Quezon City – “Kung ako po ang mananalo sa kompetisyon na ito ay ilalaan ko po ang premyo para sa nakatatanda kong kapatid na nasa kolehiyo para sa thesis niya,” said Jemuel Steven Mago, from San Agustin, Romblon, this year’s winner of the Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children.

The search was conducted during the National Children’s Congress last October 22-26, 2014 at Sequoia Hotel.

Nicknamed the “Mayor” of his fellow contenders for his active participation during workshops and activities in the congress, no one would have believed that Jemuel was a victim of bullying in his school.

Jemuel, 14, now on grade eight, was bullied for being a son of a tricycle driver. His father’s income is sometimes not enough to provide for a family of nine. The Mago’s became a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to which Jemuel was ridiculed for. He was mocked for being ‘poor’ and financially insufficient.  But Jemuel, strong and determined as he is, stands up for himself and never lets the mockery put him down.

He said that being part of the program is the best thing that happened in their family. “Malaki po talaga ang natutulong ng Pantawid sa amin lalo na po sa pagbili ng mga kailangan namin sa eskwelahan,” testified Jemuel during one of their sessions in the congress. He believes that the program is a big help for him to finish his studies and achieve his dreams.

Jemuel is one of the 10 million children-beneficiaries served and changed by the Pantawid Pamilya, a human development program of the national government that invests in health and education of children 0-18 years old.

More than 50 children from 17 regions in the country attended the congress. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Region IV – MiMaRoPa has won the National Exemplary Child Award for three consecutive year. ###