Baguio City- The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR) here again recognized partner beneficiaries who showed outstanding examples of positive Filipino values during this year’s Regional Search for Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children on August 1, 2019 at the Eurotel Hotel, Baguio City.

For the second year, the Province of Apayao emerged as grand winners for both searches. The family of Rosalie Tactac of Sta. Marcela, Apayao bested other families from other provinces of the region. The family lives and struggles from poverty but they religiously manage to get by with hard work and cooperation.

Rosalie is a barangay health worker and an active member of the community and is known as ‘Inang ng Bayan’ because of her active involvement in community activities. Oscarlito, her husband, is a farmer, a former Barangay Kagawad. Rosalie and Oscarlito are parents to five children. The family manages a small plantation of banana, cassava, and vegetables as their source of livelihood.

Tactac family is also known for being guided by their own definition of FAMILY as Forgiveness, Acceptance, Mediator, Industrious, Love and Yahweh.

The Tactac family is grateful for the Pantawid Pamilya Program because it helped them especially on the needs of their children to school. “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa 4Ps. Dahil sa buwanang Family Development Session (FDS), kami ay naging aktibo sa mga aktibidad ng barangay bilang miyembro ng komunidad (We are thankful for the 4Ps. Because of the monthly FDS we became active to the activities of the barangay as members of the community,” said Oscarlito.

On the other hand, the family of Melchor and Agustina Bantiloc of Baguio City, and Julie Salomie and Bernan Wallang family of Besao, Mountain Province bagged the first and second runner-up, respectively. While Arthur Sr. and Senny Matso Family from Bakun, Benguet claimed the runner-up. Other finalists were the family of Mercy and Danilo Abquiren from Abra, family of Adeline and Robert Ehican from Ifugao, and George and Romana Tiwang Family of Kalinga.

Meanwhile, Christian Kyle Balinan of Sta. Marcela, Apayao was named as the 2019 Pantawid Exemplary Child. Christian, 13 years old and grade 8 consistent honor student of Sta. Marcela National High School aspires to become a successful agricultural engineer someday. Christian shows perseverance and positive outlook in life as he serves a good model to the youth as testified by his teachers and neighbors. He helps his family in maintaining a small farm and raising ducks.

Christian also maintains 100% of attendance to school as one of the criteria for the search aside from being an active student in school, at home and in the community. Christian furthered that the program helped them live comfortably especially their needs in school. He believes that ‘Kapag may sipag at tiyaga, may nilaga’.

Runners-up were Celestine Halen Paddapad of Hungduan, Ifugao and Odessa Alipio of Sabangan, Mt. Province. Other finalists were Gracelyn Carpio of Benguet, Joyce Ann Pinera of Abra, Jairah Mae Gupa-al of Kalinga and  Krezzle Anne Suclad of Baguio City.

The top three winners for both searches were awarded with cash prizes and plaques. All the finalists also received consolation cash prizes and certificates of recognition.

Prior to the regional search, the DSWD’s Provincial and Municipal Operations Offices selected the household and children beneficiaries who represented the different provinces in the Cordillera during the provincial searches where field validation and home visits were conducted.

To ensure the quality of the regional winners, DSWD invited panel of judges from the regional partner agencies and Civil Society Organizations-partners of the Department.  Dr. Anachris Kilakil from the Department of Health-CAR, Mary Ann Bungag of Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative, Ms. Cariza Natalie Ramos of Saint Paul University Philippines Community Development Center Foundation, Inc., and Ms. Maria Elaine Labasan of DSWD-CAR composed the judges.

Now on its seventh year, the search for Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children is conducted annually as a platform to showcase the success stories of family and children beneficiaries who maintain strong family ties, demonstrate positive Filipino values in the household, school, and have a positive impact in the community where they reside.

“The winning families and children will help in the advocacy efforts of the program including promoting the value of health and education in poverty alleviation and fighting against gender-based discrimination and gender-based violence in the families and communities,” DSWD-CAR OIC- Regionaa Director Leo Quintilla said.

The family of Rosalie Tactac and Christian Kyle Balinan will represent the region for the National Huwarang Pamilya and Exemplary Children title slated in November this year. ### Marlo C. Abyado, Jr., Information Officer II