By Perla Lena
ILOILO CITY – An Indigenous Peoples family from Guimaras and a Grade 7 student from Antique were recognized Thursday as “Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya” and 4Ps Exemplary Children by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas.
The annual recognition, now in its 14th year, was held as part of National Family Month and followed the official declaration recognizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as a family-based intervention, DSWD-6 Assistant Regional Director for Administration Belen Gebusion said.
“Let us not forget that we were trying to showcase and demonstrate to everyone that, given the chance for the second time, every Filipino family can transform their lives so that the next generation of citizens will be progressive and successful families and no longer Pantawid families,” Gebusion said.
She said the DSWD would continue providing families with support and opportunities to help them break the cycle of poverty.
Rosendo Suriaga, a Grade 7 student from Pandan, Antique, bested four other regional finalists to win the 4Ps Exemplary Children search. He received a PHP10,000 prize and also won special awards for Best in Production Number and Best in Talent.
Mary Jean Magpusao of Malay, Aklan, was first runner-up and received PHP8,000 and the Best in Talent award. Gwen Young of Jordan, Guimaras, placed second runner-up and received PHP5,000.
The family of Oscar and Josephine Villanueva of Buenavista, Guimaras, won the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya title and a PHP30,000 prize.
The Labrador family of Tapaz, Capiz, was first runner-up and received PHP10,000, while Emilia Caballes of Malay, Aklan, placed second runner-up and received PHP8,000.
“Let’s continue going back to this celebration as a manifestation of how this program contributes to the kind of family expected: to be productive and contributory to nation-building,” Gebusion said.
Christian Baldonasa, regional program coordinator for administration, urged the 4Ps child finalists to pursue their chosen careers and help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
He also encouraged parents and children to work together toward their shared goals and a better future.
