Feature: Aldimar’s Story of Triumph

By Stella Maris V. Barcelon

Reminiscing childhood to some bring sweet memories but for Aldimar, an 11 - year old Pantawid Pamilya grantee, these memories are bittersweet. Reminding him of the tears he shed and the selfless sacrifice he had to do for his siblings’ sake.

Aldimar was in grade one when he stopped schooling because his parents could no longer support him. It was also the time that he started to witness his mother’s suffering in the hands of his father. The image of a happy family was never realized. At a young age, Aldimar’s dream of becoming a civil engineer started to fade. To Aldimar, the world then was dark, no rainbows and butterflies.

At nine years old, he knew he was living a life that will never be understood by someone as his age. Having no parents to take care of them, he had to be a dependable leader for his younger brothers - Jamar, 6 years old and Junimar, 5 years old at present.

Head slightly bowed while playing with his yellow rubber band on his wrist, Aldimar said, “Usahay mingawon ko sa ilaha (I still miss them),” referring to his parents. Marissa, Aldimar’s mother, died in 2010. She was the second wife of his father. According to Lola Beatrice, Marissa got ill due to violence and abuses inflicted by his father. Lola Beatrice also said that Aldimar’s father abandoned them and lived with other woman. Aldimar’s father is in jail for the heinous crime he committed.

While most of his friends enjoyed their childhood, Aldimar had to bear the torture of missing his parents, the horror of uncertainty of daily survival, and the quest for love and security. Young as he was, he knew he needed help.

Aldimar saw a ray of hope when in 2011 the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program was introduced in Bayugan City. However, one of the rules of the program prohibits him from being beneficiary. Besides being a minor, the condition which requires one of his parents to attend the Family Development Sessions (FDS) could not be met because he did not have his parents. Attendance of parents to the FDS is a vital component to ensure compliance and continued involvement in the program.

These circumstances seemed to dim his only chance to have a normal life. Fortunately, his case was assessed and appropriate actions were taken so as not to compromise his right to education and health. Aldimar was then included in the program. His Lola Beatrice from her father’s side became their guardian.

Now, the 11 year-old Aldimar has begun a new chapter of his life through Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Being too young to grasp the reality, their playmates and classmates in school helped them forget the dark experience they had. “Pero gusto man gihapon nako kompleto among pamilya pareha sa uban (But I still want my family to be complete just like the others),” Aldimar added.

“Nagpasalamat ko kay nakaapil gihapon mi sa Pantawid, makaeskuyla gihapon kami (I am thankful that we were still included in the Pantawid, we can still go to school)", he said.

Aldimar together with his siblings are now in the care of their grandmother who is also too old to work. Aside from Aldimar and his siblings, two of their cousins are also in their grandmother’s care. The only person who earns money in the household is their uncle Orland who works in a rubber farm and earns P150.00 a day.

With seven mouths to feed, their uncle’s income is not sufficient to meet their daily needs, especially their school needs. That is why Lola Beatrice is so thankful that Pantawid Pamilya is there to help her send the children to school. “Mag lisud gyud mi kung wala ang tabang sa Pantawid Pamilya, basin dili pa namo sila ma pa eskuyla, mao maayo na lang nga adunay tabang pinansyal ang gobyerno pinaagi ani nga programa (Without the help of Pantawid Pamilya, life would be very different for us. Without it, maybe we could not send them to school),” lola Beatrice said with a smile.

As it is true that the program may guarantee a lifetime success to its beneficiaries by investing in education and health, it rekindles that remaining hope of Aldimar. That even without his parents, he stood and carried himself through the rigors of life at an early age.

Aldimar is now in grade three at Claro Cortes Elementary with his younger brother Jamar, grade 2 and Junimar kinder-2. He finished 4th honor in his grade two class last school year 2012-2013. (FEA/DSWD Social Marketing Unit/PIA-Caraga)