They say that “into each life some rain must fall.” This is indeed true. But for others, it’s more than just rain that falls – they experience storms.

It wasn’t that hard from the start for Josephine. In 1986, she was working as a sales staff in a grocery store in Cebu City and was able to pay her rent in a house, where she met Pedmar Reyes Sr.

Josephine and Pedmar, who worked as a truck man, dated for a couple of years – after which, Josephine became pregnant.

Josephine was thoughtful and devoted to her family especially to her children. Despite being busy doing their jobs, the couple does not want to hire a nanny for their kids.

“It does not matter how hard the way we’ve been through, what is important is that we are intact and complete and could raise my children properly,” Josephine said.

Years later, the couple decided to leave their jobs in Cebu and return to Pedmar’s hometown in Barangay Canaway, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.

Storms in life

Their life in Barangay Canaway was rough. Josephine worked as a food vendor at a nearby school while her husband worked as a farmer.

The biggest storm that hit the Reyes family was when their eldest son died due to a vehicular accident. The couple has a hard time making both ends meet. They only have two meals a day – lunch and dinner. Their children would often go to school with empty stomachs. They can’t even provide fare for their children. Moreover, school bills and expenses were mounting up.

There were times that even their own relatives treat them as strangers, they don’t extend them support, and even mocked their dire situation.

They did everything they could do for their children, but to no avail, they were still in dire need. During those hard times, despite their difficulties and struggles, Josephine never lost hope in God and hoped for calmness after the storm.

Lifeboat amidst the storm

Josephine’s hopes paid off when in 2011, their family was among the qualified households selected as partner-beneficiary for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. She never expected that God would answer her prayers and gave them a lifeboat during the storm.

The said conditional cash transfer program of DSWD allowed Jospehine to send and support her children to school and ensure that they are in good health.

By this time, the family was able to afford nutritious foods. Josephine was motivated to excel more in bringing up her children as what she learned from the monthly Family Development Sessions.

The grants she received was allocated for their daily needs and school materials for her children. Some portion of the grants was an additional investment for their small business.

Her son Pedmar Jr. also helped her mother in peddling food while he was studying at Caraga State University in Butuan City. His daily expenses in school were deducted from his earned profit. Also, he became a grantee of the Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) which helped him finish his studies.

Josephine did every possible idea to provide for her family. She also cultivated her backyard garden as their source for nutritious vegetables.

By the time the household became part of the program, the burdens they were carrying lightened. The household was able to eat thrice a day, able to afford nutritious and delicious foods, their physiological needs were met, school requirements were met.

Smooth sailing

Throughout the years, the Reyes family has built a strong bond with each other. The family is always open to each other. The family goes to church together on Sundays, and have their bonding on holidays.

Despite the storms they encountered, they remain firm and resilient.

Josephine never runs out of life’s lessons for her children. She always teaches them to be responsible at all times and to pursue and finish their studies for a better tomorrow.

At present, four of Josephine’s seven children have a stable jobs; while she has been busy with her home-based business together with her husband and four children. (Story by ROSMAC STUART G. SABADO)