A SUCCESS STORY

Failure is not the alternative to success. It’s something to be avoided, but it’s also
only a temporary setback on a bigger, more significant course. Everybody encounters
failure at one point or another. What truly matters is how you react to and learn from
that failure.

As I unveil an inspiring story of a Mother who had gone along with struggles and
tussles of life, a product of sacrifices and detriments, I hope, this might serve as an
inspiration to all mothers out there who are fighting and facing the adversity of life.

SARIPA ELIAS PUNDAG is a 53 years old beneficiary of Pantawid Pilipino

Program (4Ps) for more than 9 years already. She has 4 children namely Halisah,
Halida, Dayampa and Halia. Two of them were already married while the latter were
staying with her. She lived in Barangay Campong, Pantar, Lanao Del Norte for over 47
years already. She is a solo parent and had to find a living for her 4 children after they
have separated with her husband Alioden, who is a retired military soldier. Saripa
decided to leave her husband after she learned that he was having an affair with
someone and soon got married to another woman who saripa thought as his mistress
for a long time. Saripa carried this burden for more than 20 years and finally came up
with a decision to leave her husband, and focus on how she can survives her children’s
future alone with her mother.
Saripa finished a third year college in Mapandi Mermorial College, Marawi City.
She was not able to finish her college degree due to financial incapacity, but after she
found a job as a lady guard that is when she finally able to graduate a 2 years
vocational course relating to marketing.
Saripa confessed that being a solo parent is not easy; raising 4 children without a
support of a partner and by having no stable job could really be a problem. She had to
use her initiative to look for a job, since many of her kids are studying, and she is
frightened with the fact and reality that she might fail to survive her children’s future.
She did not hesitate and would not be tired since she has children to feed. She
experienced working as a “Kusinira and Labandera where she earned P400 hundred a
day. She was even hired as security or a lady guard of small store in Balo-i, LDN.

For Saripa, she is thankful that she still had a supporting system like her mom
who always helped her to move forward. Saripa concede that she never get tired of
working because of her children. After years of battling the hardship, two of her children
graduated in college and is now working abroad. And she became a 4Ps beneficiary
that opens many opportunities for her. She work hard to start a small business like
selling banana barbecue and a small sari-sari store that could somehow helped her get
money for her children who were still studying, years after that, she became an Over-all
parent leaders of 4P’s beneficiaries in Barangay Campong due to her strong dedication
to work. Many people described her as a hard working mother and a very responsible
and kind person. Later that year her son graduated in college. And only one of her
children remains studying in Marawi with a full scholar.

She realized that through the help of 4Ps program, it made a big change to her
life perspectives not only because of the money that she receives but being able to
learn her reality, that she will become poor or still be on her rough condition if she could
have not used her initiatives. Also, through the learning she always acquires during
Family Development Session, she learnt that, her situation could possibly change so
long as she maintain the faith and strong dedication to be a good person of her
community, then this could make a big difference, she said. She even admitted that it is
very difficult for her to carry on her shoulder all alone the needs of the family but when
she became a 4Ps beneficiary, she was able to help renovate their house and able to
send the children to private schools and provide the needs of her children in school, she
said that being a 4Ps beneficiary is like having a partner that helps and support her in
providing the needs of her family. Aside from that, the help of significant others also
plays a vital role on Saripa’s life because they were able to at least help her emotionally
like her mother and close relatives also her children who were already married which
still helps Saripa financially. She said that in every opportunity that comes on her way,
she would always grab it especially in terms of livelihood.

Although even if she appeared alone in providing the needs of her children, she
never shows any signs of weakness because she never loses hope. She would always
have this positive mind that she can help suffice the needs of her family and being able
to take good care of her children with a faithful mind is a very big achievement to her as
a mother.

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Prepared By:
Hasanie M. Ali, RSW
Municipal Link-Pantar