- 4Ps and non-4ps members went on a five-day training at Calongay Elementary School.
- This is in line with Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s goal to educate all parents.
- Graduates shared how the training has changed their lives.
One of the priority projects of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is to provide parents education, as parents are the children’s first teachers and their roles in their children’s learning evolve as they grow.
With this, a training on Adult Basic Literacy was initiated by a group of faculty teachers at Calongay Elementary School in Pilar, Sorsogon, together with the 4Ps staff and the support of the Local Government Unit. The training aims to cultivate a knowledge economy to effect more avenues of obtaining knowledge for awareness and improve basic literacy of grantees.
The five-day training on Adult Basic Literacy for 4Ps and non-4Ps members was conducted at Calongay Elementary School last May 2017 and same training will be given to other 4Ps and non – 4Ps beneficiaries this year in the said municipality.
Last 2017, the training was participated in by 30 parents who were taught basic reading and writing alphabets. Also, seven parent leaders of 4Ps and eight college graduates who are alumni of the said school volunteered to teach and conduct the training sessions. These volunteers underwent training as well in proper reading and writing alphabet before they are set to teach the 4Ps beneficiaries.
According to Fannie Pura, the 4Ps Municipal Link assigned to Calongay, there was also a separate training for facilitators. Also, Pura said that the result of the training has taught the parents (non-readers and non-fully readers) of beginning alphabets. It has also decreased the non-compliance of children beneficiaries in education bringing appreciation and value for parents to send their children to school. Calongay Elementary School Principal Jessica Asano also said the training enhances the reading skills of school children as their parents are now able to read and write.
Parent Leaders as Volunteer Teachers
As a way of helping other 4Ps beneficiaries, Parent Leaders opted to become volunteers of Adult Basic Literacy Training. Wilma Dejuso Maceda, one of the volunteer teachers, noticed that some of her fellow beneficiaries use thumbmark instead of signature. “Gusto ko po makatulong sa iba, [I wanted to help others],” she said. She added that the training advanced her knowledge on how to properly write the alphabet and how it sounded. “Kami po na mga trainers man, natuto man kami kan tamang pagsurat nin A, B. Maugmahon po, ta nakatabang ka sa iba [We as trainers as well, we were able to know how to properly write the A,B (alphabet). We are so happy because we are able to help them],” she stated.
One of the Parent Leaders and volunteer teachers shared that after the training, she noticed that some parents are now proud that they are able to use what they have learned. “Si Amelia, saro sa mga magurang didi, dati nasusupog ito samuya, ngunyan, kaproud na ta tatawo na siya magsurat pangaran niya. Maray ta tinugutan ito nin agom niya magintra sa training [Amelia is one of the parents here, before she is shy, now she is proud that she could be able to write her name. It is good that her husband agreed to let her join in the training],” she added.
The Graduates
It is evident in the said barangay, the desire of parents to continue their education, one of which is Amelia M. Manuel, 49, of Purok 6, Dalonosa, Calongay, Pilar. She has 11 children, in order to feed her children, she sells vegetables in the neighboring barangays. Of the 11, four are in high school and two are in elementary. The rest of her children did not finish high school.
According to Amelia, all she wants for her children is to get educated, be able to read and write so that in the future they can sustain their own needs. “Gurang na ang agom ko, tapos di ko man kakayanon na pa eskwelahon sinda gabos. Kaya su naga klase po sabi ko mag adal maray. [My husband is already old and I cannot send all my children in school. That is why I told my children to study hard],” she said. She added that she does not want her children to undergo the same hardships that she went through. “Atab ako nag-agom at nagka-aki, 15 po. Kaya dai po ako nakaklase. Maray ngani ta naturan kami magalphabet, maogmahon ako. [I was 15, when I had a child and got married. That is why I was not able to enter school. It is good that I was taught to write the alphabet. I am so happy],” Amelia said.
Another parent Fernando Alim, 51, of Purok 5, Calongay said that the training helped him to be able to read words. “Maray man igwa kaito na training. Kaya ngani pirmi na ako naga iba sa mga aktibidad nin 4Ps. [It is good that there is a training. With that, I always join the activities of 4Ps],” Fernando said. Fernando was awarded as best in beginning reading after the training through a simple graduation ceremony. “Maogmahon man mga aki ko. [My children are very happy],” he added.
According to Fernando, the training reminds him of the value of education. “Tapos, dati puro ako trabaho, sa laot lang, pero ngana, naga uli ako tapos nagatao na ako ki oras para sa mga aki ko dahil sa mga natukdan ko sa FDS [Before, I work a lot, always in the sea to fish, but now, I go back home and allot time for my children that is what I learned in Family Development Session (FDS)],” he said.
Fernando added that Pantawid Pamilya helped his family improve their living condition. “Siguro kun wara man Pantawid, dai ko mapagsabay sa pagklase mga aki ko, [Probably, if without 4Ps, I would not be able to let all my children enter school all at the same time],” he said.
The lack of formal education results in lower earning power and serious threats to an individual’s long-term well-being. And these parents are only some of those who were caught in a situation where lack of learning likely results to poverty. But, they are able to help themselves through their own determination and perseverance with help from the government.
Recently, the parent beneficiaries of 4Ps and non-4Ps of Barangay Calongay graduated and wore their togas during the graduation ceremony of the five-day Adult Basic Literacy Training.
