It took about 20 minutes of boat ride going to this island of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro to interview one of this year’s model families and the provincial winner of Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.

It was raining early in the morning going to Brgy. Labangan in Ilin island but as the boat nears the docking area, rays of smiles from its residents welcome the guests and the sun peeps from the clouds and shone its light to bring a brighter day.

Among the crowd is the silent couple, Eusebio and Gigie showing their glee together with their fellow community members. The Serna family brought pride not only to their own but also for the whole community. It was seen that the family is known to everyone in the area that they are enjoined by their neighbors in celebration of winning the competition.

Eusebio, 49 year old, and Gigie, 43, have seven children through their 23 years of marriage. Living from an island barangay, the family lives off by Eusebio being a “konduktor sa bangka”. But with seven children, it is not enough to sustain their needs alone. Thus, they also plant crops and vegetables. They have an organized garden across their house. They have almost all kinds of root crops and vegetables: sitaw, ampalaya, kangkong, gabi, papaya, gabi, kamote, etc. Through proper budgeting, they were able to buy and tend some animals like goats, chicken, pig and cow.

“Dahil po iyan sa tulong ng Pantawid Pamilya kaya naman paunti-unti, iniaangat po namin ang aming kondisyon sa buhay,” said Gigie. It is through the program and being wise in saving money that they are able to face the challenges in their living conditions. “Pinag-uusapan naming mag-asawa kung anong gagawin sa mga natatanggap namin kaya unti-unti napagawa rin namin ang bahay,” added Gigie.

Gigie also narrated, “Malaki rin po ang naitulong ng programa dahil nabibigyan ng oportunidad ang mga bata na magpa-check-up at mabigyan sila ng mga pangangailangan nila sa eskwelahan.” Gigie also said that she is active in attending their Family Development Sessions (FDS). It is through the sessions that she gains new knowledge that she applies in their everyday life.

Being active in community activities is innate for the couple. Gigie is a catechist or part-time volunteer teacher to grade two pupils in Labangan Elementary School since 2014. She was also voted as a secretary in the Parent-Teacher Association in the same school, as well as the secretary and president of the Festijos for two consecutive years in their barangay. She is also an active volunteer of the Community Savings Group, a women’s group, for five years. Currently, she is a treasurer of their SEA-K and a parent leader of Pantawid Pamilya.

On the other hand, Eusebio is a trained traditional veterinarian. He was fortunate to be chosen by the Department of Agriculture through the Plan International’s project in their barangay to tend to farm animals that he was sent to Manila for a training. Eusebio monitors animals and provides care when they have illnesses. Specifically, he provides vitamins using a syringe to the cattle. Eusebio is in-charge of all the animals in the island.

The couple relayed that there was a time that they fought due to Gigie’s schedule in participating to too many community activities. But with communication, the couple resolved their issues and agreed to always talk with one another and manage their time for the family and their responsibilities in the community. With the innate feeling to serve, the couple could not help but be active in the community, and they both understand that they have to be more patient and understanding of one another’s feelings and positions.

Moreover, they have bright and talented children. Of the seven, three are still in school in their island; one in high school, one in elementary and the youngest in Daycare. The eldest, Gerald, 23, did not graduate from college and decided to help his father being a ‘bangkero’ and whatever work he gets in San Jose proper, sometimes being a construction worker. The second, Ivee Valerie is a trainee in a company in Cavite while the third, Erick Jade, recently finished high school and is waiting for her sister to help him get a job in the same company and help the family instead.

“Ang meron sa aming pamilya ay yung nagkakasundo kami, tulong-tulong,” said Gerald. His mother followed, “Pag nakikita nila yung Papa nila kung anong trabaho, tinutulungan nila.” The family works together. It is Serna family’s strong suit and will always be. “At mahal namin ang isa’t-isa,” ended Erick Jade. Although they stopped studying, Gerald and Erick Jade expressed their feelings to continue and get vocational courses.

The struggles the family feel are not reasons for them not to help their fellows. These even made them an exemplary family that despite their personal challenges, they managed to provide time to help others. Their values have never been more founded and their characters have never been stronger. This only goes to show that one’s development is not only measured physically or materially, but also by showing people that you are there whenever you are needed, ‘cause when you help others, you improve yourself as well. ###