Fifty (50) new 10K Ayuda beneficiaries were announced during the October 25, 2021 episode of Sampung Libong Pag-asa spearheaded by former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Of this number, 30 were pre-selected senior citizen beneficiaries from Sara (Iloilo), Silay (Negros Occidental), and Mandaue City (Cebu).
The remaining 20 were selected from the comments section of the program’s livestream on Cayetano’s official Facebook page. This brought the total number of beneficiaries to 12,712 since the program started in May.
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program gives P10,000 in financial assistance to select individuals affected by the pandemic.
Cayetano spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under the Bayanihan 3.
The proposed measure was filed in February and was consolidated into Bayanihan 3, but the provision of P10,000 for every family was not adopted.
*A farmer’s story of hope*
Monday’s episode featured the story of Ruben Del Castillo Camangyanan, a farmer from Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Prior to the pandemic, he was earning P40,000-P50,000 per harvest by farming rice and vegetables. He also received money from his three children who are all employed.
However, his income decreased drastically because of Covid and recent calamities.
On July 16, 2021, he was announced as a 10K beneficiary. Camangyanan utilized the 10K Ayuda to hire manpower and purchase fertilizer for his rice and vegetables.
“Ang P10,000 ay nagamit ko lahat sa pagpapatanim ng palay ko, yung labor nakabayad naman ako, hindi na ako nagkautang. Malaking tulong ang nabigay sa akin, yung palay naman kung sasakaling suwertehin baka sakaling mabenta namin ng maayos na presyo,” he said.
(I used P10,000 to plant rice. I paid for the labor, and I did not have to borrow money from other people. I was given a lot of help, and if I’m lucky, we might be able to sell it at a good price.)
Moving forward, Camangyanan hopes that he will be able to maintain the quality of his farming as there are always unforeseen factors like the weather.
“Mamakuha man lang ng pagkain kami masaya na at kumita ng kaunti oka na yun sa amin para sa pamilya. Alam niyo naman pagka dinaanan ka ng bagyo masisira kahit maganda tanim mo, wala na. Pag nasira ang palay mo bababa ang presyo,” he said.
(If we can at least get food and earn a little, we’re happy, that’s enough for us in the family. You know that when a typhoon hits you, even if your crops are good, there will be no more damage to your rice and the price will go down.)
He also expressed his gratitude for the financial stimulus and encouraged others to do the same.
“Pasalamat ka sa mga biyayang natatanggap mo araw araw sa gabi bago ka matulog magdadasal ka ulit para sa kaligtasan ng pamilya na dapat magising ka ng malusog parin. Ako’y nagpapasalamat unang una sa Panginoon, pamilya ko na mga sumusuporta at kay Congressman Peter Cayetano,” he said.
(Be thankful for the blessings you receive every day at night before you go to bed. Pray for the safety of the family that you will wake up still healthy. I thank the Lord, my family, and Congressman Peter Cayetano.)
