A strong mother and a productive community member

Posted on March 17, 2022

Dailyn Lacaza, a 4Ps grantee, successfully completes her secondary studies horugh ALS on on September 5, 2021.

Dailyn A. Lacaza, 45-year-old, is a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) grantee and a parent leader for 12 long years. Her husband, Estilito C. Lacaza, 51-year-old, works as transient labourer earning 300-400 a day. In order to sustain the needs of their family, Dailyn has to work extra hard. It’s been 3 years that she has been working as a school utility in East Bunawan Central Elementary School with a take-home pay of 300 pesos daily.

Typically, mothers would go beyond what is expected of them in nurturing their children and responding the demands of the family’s existing needs. However for Dailyn, aside from being an exemplary mother, she serves as an example for the whole community by being a law abiding citizen especially for the program – she is one of the most active parent leaders in Barangay San Teodoro, Bunawan, Agusan Del Sur.

Wearing their aprons, Dailyn with her co-workers pose for picture, showing their moments as cook at the kitchen of Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).

Dailyn is an epitome of an obedient citizen – to succumb to the law without reservations. Yet, this characteristic does not exempt her from coming across with adversities, one of which is the death of one her daughter. While grieving, she had to be away after her daughter, Mary Jane, was admitted at the Davao Regional Hospital after her mental health was affected after the loss of her sister. Nothing is as painful as her absence during the funeral rite – that was supposed to be her chance to have a last glance at her daughter. Amidst these trials, Daily has remained strong and dependable, serving as a dependable mother and wife. At present, Mary Jane is now enrolled in Grade 11, and is doing well in school, thanks to the guidance of Dailyn.

When COVID-19 hit the country, Dailyn worked as a cook for the quarantined individuals in their municipality from March 2020 – March 2021, earning Php250 a day. Motivated by the hurdles she has conquered, Dailyn decided to push through with her plans of enrolling for the Alternative Learning System classes offered in their municipality. She joins their once-a-week modular classes, where she passed all the exams. She was then fortunate enough to finish her secondary level classes on September 5, 2021 – one of the achievements Dailyn and her family are so proud of.

In frame: Dailyn Lacaza, doing her chores at the EBCES.

At present, Dailyn still works as utility staff at East Bunawan Central Elementary School (EBCES) earning Php6,000 monthly. She is proud that she is able to manage her resources well, never succumbing to loan sharks. Instead, she saves up the little money she has from work to ensure that her children are able to pursue their studies, and spend their savings for emergencies.

Amidst her busy schedule, Dailyn spends quality time answering her modules.

In life, there are challenges that may seem insurmountable. With God and with the support from the family, Dailyn is certain, she can conquer insurmountable difficulties. Indeed, a mother in a family and community.