MANILA, Philippines – These days, 4Ps beneficiaries are the target of much hate, particularly from the middle class who claim that they are religiously paying their taxes but don’t get any aid from the government, whereas 4Ps beneficiaries and other ‘poorest of the poor’ only use their government aid for ‘hair rebonding’ and gambling.
Seeing that the issue is trending, 4Ps beneficiary Jericho Ramos Baguistan shares the inspiring story of how their family managed to use their government aid correctly – and that’s to ensure the kids are in school and working towards their dream of having a better future.
SEE ALSO: 4Ps beneficiary says Php8k is only enough for 1 week, earns mixed reactions
Jericho shares a photo of their humble home, the medals and awards that he and his brothers received in school, and their sweet family photo as he tells of how his parents strived hard to provide for the family even if they are already receiving aid from the government.
He wrote:
“Ang trending ng issues about 4Ps members ngayon. Soooo.... Here's my family mga kabayan.
This is not to brag or boast but I feel like it is the time to share this. May this serve as an inspiration. Take time to read medyo mahaba but I hope you get something from it.
This is also for the members of 4Ps or other people getting some help from the government, at sa mga mahihirap na tulad namin. I read a post about sa ayudang ibinibigay ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan, some posted and questioning bakit ang unfair? It is just making those people lazier dahil puro pasarap buhay, naghihintay na lamang ng tulong, at nananatiling walang trabaho at hindi matututong magbanat ng buto.
My family is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, hindi kami mayaman, so the financial assistance coming from the government is really a big help for our studies and some of our necessities. The help coming from the government isn't just being spent for nothing.”
While the middle class insists that 4Ps beneficiaries are simply waiting for government aid and are no longer doing anything to help themselves, Jericho defended his parents. He narrated that his parents might be poor but they are doing their best to support the family.
In spite of the help we get, my parents never stopped working. Tatay ko ay dating tricycle driver, nagconstruction sa Manila, at ngayon nakikisaka sa bukid. Porsyentuhan lamang, may may-ari ng lupa at ilang percent lang ng ani ang para sa amin.
Technically ang kita sa pagsasaka ay hindi monthly but every cropping season. So ang tendency kapag may kailangan lalo na kapag magpapasukan na, mangungutang, then mababayaran lang after ng anihan. Ang Nanay on the other hand is a parent leader, and walang another sweldo para sa mga paper works at pagdalaw sa ibang members na madalas nilang ginagawa.
We've been a member for how many years now. And never did the money was used by my mother to get some hair treatment or ibili ng luho. Laging para sa pag-aaral and necessary needs namin. In fact, my mother [has] done so many works, naging tindera sa palengke, nagtanim at naggapas ng palay, nag-sibuyas atbp, at ngayon namamasukan bilang kasambahay ang Nanay ko para matulungan ang Tatay at Kuya dahil dalawa pa kaming nag-aaral ng bunso kong kapatid.
Tapos given the fact that hindi mataas ang presyo ng palay, mahirap kumita ng pera pero mataas ang cost of living...mahirap maging mahirap.”
And while they owe the taxpayers for the help that they received in the form of their monthly 4Ps allowance, Jericho said that they did not rely solely on that money to survive and go to school. He and his siblings went to a private school, but only because they did their best to get scholarships and make sure their grades meet the requirements!
“Baka sabihin ng ibang mga kakilala, "Eh galing kayong private school ah?". To tell you, If I and my siblings weren't able to get scholarships hindi naman kami kayang pag-aralin sa private school ng mga magulang namin, we strived to get high grades. We were given full scholarsips, kaming tatlong magkakapatid sa buong taon ng High School namin.
Bukod sa tulong ng eskuwelahan, lahat in-apply-an namin, scholarship ng congressman, mayor, we worked in SPES, we strived to be a scholar sa University... that's what our parents taught us, how we should value education. Ngayon si Kuya ko graduate na, may desenteng trabaho at may propesyunal na lisensya. As for me, I am currently studying at Central Luzon State University, free tuition fee, proud scholar!
We owe the tax payers, sa pera ng taong bayan, and to the government who spend a lot of funds para sa mga mahihirap. We are a poor family, sapat para makasurvive sa pang-araw-araw. So wala kaming choice kundi gumawa ng daan para sa oportunidad na makaahon kami sa kahirapan, kasi kung hindi kami ang gagawa, wala kaming aasahan, lalo kaming malulugmok.”
Jericho agrees with the middle class’ sentiments about many 4Ps beneficiaries who are just using their money for gambling, drinking sessions, and other unnecessary things. Many even pawn their ATMs to loan sharks or take loans to fund their upgraded lifestyle. But he hopes that his story will inspire many to use the aid to improve their lives and to only use it for necessary things.
“Gumawa tayo ng paraan at huwag hintayin na lamang at umasa sa tulong ng ibang tao. Let us change for the better, WE SHOULD BE THE ONE MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER. Afterall, wala tayong ibang aasahan, at walang ibang may responsibilidad sa buhay natin kundi ang ating mga sarili. Malayo pa kami sa pangarap naming maginhawang buhay, pero hindi namin i-aasa ang kinabukasan at kahihinatnan ng buhay namin sa ibang tao.
Hindi kasalanan ang pagiging mahirap and poverty isn't a choice... but it is your choice if you'll stay poor for the rest of your life.
Ps. We should maximize our resources, we are facing a crisis here y'all. Lalo pa sa maraming pamilya ngayon na sa ayuda lang naman ng gobyerno umaasa. We should know our priorities, kapag naubos ang ayuda ng gobyerno, hindi ang COVID-19 ang papatay sa atin kung hindi ang gutom. As for now, surviving this crisis is our only choice.
#ProudAnakngMagsasaka #ProudIskolarngBayan Kami ay mahirap ngunit mayaman na lalong higit sa pananampalataya. Spread hope, love, and positivity mga kapatid!”
What an inspiration!
Image credits: Jericho Ramos Baguistan / Facebook
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
Seeing that the issue is trending, 4Ps beneficiary Jericho Ramos Baguistan shares the inspiring story of how their family managed to use their government aid correctly – and that’s to ensure the kids are in school and working towards their dream of having a better future.
SEE ALSO: 4Ps beneficiary says Php8k is only enough for 1 week, earns mixed reactions
Jericho shares a photo of their humble home, the medals and awards that he and his brothers received in school, and their sweet family photo as he tells of how his parents strived hard to provide for the family even if they are already receiving aid from the government.
He wrote:
“Ang trending ng issues about 4Ps members ngayon. Soooo.... Here's my family mga kabayan.
This is not to brag or boast but I feel like it is the time to share this. May this serve as an inspiration. Take time to read medyo mahaba but I hope you get something from it.
This is also for the members of 4Ps or other people getting some help from the government, at sa mga mahihirap na tulad namin. I read a post about sa ayudang ibinibigay ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan, some posted and questioning bakit ang unfair? It is just making those people lazier dahil puro pasarap buhay, naghihintay na lamang ng tulong, at nananatiling walang trabaho at hindi matututong magbanat ng buto.
My family is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, hindi kami mayaman, so the financial assistance coming from the government is really a big help for our studies and some of our necessities. The help coming from the government isn't just being spent for nothing.”
While the middle class insists that 4Ps beneficiaries are simply waiting for government aid and are no longer doing anything to help themselves, Jericho defended his parents. He narrated that his parents might be poor but they are doing their best to support the family.
In spite of the help we get, my parents never stopped working. Tatay ko ay dating tricycle driver, nagconstruction sa Manila, at ngayon nakikisaka sa bukid. Porsyentuhan lamang, may may-ari ng lupa at ilang percent lang ng ani ang para sa amin.
Technically ang kita sa pagsasaka ay hindi monthly but every cropping season. So ang tendency kapag may kailangan lalo na kapag magpapasukan na, mangungutang, then mababayaran lang after ng anihan. Ang Nanay on the other hand is a parent leader, and walang another sweldo para sa mga paper works at pagdalaw sa ibang members na madalas nilang ginagawa.
We've been a member for how many years now. And never did the money was used by my mother to get some hair treatment or ibili ng luho. Laging para sa pag-aaral and necessary needs namin. In fact, my mother [has] done so many works, naging tindera sa palengke, nagtanim at naggapas ng palay, nag-sibuyas atbp, at ngayon namamasukan bilang kasambahay ang Nanay ko para matulungan ang Tatay at Kuya dahil dalawa pa kaming nag-aaral ng bunso kong kapatid.
Tapos given the fact that hindi mataas ang presyo ng palay, mahirap kumita ng pera pero mataas ang cost of living...mahirap maging mahirap.”
And while they owe the taxpayers for the help that they received in the form of their monthly 4Ps allowance, Jericho said that they did not rely solely on that money to survive and go to school. He and his siblings went to a private school, but only because they did their best to get scholarships and make sure their grades meet the requirements!
“Baka sabihin ng ibang mga kakilala, "Eh galing kayong private school ah?". To tell you, If I and my siblings weren't able to get scholarships hindi naman kami kayang pag-aralin sa private school ng mga magulang namin, we strived to get high grades. We were given full scholarsips, kaming tatlong magkakapatid sa buong taon ng High School namin.
Bukod sa tulong ng eskuwelahan, lahat in-apply-an namin, scholarship ng congressman, mayor, we worked in SPES, we strived to be a scholar sa University... that's what our parents taught us, how we should value education. Ngayon si Kuya ko graduate na, may desenteng trabaho at may propesyunal na lisensya. As for me, I am currently studying at Central Luzon State University, free tuition fee, proud scholar!
We owe the tax payers, sa pera ng taong bayan, and to the government who spend a lot of funds para sa mga mahihirap. We are a poor family, sapat para makasurvive sa pang-araw-araw. So wala kaming choice kundi gumawa ng daan para sa oportunidad na makaahon kami sa kahirapan, kasi kung hindi kami ang gagawa, wala kaming aasahan, lalo kaming malulugmok.”
Jericho agrees with the middle class’ sentiments about many 4Ps beneficiaries who are just using their money for gambling, drinking sessions, and other unnecessary things. Many even pawn their ATMs to loan sharks or take loans to fund their upgraded lifestyle. But he hopes that his story will inspire many to use the aid to improve their lives and to only use it for necessary things.
“Gumawa tayo ng paraan at huwag hintayin na lamang at umasa sa tulong ng ibang tao. Let us change for the better, WE SHOULD BE THE ONE MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER. Afterall, wala tayong ibang aasahan, at walang ibang may responsibilidad sa buhay natin kundi ang ating mga sarili. Malayo pa kami sa pangarap naming maginhawang buhay, pero hindi namin i-aasa ang kinabukasan at kahihinatnan ng buhay namin sa ibang tao.
Hindi kasalanan ang pagiging mahirap and poverty isn't a choice... but it is your choice if you'll stay poor for the rest of your life.
Ps. We should maximize our resources, we are facing a crisis here y'all. Lalo pa sa maraming pamilya ngayon na sa ayuda lang naman ng gobyerno umaasa. We should know our priorities, kapag naubos ang ayuda ng gobyerno, hindi ang COVID-19 ang papatay sa atin kung hindi ang gutom. As for now, surviving this crisis is our only choice.
#ProudAnakngMagsasaka #ProudIskolarngBayan Kami ay mahirap ngunit mayaman na lalong higit sa pananampalataya. Spread hope, love, and positivity mga kapatid!”
What an inspiration!
Image credits: Jericho Ramos Baguistan / Facebook
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
