In the coastal town of Palo, Leyte, lives a family that has weathered not just one of the strongest storms in Philippine history, but also braved the tides of poverty.
When Super Typhoon Yolanda (internationally known as Haiyan) devastated the province of Leyte in 2013, among the thousands whose lives were affected by the disaster was the Holanda family.
For them, the super typhoon was both literally and symbolically personal: “Yolanda” and their surname “Holanda” differed by only a single letter. However, the small difference belied the enormous challenges that they faced after the storm due to the job loss of the family’s breadwinner, Allan.
“Pagkatapos ng Yolanda pumunta kami ng Maynila, pagkatapos noon umuwi ako ng Marinduque. ‘Di nag-aral ‘yong mga anak ko,” Cristina, the family’s matriarch, shared in an interview with the DSWD’s #Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP) team.
Cristina told #KPAP it came to a point that one of their kids had to join his father to work for a living because they had no choice. Even when they returned to Leyte in 2014, they did not want to depend on support from Cristina’s parents.
“Nakakakain kami pero ‘yong aming ulam basta may kanin, yung ulam namin kahit asin na may kalamansi, toyo na may kalamansi okay na sila basta makakain lang sa isang araw,” Cristina recalled.
In 2015, two years after the super typhoon’s devastation, a turning point came when the Holanda family qualified as beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
“Pagdating ng 4Ps sa aming buhay medyo mas lumuwag ‘yong sa amin. ‘Yong pang-araw araw namin ay siyempre ‘yong grant ng 4Ps… hindi ko na uutangin meron na kong dinadagdag do’n sa mga pangangailangan nila,” Cristina said.
The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the Philippine government that invests in the health, nutrition, and education of poor eligible households.
“No’ng meron na kaming 4Ps tapos nasali pa sila sa mga scholarship. Pino-problema ko nalang sa kanila yung pamasahe araw-araw, baon araw-araw tapos hindi man sila mga maluho kasi alam nila yung kalagayan sa buhay namin na mahirap lang tapos nagsumikap sila,” Cristina pointed out.
More than just financial support, the 4Ps gave the family something they had not had in a long time – a sense of stability. The children returned to school, determined to change their lives.
Cristina and Allan raised children who understood sacrifice at an early age. Despite the struggles, the children were able to finish their education.
The eldest, Anding, graduated Cum Laude. Another daughter, Antonette, placed 10th in the 2024 Certified Industrial Engineer Examination. These were not just academic achievements but a symbol of dedication and resilience of braving the storms of life.
“Hindi sila sagana sa financial and material aspects pero puno sila ng pagmamahal, respeto at determinasyon. Ginawa din ng mga anak nila na motivation ang kahirapan para magsumikap at makatawid sa kahirapan,” Palo Municipal Link Beverly Joy Abaño told #KPAP.
Today, the Holandas are no longer just recipients of aid but are one of the best examples of what is possible when government assistance meets perseverance.
“Sa DSWD din po maraming maraming salamat po, malaking tulong po sa amin iyon, yung mga nare-receive namin sa 4Ps. Kahit papaano talaga nakatulong talaga sa mga anak ko ‘yan,” Allan happily said.
When asked about their advice to other 4Ps household-beneficiaries, Cristina has this to say: “Sana gamitin din nila sa maayos yung mga grant na natatanggap.”
The Holanda family’s journey is far from over. But they continue to stay motivated to achieve their dreams for a brighter future.
The #KPAP, the DSWD’s award winning online documentary, is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) which are under the Strategic Communications. It is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (AKDL)
