Filomena Sarmiento, a dialysis patient, lives on her own. Because all of her children already have a family of their own, she is left to look after herself, using a wheelchair to get around on her own.
“May mga anak ako pero may mga pamilya na rin sila, hindi na ako pwedeng umasa. Kung magkano lang ang ibigay nila sa akin, tinatanggap ko,” Sarmiento said.
With tears, she told of how faith and prayer enable her to survive each day.
“Araw-araw kong panalangin na sana may gamitin si Lord na instrumento para makatulong sa akin at masuportahan kahit papaano ang pang-dialysis at medicine,” she said.
Sarmiento is one of the more than 600 Filipinos in crisis in Batangas who were able to receive financial aid this week from Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
The recipients, who came from various municipalities and cities in Batangas, were in need of assistance for their medical, burial, and food expenses.
The disbursement of assistance was conducted in coordination with Batangas 2nd District Board Member Wilson Rivera and former Batangas 2nd District Representative Raneo Abu.
Like Sarmiento, Marites Villanueva also expressed gratitude for the assistance she and her family received.
“Malaking tulong itong naibigay sa amin kasi maibibili ko siya ng gamot na pang-maintenance ng aking asawa at ng bigas,” she said.
Villanueva’s husband had suffered a stroke that left half of his body weak. Despite this, he continues to provide for their family as a tricycle driver.
“Kahit maraming pagsubok, nagpapasalamat ako sa araw-araw na blessing na ibinibigay ng Diyos sa amin. Hanggang ngayon, naka-survive pa rin kami,” Villanueva said as she thanked the sibling senators for their assistance.
The two Cayetanos have been partnering up with the DSWD and local government units across the country to extend help to needy Filipinos and vulnerable sectors.
