For single mom of three Deborah Rico and peanuts vendor Estancia Miranda, the “Bida Kapamilya: One Love, One Family” in Bulacan on Sept. 8 was a welcome day of bonding with family, a chance to ease the burden of paying for their family’s medical needs, and an opportunity to learn how to augment their incomes.
Deborah and Estancia were two of more than eight hundred patients, who, with their families, were treated to free medical checkups, free medicines for their prescriptions, eye checkups, haircuts, beauty services, and various seminars during the “Bida Kapamilya: One Love, One Family” event which featured a full day of public service and entertainment for residents of Malolos, Bulacan.
Deborah, a newly single mom to three children ages 1 to 4, relies on free medical missions to ease the burden of spending for these needs, especially since she can’t work yet and relies on help from her parents. If she’s lucky, the medical checkups and medicines she and her children availed of can be enough to last them a year.
“My husband left us while I was pregnant with my youngest, and has never done his share of supporting them,” said Deborah. “I have not been able to work since then and free medical services like the ones available today are a huge help for me and my children.”
Meanwhile, Estancia, an enterprising peanuts vendor whose husband works as a tricycle driver, was grateful for the free services because it means she can save a little more money for her son’s education. As an entrepreneur, she also enjoyed attending the livelihood seminars held during the event in partnership with TESDA.
“I’m a personal witness that being creative about how you earn can go a long way,” said Estancia. “These seminars are so useful for us because learning how to do things like hairstyling and massage, even just the basics, mean we can use it to earn a living even at home, while taking care of our children.”
Aside from the free medical services and medicines, attendees also participated in various seminars. Barangay officials and members of the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council joined disaster preparedness seminars by Jeff Canoy and the Red Alert team, while local police and barangay members participated in crime prevention talks led by Gus Abelgas and the SOCO team. Parents learned more about child protection and child-rearing from Bantay Bata 163, while enterprising moms participated in livelihood seminars on hairstyling, hilot, and soap making by TESDA.
The TNT Singers serenaded the attendees, while DZMM’s Classroom on Wheels brought activities for children led by the kids of Team YeY. Meanwhile, Star Cinema held a free film screening for inmates at the Malolos City Jail as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.