Model Family in Bohol to be Featured in ADB Exhibit

The Ewican family of barangay Alegria, Carmen, Bohol did not only made it in the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya National Search 2014 after winning second runner-up but also captured the interest of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is among the funding institutions of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Pantawid Pamilya is the human development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households, particularly of children aged 0 to 18.

A team from ADB recently visited the Ewican family in their residence to conduct interviews and photoshoots for the said exhibit.

“Our team decided to work on a story about the Ewican Family of Bohol. We plan to write an article about the family to be featured on the ADB official website,” said Weng Espiritu-Borromeo of ADB’s Department of External Relations.

Aside from a story, we also want to collect photos of the family and the community for the said project. These photos will be used as part of the article and will also be included in the ADB photo exhibition in the Bank’s Annual Meeting on May in Azerbaijan, added Borromeo.

The two-man team from ADB was composed of Italian writer Giovanni Verlini and sought-after documentary photographer Veejay Villafranca.
Both Verlini and Villafranca described the couple Norma and Genaro as industrious and hard-working. “They are truly inspiring,” said Verlini.
They also had a chance to interview Carmen Mayor Ricardo Francisco Toribio and Bohol Governor Edgardo Chatto.

The Ewican Family of Barangay Alegria, Carmen, Bohol pose with Giovanni Verlini, a writer from Asian Development Bank (ADB) who recently visited the family in their residence. The family won as the 2nd runner-up during the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya National Search 2014 and will be featured during the bank’s annual meeting in Azerbaijan this May. ADB is one of the funding sources of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

During the visit Verlini took the chance to join Norma in her barangay session as the latter is currently serving as first termer councilor heading the health and sanitation committee.

Meanwhile, DSWD7 Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat for her part thanked the local officials for their strong support in the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program because despite their hectic schedules they took time meeting the ADB team.

“We are truly grateful to Mayor Toribio because he met the ADB team even if it was a holiday. Also, our heartfelt gratitude to Governor Chatto who spared time to dine with the team and discuss the success of Pantawid Pamilya in the province despite his full schedule preparing for the State of the Province Address,” said Jabagat.

She also thanked the office of House Representative Arthur Yap of the 3rd District of Bohol where the town of Carmen belongs, for his support in the said activity.,

To recall, the Ewican family, headed by the couple Norma and Genaro together with their six children, vested over 40 entries in Central Visayas during the region-wide selection.

The family become DSWD Field Office VII representative during the National Search in which they won second runner-up and went home with P10,000 cash.

Aside from the P10,000 cash prize from the National Search, the family also won P10,000 during the regional search and another P5,000 during the provincial search.

Also, the Ewican’s youngest daughter Joan Grace was adjudged as the fourth runner up in National Search for Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children 2014.

Norma disclosed that most of the cash prize they won went to the school needs of the children. (Phoebe Jen Indino-Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer)