Bakit kailangan maging matibay ang anak mo? Ang tibay ngayon ay para sa mas matibay nilang bukas. Learn from these 10 Batang Matibay Awardees on how they kept going through difficult times, showing that kapag ikaw ay may tibay, kakayanin mo ang lahat!
Kapag matibay ang isang bata, wala siyang hindi malalagpasan, ngayon at bukas!
The stories of these Batang Matibay awardees are testament to how far a child can go when they have the support of a loving family, and the belief that they can do anything!
1
Nissa Yara: “Binubully kasi nila ako… maiitim daw kami, pangit daw kami. Pinapakita ko sa kanila kung paano ako makipagsabayan, kahit minsan mahirap.”
The 12-year old Tagbanua student dreams of a better life for her family, and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She says, “Dahil sa aking tibay, maaabot ko ang pangarap ko na maging guro para sa aking mga magulang, at para na din maging inspirasyon sa kapwa kong katutubo.”
Tibay tip: Is your child being bullied in school for how they look? Reassure them that they’re more than their looks, and point out their amazing traits—matalino, mabait, matibay na bata!
Elijah Angelo Yanzon
2
Elijah Angelo Yanzon: “”Maski wala na si Papa, alam ko pong hindi pa rin siya nawawala dito po
sa aking puso at isip, kasi palagi niya pa rin akong ginagabayan.”
Elijah experienced loss at a young age, having lost his dad back in 2019. Now living with his grandparents and extended family, he says that he continues to excel in school for his family. “Maski wala na sya… ayaw [kong iniisip] na, “Ah, wala na si papa, susuko na [ako] sa buhay.”he says.
Tibay tip: Elijah says that he always tries to have a positive outlook in life. When things get tough, surround your child with a great support system, like their family and loved ones.
Mark Angelo Sunio
3
Mark Angelo Sunio: “Nawalan man ako ng kamay, hindi ‘yun hadlang para maiahon ko ang pamilya ko sa hirap ng buhay.”
12-year-old Mark has lost his arm to stage 3 cancer. “Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa pagkawala ng braso ko eh,” He says, “Maraming nangaasar sa akin, hindi ko nalang pinapansin. Hindi naman nakakaapekto sa akin.” Mark continues to persevere in his studies, dreaming of helping his family out.
Tibay tip: Most kids in Mark’s situation would have difficulty accepting such a life-changing event. Assuring them that you’re there for them through these changes will make the changes perhaps easier to manage.
Franc Elijah Gene Pan
4
Franc Elijah Gene Pan: May isang bagay parin na hindi nagbabago, ang paniniwala na malalampasan natin ito.”
Franc Elijah’s parents are both in the medical field, with his mom being a medical technologist and his dad a nurse. He also dreams of being a doctor someday.
His parents’ professions take them away from the home, leaving Franc to take care of himself and his younger sibling—it’s a responsibility that he takes on without question. He says, “Na-i-inspire ako sa mga magulang ko dahil nakakatulong sila ng maraming tao. Para sa sakin yung pagtulong sa iba it’s a way of giving back…. Gusto kong maibalik ko din yung mga binigay sa akin na blessings.”
Tibay tip: Teaching children to do chores and help out at home isn’t all about lending a hand, but it also teaches them crucial life skills, helping them grow into independent, responsible adults.
5
Rich Lianne Dano: “Gusto kong mabigyan ang aking mga parents ng matino at napakamagandang buhay. Gusto ko sila bigyan ng mapayapang buhay at masuklian ko ang mga paghihirap at sakripisyo nila.”
Rich dreams of taking computer science in college or becoming a doctor one day. When the pandemic hit, her parents did all they could to keep supporting her dreams. “Mas nagsusumikap ang aking mga magulang para matustusan ang aming mga pangangailangan sa pang araw araw,” she says.
Natural ang pagiging matulungin para kay Rich, kahit sa panahon ng pandemic. She took the initiative to gather unused clothes to make face masks for frontliners to use in Siaragao.
Tibay tip: Kids know no limits when it comes to their dreams—it’s usually the adults who bring them back to “reality”. The next time your child comes to you with their ambitions, go with it—and support their dreams!
6
Audrey Nicole Lorenzo: “Ayaw ko po na maranasan po ng mga bata ‘yong [gutom]. Gusto ko pong ma-inspire po sila [sa mga] ginagawa ko sa komunidad ko po.”
Audrey dreams of taking business administration in college, and she’s starting early with her social enterprise dreams. She started making and selling recycled plant pots for the community and used her profits to create a lugaw community pantry. “Ang inspirasyon ko pa si mama at si papa,” she says, “Gusto ko suklian yung paghihirap nila. Sila ang nagbibigay ng tibay sa akin.”
Tibay tip: Everyone has something to give, no matter how little! Encourage your child to make use of their talents and skills and to share what they want to share with their whole heart.
Ma. Angelica Fresnoza
7
Ma. Angelica Fresnoza: “”Lalo po akong pinagtibay ng pandemyang ito. Dahil lalo po akong nag-aral nang mabuti para po makatapos.”
Angelica’s papa lost his job when the pandemic hit, and her mama would work as much as she could to have money to buy food for them. Even with these hardships, Angelica would persevere and continue to hone her talents in any way she could, continuing with dancing and painting. She says, “Nariyan ang aking mga magulang, na handang magsakripisyo at sumuporta para sa akin. Nandiyan din po ang aking mga guro na nagbigay ng magagandang aral sa akin upang maging matatag sa anumang pagsubok.”
Tibay tip: The pandemic has taught everyone that no matter the hardships in life, there will always be things you can do to make the day brighter. What does your child find fun to do? Playing and other hobbies bring joy to every day.
Mariah Mae Dela Cruz
8
Mariah Mae Dela Cruz: “Kaya kong magtiis, kaya laban lang dahil ako ang batang matibay.”
The eldest of five kids, gumawa ng paraan si Mariah Mae na tumulong sa araw araw nilang gastusin sa bahay. Habang nasa daan, nagpapatulong si Mariah sa kanyang school module. “Paminsan dinadala ko yung module ko at nagpapatulong ako sa nakakatanda sa akin.”
Mariah Mae says that what they lack in material things, they make up in happiness and love. “Patuloy akong nagsusumikap upang makapagtapos ako sa pag-aaral at makamit ko ang aking pangarap. Ang aking pamilya ang nagbibigay tibay sa akin sa araw-araw. Sila ang inspirasyon ko upang maging matatag at matibay.”
Leah Pillado
9
Leah Pillado: “Minsan po nahihirapan… sinasabi ko nalang sa aking sarili na kaya ko ang lahat ng ito.”
It’s not easy for Leah to get to school. It’s far from her home, and when she gets there, she sometimes runs into classmates who would make fun of her. She shares, “Kinukutsya ako sa oras ng recess dahil ang aking baon ay nilagang saging na ipinabaon ng aking ina. Sa halip na mainis, ang ginagawa ko ay magbasa na lang ng susunod na aralin. Gusto kong makapagtapos para sa pagdating ng oras hindi na sila mahirapan.”
Leah’s family is her inspiration to keep going, saying that even if they may not have much material belongings, her parents do everything to provide for what they need.
Tibay tip: You can’t put a price on the love and support of family. Leah and Mariah Mae’s situations are indeed challenging, but they remain hopeful and grow up matibay with the guidance of her family.
Carmela Marie Bohol
10
Carmela Marie Bohol: “Ni minsan hindi ko naisip na magreklamo tungkol sa aking sitwasyon, bagkus ito ang nagsisilbing motibasyon ko lalo ko pang pagiigihan ang pagaaral.”
Carmela Marie walks for two hours to get to school, with her dad putting her on his shoulders kapag maulan at maputik. Nothing will get in her way to go to school, because she knows that a good education is the road to having a better life. She says, “Hindi na sila magsasaka at mangingisda. Makakakain na ng masasarap na wala nang aalalahanin pa na kailangang kumayod ng husto para makaraos sa pang araw-araw.”
Tibay tip: Parents are their children’s first role model. Kapag pinakita mo na meron kang sipag at tibay, makikita ito ng anak mo, at sila rin ay magiging Batang Matibay!
Para makita ang kabuuan ng Bear Brand Batang Matibay Awards, bumisita sa link na ito: https://www.facebook.com/BearBrandPH/videos/916284668987379
ALSO READ: 8 Ways to make sure your child doesn’t grow up pasaway