Father’s Hard Work

A father will do everything for his family. Anastacio Arugay Allam Jr. is living
proof of that. Anastacio who was born on March 10, 1961, got married to Divina
Tomas Baret on July 22, 1985, and have four children: Aristotle, 34, a businessman,
Arlene, 31, a registered nurse, Arjane, 28, a radiologic technologist, and Anastacio III,
26, a medical doctor. His children are all successful in their chosen careers because of
their father’s hard work.
Anastacio finished his elementary education at San Francisco Elementary
School and his high school at Saint Joseph’s College. When he was a child, he had to
work in the corn and rice field to help his parents and to have an allowance. He also
had to walk a mile to go to school since their house is very far. After finishing his
secondary education, he did not pursue his tertiary education because of poverty. He
worked as a tricycle driver for Mr. Dimaya and saved his salary for his future.
While working as a driver, he developed a feeling for his passenger who is now
his wife. They got married and stayed at their family house. He continued to be a
tricycle driver while becoming a tenant to Mr. Agustin’s land. During that time, he was
given two pigs by Plan International, sold them after four months, and used the money
in mortgaging a parcel of land. He and his wife planted watermelon for five years and
luckily, they always had a good harvest. They also continued raising pigs. Through
their incomes, they bought a parcel of land for their fishpond and even bought his
sister’s house for them to have their own house since his sister went abroad.
In between his success, he and his wife met struggles and setbacks. There was
a time where they had to sleep while holding an umbrella inside their house just to
protect their sleeping children because their roof was just made of cogon. They
experienced eating rice with bagoong, cooking oil, salt, or soy sauce as viands. There
was also a time when a typhoon struck Baggao and their fishpond overflowed, and all
the fishes went out. Another is when someone threw poison in their fishpond and all
the fishes were dead. Unwanted sickness of their children was another challenge for
them and the hardest experience they had was when their eldest son and his cousin
got involved in an accident. The child was hit by their motorcycle and died. They had
to settle it by paying the family of the child because that was the only option for his
child not to be imprisoned. They used all their savings and got loans from the traders.
His family overcomes these challenges in their lives by praying to God and
believing that God will provide for them. Truly, Anastacio and his family are reaping
the fruit of his labor. They are now constructing their dream house as of the writing of
his story in life. He said that, for us to become successful, we must pray, be patient
and support our family.

Questions:
1. What did Plan International give to Anastacio that he used to mortgage a parcel

of land after raising it?

a. two hens
b. two pigs
c. two goats
d. two cows

2. When did Anastacio work in the field to help his parents and to have an

allowance?

a. when he was a tricycle driver

b. when he was married
c. when he was in highschool
d. when he was a child

3. Where did Anastacio finish his elementary and secondary education?

a. at San Francisco Elementary School and Saint Joseph’s College

b. at Santor Elementary School and Saint Joseph’s College
c. at Saint Joseph’s College and Baggao National High School
d. at San Francisco Elementary School and Baggao National High School

4. A father will do everything for his family. Who is the living proof of that?

a. Tomas
b. Anastacio III
c. Aristotle
d. Anastacio Jr.

5. Why did Anastacio use all their savings and borrow money from traders?

a. because his child was hit in an accident

b. because his fishpond overflowed due to typhoon
c. because his elder son was involved in an accident and he used the money to
settle with the victim’s family
d. because he needs to pay his other loans

6. How did Anastacio and his family overcome the challenges they went through?

a. they worked hard and didn’t care of what others think

b. they pray to God and believe that He will provide
c. they sold all their properties and had a fresh start
d. they left their home and lived somewhere far