THE TRAIL OF GOOD HOPE: The Rowena L. Flores Story “Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances which we know to be desperate.” This is what “Manang Weng” use to tell herself and to other people at times of hopelessness. A woman of great courage and determination; of persistence and diligence; these best describe Mrs. Rowena Lazo Flores, a 34 year-old mother from Bulbulala, Licuan-Baay, Abra. She is a mother of three children and is happily married to Mr. Ben E. Flores. On January 2012, she received her capital seed fund amounting to Six Thousand Pesos (Php6,000.00) in which she used as an additional capital to her existing sari-sari store. After a few months, she had also seen the opportunity of selling culls in their barangay. She then made up her mind to engage in such business in addition to her sari-sari store. “Manang Weng” had seen that little by little, her enterprise is performing well. As her neighbors and other individuals saw the success of her business, they have also established their own enterprises the same as hers, thus, creating intense competition. Seeing the negative effect of this scenario, she had then decided to close her sari-sari store for the mean time. It was only “Manong Ben’s” income from small scale mining which was seasonal that provided them their needs. Although such desperate moments struck her family, “Manang Weng” did not lose hope for she considers them as challenges for her to become tougher. She also believes that if a door closes, another one is waiting to be opened. Such belief of “Manang Weng” became true for when the Cash for Training Project of DSWD and TESDA was introduced, she was one of those lucky participants who were chosen to undergo training on Cosmetology and Wellness Massage. When attending her class, she budgets her money wisely for she knows that every centavo that she spends should always go with something which is useful. At the time of demonstration and assessment, she showed what she had learned and practiced it with diligence thus paving her way to pass the assessment. As she received her certificate and tool kit, “Manang Weng” was then very happy for seeing the fruits of her sacrifices. Right after her graduation, she started to practice and apply what she had learned in TESDA. She travels through the rough and slippery roads in going to other barangays for her to render her service. For four days a week, she uses to practice cosmetology making her way to earn an average daily income of Php500.00. From this activity, “Manang Weng” was able to set aside enough amount, thus reviving her previous enterprise. Due to her busy schedule, there are also times that “Manang Weng” comes home late thus leaving her no choice but to do some household chores like washing the laundry and cleaning the house in the evening. However, the support of her family encourages her a lot in pursuing her endeavors amidst many challenges in life. As a result of the skills acquired from the training the family has now a steady source of income to meet the family needs especially on the education of their children. The whole family is then very grateful about the program for they had seen its great impact not only in the economic aspect but also for their family life. The children learned the value of responsibility as they themselves learned how to do the household chores considering that they are all boys. When “Manang Weng” was asked on what she could give as an advice to her fellow Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and to other people who are also wishing to be successful in their own ways, she humbly answered, “Iti damo, narigat; ngem nu adalem ken nayonan met ti interes, gagar ken anus, saan nga imposible ti pananggawat tayo kadagiti banag nga intay ar-arapaapen.” (Dreams could not be realized instantly, however, as long as one is willing to learn with accompanying perseverance and determination, such dreams will turn into reality.)
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION