At first glance, Florida Rayos is far from someone whom you could describe as bubbly. This you could see as she carefully makes her way towards the room, where her other barangay residents have gathered for a meeting. She quietly sat down and greeted the others with a half-smile. Her intent gaze and undivided attention to the speaker bespeaks of her determination and support to the particular endeavor she found herself in.

Florida is a housewife and a mother of five. She attends to all the needs of the family, from washing their clothes, cooking meals, keeping the house clean, to helping her children with their assignments. Being a housewife practically means being able to do just about everything, no matter how small or big a task there may be. Florida used to be a housewife.

Florida never knew what she was capable of, of what other use there can be for her skills, until Kalahi-CIDSS came to Looc. For quite a time, Florida neither took part in activities conducted in the barangay nor engaged with her fellow residents. She has a world of her own, doing things mostly for her family’s welfare.

That eventually changed for the better when she attended the Kalahi-CIDSS’ first barangay assembly. The Project caught her attention as she never heard of any project that will have the community address their own needs. “Kakaiba yung Kalahi eh, sa tao mismo manggagaling kung anong dapat na proyekto,” she relates. She has never known of a similar project implemented in their community.

“Kaya ako sumali at pinagpatuloy ko ang pagdalo sa mga assembly, dahil alam ko na maganda ang magiging resulta at gusto ko rin makatulong sa kahit anong paraan,” Florida said. Used to doing things on her own, Florida admitted that she was shy and apprehensive at first. She didn’t know how to strike a conversation with her fellow residents. She realized that attending and participating in the assembly is a good way to spend her time with and know the residents in the area, apart from the usual tasks she does at home. Knowing that the Project is for a good cause, she dropped all her inhibitions. It was only after their 3^rd barangay assembly that she opened up and talked to most of her ka-barangays and found out that they, too, want to fully participate in Kalahi-CIDSS.

She gained friends and got to know the barangay leaders even more. She was happy that the residents and the barangay council are one in an endeavor that is to address the longtime need of the barangay. Barangay Manhac was blessed with a sub-project that is the improvement of the farm-to-market road. While they may have been prioritized, the task of making it into reality will prove to be challenging.

Florida was voted as part of the Procurement Team for their sub-project implementation. She was surprised that she was even voted because she never knew that people actually recognize her skill and patience in doing such rigorous work.

“Kasi housewife lang ako, hindi ko akalain na ako’y maboboto nil, ano ba naman ang alam ko dun,” Florida said with a laughter. She did not even know what procurement meant at that time. She started literally from scratch. “Wala talaga akong alam noong una sa proseso ng pagca-canvass, pero doon sa training, sinikap namin na intindihin para naman hindi mahirapan ang iba pa naming kasama at para masimulan din agad ang proyekto.” Florida attested that it was really hard, being new to the process of procurement. “Nakakahilo dahil minsan nagkakamali pa kami, pero masaya rin dahil marami akong natutunan.”

Yet the challenge showed that it was far bigger than she expected it to be. The time she spent for Kalahi-CIDSS was lessening her time for her family. There even came a time when she forgot to do the laundry and cook dinner since she was in town preparing the canvass forms for the suppliers. Her husband, though aware of her whereabouts, often asks her if what she was doing will benefit their family. Florida knew that whether or not they will directly benefit from the sub-project, she would still help the barangay no matter how difficult it can get.

“Sinasabi ko talaga sa asawa ko na hindi man ito mismo para sa atin, marami naman ang makikinabang,” said Florida. Though her husband may not exactly approve of her involvement with Kalahi, Florida sees to it that she explains well what could have been if the barangay still suffer the same fate. She believes that there is nothing wrong in engaging with such projects, hence there is no need to stop pursuing this endeavor. “Ngayong natapos ang proyekto, nakita ng asawa ko ang laking ginhawa ng daan na yun para sa iba naming ka-barangay,” she said. Arguments with her husband evidently stopped. She feels proud that she got to be part of something this big and life-changing. “Nakikita ko din sa asawa ko na proud din siya sa akin,” Florida related.

Her time spent in Kalahi-CIDSS may have brought a few scratches here and there, but for Florida, it was really a time well spent. From being a housewife to one who thrives with new experiences and learnings, she could not be more than happy and grateful for the change. Florida shared that this is the only time that she got to do something worthwhile, attributing the time and effort she spent in Kalahi-CIDSS.

Florida’s stint in Kalahi-CIDSS may have been short but she has felt bigger in terms of looking at herself, of what she can possibly be and do. Her participation in Kalahi led to a discovery of sorts, of how she can handle not only family matters but also that of their community. With the help of Kalahi-CIDSS, Florida realized that she too can contribute to the development of her barangay regardless of her stature in life.

Gone are the days that she is a mere housewife.