19/09/2025
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ณ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ด๐ด๐น๐ฒ
What was supposed to be a day of relief at Cebu Normal University Balamban Campus turned into a day of exhaustion and confusion for parents and their children. The distribution of cash assistance was meant to help families, yet for many, the process itself became a burden, one that revealed not only gaps in communication but also the painful reality of how hard it is to claim help when you are poor.
The confusion began with the requirements. Parents and guardians arrived early in the morning, only to be told that the format had changed. They now needed documents bearing the logo of their barangay and municipality, along with the signature of their barangay captain. National IDs were declared the only acceptable form of identification, rejecting other government-issued IDs. This forced many to rush back to their barangays, some even traveling across municipalities, just to secure the correct papers. By then, hours had already been lost, and frustration mounted among those who had prepared requirements in advance, only to be told these were invalid.
When asked whether the requirements were disseminated beforehand, Mr. Alvin Caรฑada, staff of Congresswoman Karen Garcia, insisted that there was coordination. โAng guidelines nga gi-forward gikan sa office sa DSWD 7 sa among office, then sa among office magforward sad mi sa skuylahan,โ he said. For him, the chaos that unfolded was โclearly a miscommunication on both sides of Cong. Garciaโs office and the school.โ On the matter of โhousewifeโ being rejected as an occupation, he added simply, โIt was all a miscommunication.โ But for those who had to run back and forth, miscommunication was not just a word, it was a day lost, a fare wasted, and a humiliation endured.
Miss Sarah Jean Rojas, the schoolโs admin staff, clarified that she only forwarded to the students what was sent to her. โAng gisend sa ako nga requirements kay mao rapud akong giforward sa students, ang sayup siguro kay wala lang jud na specify nga butngan diay ug logo nya need nga national ID jud ang gamiton.โ Here lies the heart of the issue: instructions were passed along, but clarity was never ensured. And so, families paid the price.
Students, too, bore the weight of the process. Ms. Aubrey Gale T. Blanco, who arrived at 9 AM, was still in line by 3:30 PM. โGanina kay gubot jud kaayu ang linya but as of now, na hitsura na siya,โ she said. It was her fourth time claiming assistance, and while she admitted last year had also been difficult, she pointed out the problem this time was different. โAng pagrelay sa requirements kay wlaa jud naklaro nya luoy lang ang uban students and parents nga gikan pa sa layo nga nagbalim-balik tungod sa requirements. Hopefully puhon kay tarung na ang pag disseminate sa information.โ
For parents from far-flung areas, the struggle was heavier. One mother, who preferred not to be named, shared that she had to go back to Nangka after her first requirement was rejected for lacking a logo. โAndam naman unta tanan gahapon pero nagbalik mi ug kuha sa requirements kay sayop man to, maoy ingun karun na pagbuntag,โ she said. She suggested that requirements should be finalized a week before distribution. โOne week unta before manghatag kay nahatag na ang final requirements aron dili magkapuliki ang parents ug students.โ For her, it would have been better if students, not parents, were the ones to claim. โMas maayu kung ang students kay ang parents gud naay mga trabaho nya naa poy mga bata hasta mga senior citizens, luoy kaayu kay init pud.โ
By past 3:00 in the afternoon, a new announcement came. Any government-issued ID would now be accepted. Parents rushed back to the school to claim what they had long lined up for. A parent summed up the feeling, โUnsaon man namo, abi namo dili pwede, mao nga naglisod mi og kuha ug sakto nga ID. Dako unta ni nga tabang, pero ngano man gyud nga murag mas lisod pa hinuon makuha.โ
Later, it was also announced that those who had not received their assistance could approach Miss Sarah Jean Rojas to be listed for another schedule. But for many, the damage was already done. What was designed to provide comfort ended up multiplying stress, costs, and fatigue.
This is not to sound ungrateful. Assistance, especially for education, is a lifeline for families who are already carrying so much, parents working long hours, children walking far just to be present, households stretched thin. Yet even with this help, the reality of poverty is relentless. Families spent hours under the sun, traveled long distances, and returned home exhausted, facing the weight of daily struggles that no amount of aid can immediately erase. Every bus fare, every kilometer walked, every hour spent waiting in line is a cost they pay in ways money cannot measure. The poor feel every delay, every confusion, as a burden borne not just in material terms, but in patience, energy, and dignity.
These moments reveal the true resilience of the most vulnerable. Aid can provide relief, yes, but it cannot erase the hardships of survival. Every parent and child who lined up, traveled, and waited represents determination, sacrifice, and hope, the quiet courage of those who refuse to give up even when the path is exhausting. Assistance may not solve all problems, but it matters, deeply, in lives that often have too little. Until systems and processes fully reflect the realities of those they serve, even the most well-intentioned programs must contend with the profound truth: being poor is hard, claiming help is never simple, and every small act of support carries immeasurable significance for those who need it most.
Words by Harry C. Agudo
Artwork by John Lawrence Copas
