Fifty (50) new beneficiaries from all over the Philippines received P10,000 in cash aid from former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his group’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa program on Wednesday, September 29.
Of the 50 beneficiaries, 30 were solo parents from San Pablo City (Laguna), Silang (Cavite), and Lipa City (Batangas), while the remaining beneficiaries were chosen from the previous Facebook livestream of the program.
Among the featured stories on September 29 was that of Angelita Andrea Magrasya, a solo parent to three children from Marikina City.
Prior to the pandemic, Magrasya used to earn P537 to P1,000 a day as a freelance event organizer for musical bands. With establishments and activities being limited by safety protocols, musical gigs are often limited to one to two events per month.
“Sinabi ko talaga, napakahirap bilang katulad naming mahihirap na hindi napapansin. Kaya kailangan mo talagang dumiskarte nang dumiskarte para mabuhay mo y’ung mga anak mo na umaasa sa ‘yo,” Magrasya said.
(I really said that our situation was difficult because a lot of us who are poor go unnoticed. So you really need to take action so that your children who depend on you can live.)
With the 10K Ayuda, she was able to set up her own sari-sari store and clothing business.
Displaying her shelf of canned goods for sale, Magrasya said because she was able to invest P5,000 in her businesses, she is able to sell more.
“Y’ung limang libo ay ginamit ko pang dagdag puhunan para dito sa aking tindahan at sa pwedeng pagkakitaan at y’ung tatlong libo naman ay itinulong ko sa aking Nanay na may sakit at kinakailangan ng maintenance na gamot. Then y’ung dalawang libo naman na natitira ay tinabi ko siya para sa mga anak ko,” she added.
(I used P5,000 as an additional investment for my store and any other means of income. I used another P3,000 to help my mother who is sick and needs maintenance medication. Then the remaining P2,000 I set aside for my children.)
While the pandemic is tough on everyone, it is overwhelming for solo parents who, aside from worrying about the spread of the virus, also have to take care of their children.
During a time wherein many Filipinos are losing their source of income, the help of a financial stimulus can go a long way.
Cayetano’s livelihood program encourages the flow of money which not only provides a sustainable source of income for families but also helps the economy.
As of September 29, the Sampung Libong Pag-asa Program has helped 11,482 Filipinos.
