Unconditional love finds its truest form in Nanay Emerieta Caňete — a 63-year-old vendor and housewife in the coastal community of Sitio Batang, Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

She is a devoted mother of five and grandmother to 10, she cares for six of her grandchildren, including one with special needs, while their parents work.

One of Emerieta’s constant struggles is keeping her children and grandchildren actively engaged as Early Grade Learners (EGL).

Her challenges deepened when her husband suffered a mild stroke, leaving her to shoulder more responsibilities in meeting their daily needs. Adding to the weight is the ongoing cost of food supplements for her grandchild with special needs, a necessity that tugs at both her resources and her heart.

“My children’s financial support is not enough for our daily needs; even my husband’s monthly pension is not enough for his maintenance, so I need to do extra work and sell native delicacies for us to survive every day.”

Her journey with the ABC+ Project’s Parent and Community Engagement program began in its third year, when she joined the Neighborhood Parent and Support Group (NPSG) in Barangay Talaban in 2022, bringing her dedication and nurturing spirit into the initiative.

Before, “I have no idea how to manage and assist my grandchildren in their studies; I just take for granted their studies, thinking I cannot help them since I am only a high school graduate, and I don’t have any idea about the new lessons that they are learning,” Emerienta said with regard to the education of her grandchildren.

Making and selling puto, bingka, and but-ong, the native delicacies, was her only hope to provide food for her family. Also, selling of dishwashing liquids through the help of Person with Disability (PWD) Kapinasahe Program for her special grandchild has lessened the burden she feels each day.

It was in the middle of these struggles that she joined the ABC+ Project. Without hesitation, she became part of the NPSG, a decision that would change her perspective and role in the community.

Emerieta used her time with her grandchildren, with her sick husband, and with her special grandchild just to attend and help facilitate all the activities and initiatives of their community when it comes to supporting EGL.

Tightrope

From a simple idea of teaching kids and helping fellow parents, she began actively engaging in Parent and Community Engagement (PCE) activities.

Despite her heavy responsibilities at home — caring for her sick husband, her special grandchild, and her other grandchildren — she made time to attend and help facilitate activities that support EGL. She believes that one day her grandchildren will reap the benefits of the training she has received, which she considers her greatest reward.

“When I joined the seminar in PCE and became an NPSG, at first I was hesitant, but later on, PCE changed me positively and differently. It’s a very big help for me because it widens my mind with the knowledge I gain. It teaches me to manage and balance my time to teach the kids and make a living,” she said.

Her dedication also reached the four walls of their home. “In our house, I learned to dedicate my time to teaching the kids, especially knowing their needs and guiding them in school. Eventually, I have learned to teach my grandchildren the right values. I even dedicate my time to teaching my special grandchild, and I even know how to mingle with teachers at school,” Emerieta added.

The change was not only in her mindset but also in her patience. “Before, once the kids ask for their assignments, I usually get angry, but today I learned to adjust my temper because of the lessons I learned and the guidance I got from the training,” she said.

She added that, “As to my grandchildren before, no one from them got honors from school; they are too lazy to go to school; they are often absent and not motivated to study, but today I can proudly say that they got honors last school year (2022-2023). Before, my special grandchild hardly learned in letters and numbers but now knows to identify letters and solve simple additions; that’s the best feeling and satisfying part as a grandparent, and I am proud of them.”

Enlightened

Her growth as a parent leader extended beyond her own family. With the help of the PCE session guide, Nanay Emerieta and her fellow NPSG members acknowledged their roles as trainers and community leaders. They organized storytelling and feeding initiatives, visiting every sitio to support daycare centers.

Her home also became a small learning space for other children. “Mostly when I teach my grandchildren at home, some children also gather around our house on Saturdays and Sundays. I help them in their studies, and I also remind them to limit the use of gadgets at home. I enjoy teaching them and seeing that they are happy. Overall, I am happy that I became part of the NPSG,” she said.

Through it all, she remained motivated by her love for her family. “My husband is always supportive when I attend seminars and engagements; when I am not present, he takes care of the children. We help and support each other. He knew that the end goal of this was to apply all the learnings I gained to my grandchildren. Of course, share it with my neighbors and with our community.”

Today, Emerieta is an active NPSG member who enjoys contributing to the project’s success. Along with other Barangay Talaban members, she has sought support from their local government unit, coordinating with barangay officials, stakeholders, and teachers to sustain the initiative so more EGLs can benefit.

Emerieta’s story proves that not all superheroes have superpowers. Her struggles in life became her fuel, transforming her from a simple vendor and housewife into a giver of hope.*