In this time of trials and tribulations due to the pandemic, people forget to ‘stop and smell the roses’ – people miss the time to appreciate and reflect on the positive aspects of life. Everyone is anxious especially those who are experiencing some form of crisis, and it seems like there’s no way out.
In general, rose’s flower symbolizes our Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries where everyone is beautiful in their own unique ways; but like a rose, it is also vulnerable, just as the 4Ps Beneficiary is vulnerable to the challenges in life, especially poverty. In contrast, the rose’s thorns represent the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the 4Ps Program, and its staff. Thorns usually have negative denotation as it may hurt a person who are not careful in handling the plant, but the thorn’s purpose is to protect the entirety of the rose. The same goes with the program (thorns) as it protects the well-being of the beneficiary (flower) against the scammers, deceivers, and abusers.
The thorns also represents the workers of DSWD who have sacrificed everything for the welfare of the beneficiaries, and the public. Most of these workers are assigned in far-flung areas, away from their families to deliver quality service to the people – several workers have even been infected with COVID-19 as they were performing their job, traveling from one place to another to cater the needs of those being served by the agency – some even lost their lives in the exigency of service. Just like a thorn, the workers protects the 4Ps beneficiaries (flower) against abuses, injustices, and fraudulences.
As COVID-19 pandemic hit over the country, numerous were affected, gladly, there are some Pantawid beneficiaries who managed to continuously fight and won against the underlying effects, one of which is poverty and sustained their improved well-being despite the situation.
The analogy of the rose flower, and the thorns could also be used in the case of a 4Ps beneficiary from Barangay San Jose, Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands. Mrs. Rosebina “Rose” Longos, a mother to six brilliant sons namely; Ken Clyde, Kim Hurryl, Kyle Genesis, Kent Josua, Karl Hurvy and Kervie, and is wife to Mr. Hurryl, is a prime example of the analogy of the flower and the thorns.
For some, raising children who are all boys is straining, but this is not the case for Rose, who claims that her sons are all good-natured, and are very loving. Even before the pandemic, the family was already facing financially constraints. Their monthly income cannot suffice all their physiological needs. Their sons are all enrolled in school. They only rely on Hurryl’s income as an electrician with a monthly salary of Php 8,000.
With meager income, the family thoroughly budgets their money, putting the children’s education on top of the priority. And when most of their children went into college, the family decided to transfer residence in Tagum City because for them, staying together was very important.
The couple’s children were brilliant as gems; the eldest son Ken Clyde graduated last 2017 with a degree in BSED Mathematics from the University of Mindanao Tagum College. He graduated “Magna Cum Laude” and was ranked seventh during 2017 Licensure Examination for Teachers.
Currently, Ken Clyde is employed in the University of Mindanao – Tagum, and in return he is n now helping his parents and siblings financially. The second child, Kim Hurryl is also an achiever since elementary and high school. He also graduated from the University of Mindanao – Tagum and got his BS Accountancy degree. Presently, he is preparing for the board examination for CPAs.
The third child, Kyle Genesis is as intelligent as his older brothers; he is currently a third year BS Electrical Engineering student and a CHED scholar. The fourth child, Kent Josua finished his senior high school at the University of Mindanao – Tagum with honors and now he is enrolled as first year BS Criminology student in the same school. The fifth child, Karl Hurvy is enrolled as Grade 9 student in Tagum National High School, and lastly, the youngest child Kervie is in his sixth grade in Mangga Elementary School. All of them received academic performance awards since elementary, secondary and even in tertiary school. Their academic brilliance, which they said was nurtured by the love and guidance of their parents, especially their mother, Rose, was critical for them to perform well in school and land different scholarships.
They seized the opportunity to get the profession they’ve been dreaming of. Their parents may not be able to receive a bachelor’s degree but they did a good job in guiding and supporting their children to achieve their goals and dreams in life.
As they recall their former life, gratefulness comes to their minds for they have come a long way to reach their goals in life. Though, they still have a lot of things to do, they are determined that one day they will all achieve their dreams and they would want to go back to their home in Dinagat.
Rose was indeed a wonderful flower, full of love and affection. This was significant to the growth of her thorns, her husband and children, who grew up protecting her. Though Rose was a stay-at-home mother, this did not hinder her from being productive, as she was always ready to provide for the needs of the family, especially in taking care of her children.
In a nutshell, as much as the thorns would like to protect the flower, time will come that it will wither. But what is important is that the rose flower has made its mark for the whole plant. The thorns have also done their part in ensuring that the rose flower is kept safe. Though it may not give the flower an eternity, it will continue to impact the life of the plant, entirely. Just like the rose flower, the time for a beneficiary to enjoy the program will come to an end. But the impact of what the Program has provided, and the sacrifices of the DSWD workers, will always leave a positive mark for the plant.
