A Dozen Blessings

Blessed with eleven children and a loving husband named Francisco, Bibiana Singson, 50, of barangay Calaboon, Dumanjug, Cebu is an epitome of a Filipino mother. She survived 11 successive childbirth, the eldest Befran is now 23 years old while the youngest Sarah and Ven (twins) just turned eight. For a big family like the Singson’s and with the couples combined monthly income of only Php10, 000 one might wonder how they managed to survive given the increasing prices of the basic commodities alone.

“It was a great relief,” said Francisco and Bibiana when they became partner-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human developmental program of the national government implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other Local Government Units (LGUs) that utilizes the conditional cash transfer schemes wherein beneficiaries receive cash grants based on their compliance and their co-responsibilities as a partner-beneficiary.
The Singson’s became grantees of Pantawid Pamilya in 2011.

Bibiana works as a house help and wakes up as early as 3:00 am to prepare food for the family before she goes to work. Her husband Francisco previously worked as a carpenter but he suffered from stomach ulcer he chose to work as a farmer and at the same time as a hog raiser.

The couple admitted that they find it hard to buy all their children’s need more so in sending them all to school.

“It is very hard to manage the family’s finances because we are a big family but I don’t regret having too many children because they are all blessings from God and they gave us joy money cannot buy,” shared Bibiana.

She added that the support they get from the government through Pantawid Pamilya is another blessing because it has helped the family sustain the financial needs of the children.

“Pantawid Pamilya has significantly helped us send our children to school not hungry,” Bibiana disclosed.

The Singson siblings composed of Befran (23) Hazel (21), Joana Mae (19), Litarni (17), Limuel (16), Jee Anncen (14), Anna Marie (13), Anna Lou (11), Lymark (11), Sarah and Ven (8).

Meanwhile, Francisco for his part lauded the Family Development Sessions (FDS) because it has further strengthened their family relationship.
FDS is one of the three major conditionalities of the program where in parents are required to attend once a month. Among the topics discussed during FDS include moral values, good parenting, reproductive health, financial literacy, livelihood trainings among others.

“Despite our busy work schedule we always find time to be with our children like going to church every Sunday or spend weekends at the beach.”
He also stressed that having a handful of children with great attitude is better than having all the riches in the world. (Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer with Fritz Cruda, CTU intern)