Metamorphosis_Kalahi-CIDSS Compendium 2015

Princess, five. Taking good care of her family is her number one priority, she explained as
she knew the difference growing without her own mother. Though she has stepmother, still
she longed for her own. In spite of this, she is known in their place being diligent, reliable
and friendly. “Dagidyay gagayyem ko, ibagbaga da nga kasla awan ti problemak ta di da
makita nga malidlidayak. Ta gamin ket pilpilyek latta nga agbalen nga naragsak” (My friends
even thought that as if I don’t have any problem since they don’t see me sad. This is because
I choose to be happy), Maricel said laughingly.
Her positive outlook in life makes her open to changes, especially for the better. That’s why
when Kalahi-CIDSS was launched and implemented in their municipality, she became
one of the supporters of the Project. From attending to every Barangay Assembly to
participating to their sub-project implementation, Maricel was there. She even one of the
women community volunteers who joined the labor of their flood control, their prioritized
sub-project.
Since Maricel and Glenn became community volunteers, at first, they got a problem in
managing their time with their activities on Kalahi-CIDSS, time with their family and also
with Glenn’s work as tricycle driver. But, to give up or quit on Maricel’s role as a laborer
never came as an option to solve their problem, instead they talked and agreed to balance
their roles and to have a division of work as Maricel narrated.
Aside from their involvement with Kalahi-CIDSS, Maricel’s family is a Pantawid Pamilya
beneficiary. However, the grantee is named to Glenn’s mother since they stayed before in
her house. But, now that they have their own house, Municipal Social Welfare Development
Officer Layla Visoria said that she and the Pantawid Municipal Link are coordinating this
change of grantee case so that Maricel’s family will be the direct beneficiary. But either ways,
Maricel and Glenn do their best on their responsibilities as parents to their children and
also follow their Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary duties in order to have a healthy growing
family as they learned on Pantawid’s family development session as well as on Kalahi-
CIDSS gender sensitivity training.
Their active participation to these DSWD Programs capacitated them to be better persons.
The trainings and orientations they attended especially when they had the gender sensitivity
training (GST) were enriching. As Maricel recounted on their GST experience, Glenn
was originally hesitant in attending because he thought it’s only for women, fortunately
he joined after the community facilitator corrected his notion. Maricel was thankful on
this training because it opened progressive learning to them and to their fellow volunteers.
She even noticed Glenn on becoming more supportive and loving. And their solution of
having a time management to make their multiple roles easier and attainable was one of
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