was chosen to be a Parent Leader yet, I volunteered myself to be one),” she recited. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Information Officer II/ Pantawid Pamilya)
