Raising a child is a big responsibility. But raising seven children, without any regular means, is next to impossible. Only people with good heart and great character can accomplish such humongous task.

In Palawan, lives a mother of seven. Her story is a cutout piece of a well-written script from a complicated novel. More than 360 miles from Manila and off the southern coast of Palawan, lies a barangay called San Juan in the municipality of Aborlan, the hometown of this year’s winner of the Search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya in the MiMaRoPa region.

At 45, Nemia exudes an aura of assurance and endurance. A solo parent and a member of the Tagbanua tribe, she raised her seven daughters alone for four years since her husband’s death in January 2010. Speaking in a soft voice, Nemia slowly opened up and recounted her family’s story.

“Sa libing po kami nagkakilala ng mister ko,” tells Nemia. A friend introduced her to Gregorio at a funeral of her relative. It was an odd place but nevertheless the start of their budding romance. Even though they reside in two different barangays, Gregorio took the time and effort to visit Nemia for months before they officially became a couple. But just like every couple, they have their own struggles in raising a family.

Fleeing a crime, staying behind

At the time when the couple was struggling to raise five children, Gregorio was wrongfully accused of stabbing a resident in a nearby barangay. Fearing that he might be imprisoned, he fled to Malaysia and stayed for six months. Fortunately, it was found out later that all accusations to Gregorio were all lies. Someone confessed to the crime and his name was cleared.

“Mahirap po yun, siyempre malayo kami sa isa’t-isa noon pero kailangan ko nalang isipin ang mga anak ko, kaya todo trabaho ako,” said Nemia. During that time, Nemia tried to do it all. “Nandyan po na maglalabada po talaga narin ako sa gabi bukod sa pagbebenta ng tanim namin,” she recalls. She had to work double time to provide for her children. They were doing a lot of work even before her husband fled, but she has to lead the family in everything since Gregorio’s situation at that time was uncertain.

The family was so happy when Gregorio came back. Life continued and the couple was blessed with two more daughters.

7th heaven

In every story, one conflict is not enough. Gregorio’s absence for six months was hard for Nemia and she knew that it will be unbearable to have to come across losing her husband again. But last January 2014, Gregorio left. He suffered a stroke and died. It was a permanent absence to the life of Nemia and her seven children.

As much as Nemia and her daughters wanted Gregorio to stay, he couldn’t. They had to move on and they did. Life continued no matter how difficult it is for Nemia to provide for her children. “Nagpapasalamat nalang po ako at talagang mababait ang aking mga anak at tinulungan din nila ako,” says Nemia.

Nemia never stops. She works hard for her children. With her perseverance, Neizel Grace who was in third year college when Gregorio died was able to finish her degree in Education with the help of a scholarship. Norgelyn, her second, finished a vocational course. Neizel Grace now works as a teacher in Culandunum Elementary School, also in Aborlan, while Norgelyn is a bookkeeper in a small company in Manila.

Nemia markets the vegetables they grow in their backyard. But selling vegetables does not meet her family’s daily needs. She also vends kakanin and does laundry for her neighbors and pag-uuling. Since they have coconut trees and bamboos nearby, she makes broom and pawid. To add to her income, she rears a swine and a few chickens. “Malaking dagdag po ang pagbebenta namin ng itlog ng manok at anak nung inahing baboy namin,” Nemia said thankfully.

“Bilib nga po kami sa Nanay namin kasi kinaya niya kaming buhayin lahat,” tells Neizel Grace. Now, her third, Noryjane is also graduating with a degree in Education with the support of the Student-Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA). Her fourth, Gretchel May also in college is taking up Social Work.

All of Nemia’s children project an air of possibilities. They smile. They laugh. They talk a lot but always respectful. Her older daughters are their younger siblings’ teachers and jokers in the family, the three younger daughters are more timid and soft-spoken.

Megania, fifth, had a different take in career path than her sisters. She wants to be an astronaut. “Gusto ko po yung sa space eh. Parang maganda po kasi siyang pag-aralan,” relates Megania. She likes science and frequently asks questions about how things came about. Glades May, Nemia’s sixth, also wants to be a teacher. “Gusto ko naman po maging katulad ng mga Ate ko,” says Glades May.

The youngest, Ante Clea, 5, is the life of the family. Although young, she reasons out with her mother about many things. She’s bubbly and likes to sing a lot. “Mahilig po kumanta yang bunso ko kahit na minsan talaga ay mali ang lyrics ay hinahayaan lang namin,” tells Nemia.

“Nakakatuwa nga po ang mga anak ko kasi masipag sila mag-aral,” added Nemia. Her children serve as her energy and vitamins whenever she feels like she wants to give up. All her children thrive in their studies. They are honor students. They value the importance of education.

Nemia does the role of being a father and a mother to her children. She provides for them earnestly with all the “diskarte” she knows or whatever job she can take on to earn an income without neglecting her children and their needs. She assures that her children feel her love and care despite most of her time being devoted to earning a living.

Putting every piece of a puzzle

Just like every piece of a puzzle that contributes in creating a beautiful picture, Nemia takes part in various activities in their barangay to help change the community while juggling multiple jobs and tending to her seven children.

Nemia acts as an active secretary of the Kalipunan ng mga Kababaihang Pilipino (KALIPI) San Juan Chapter, a women’s association (People’s Organization). Together with the other members of the community, Nemia actively participates in rallies conducted in the municipal hall up to the provincial capitol in Puerto Princesa City to air their cries against setting a Coal Fired Plantation in Aborlan.

“Nakikita ko nga po yan sila Nanay Nemia dyan sa munisipyo at nag-rarally,” said Febe, municipal link. Nemia’s children are also aware of the possible environmental destruction of the plantation.

“Diyan po kasi nila itatayo mismo ang planta sa likod ng WPU (Western Philippines University), malaki po ang magiging epekto niyan sa kalusugan ng mga tao dito kaya tinututulan namin,” says Nemia. She joins rallies together with other members of the community.

Proof of her unyielding love for her children, Nemia also participates in the activities and meetings in her children’s school. She is a treasurer and secretary of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in Barangay Iraan Elementary School and Marcelo Bantug National High School, respectively. As a PTA officer, they were able to build school fences and do some renovations.

As if this doesn’t consume Nemia’s time, she is also an active community volunteer of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) where her barangay was granted with a Barangay Health Station. Her and other community volunteers helped dig the land where the health station will be put up since the budget for laborers was limited.

Nemia’s record of being a responsible and active member of the community paved way for her to become a president of Community Organization and Livelihood Program (COLP), a non-government organization that provides capital assistance to the poor families without interest. The municipal link accounted that among the members of the organization, Nemia was the only one who’s been able to pay back without interest. Because of her good performance in handling a business, she was nominated and eventually won as a Super COLP Organization President last year held at Puerto Princesa City.

Despite Nemia’s busy schedule, she finds time to partake in the different community activities. She believes that in the long run, it is for their own benefit.

Working hard for the future

In 2011, a year after her husband’s death, the family became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilya. Nemia is grateful for the cash grants they receive since it covers the needs of her children in education and health. “Malaking tulong po talaga kasi hindi ko na poproblemahin ang panggastos lalo na ang pang eskwela nila tulad ng uniform, notebook at mga pang-project,” says Nemia.

Because of Nemia’s hardwork, she was able to save and put up electricity and recently an artesian well (poso) in their home. Before, they have to walk meters to get water to be able to take a bath. Now, some of their neighbors gather in their home to also do their laundry. “Hindi na rin nahihirapan ang mga anak ko lalo na itong bunso kasi may ilaw na rin kami sa gabi,” tells Nemia.

Nemia sometimes thinks of quitting but whenever her children comes into mind, she asks herself, “Anong mangyayari sa mga anak ko?” and she faces yet another day of hardwork. “Basta, kakayanin lang po natin, paunti-unti,” ends Nemia.

The Bacaltos family is one of over four million Filipinos served by the Pantawid Pamilya Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Although the program extends its age coverage to 18 years old this year, Nemia is one of those who did not wait for it to happen. She is one of those who believed that if you want something, you got to work hard for it, you got to earn your keeps and with God on their side, they know, they can achieve change and make their dreams come true. Truly, she is one of the few that deserves the name a superwoman, a wonder mom. ###