In a small town in Pangasinan, government worker Roma Madrigal discovered that real change begins not with what you give people, but with what you build together. That spirit of collective action is at the core of this episode of Pure Bayanihan Conversations.
When we first envisioned this series, our goal was simple: to bring you into the heart of real stories—stories that reveal how hope takes root and grows in the most unexpected places. That’s exactly what’s in store for you today. Roma shows how lasting change is possible when government, nonprofits, and local people join forces, each filling in where the others cannot.
Through Roma’s eyes, we see how true collaboration transforms lives—helping out-of-school youth find their way back to education, and solo parents rebuild their livelihoods with dignity. If you want to understand how real change happens, and how you can be part of it, Roma’s story is where you’ll find the heart of bayanihan in action.
Growing Up in Service
Roma Madrigal’s path to community leadership was shaped early on by her parents—a retired police officer and an army veteran—who instilled in her a deep sense of duty and compassion. In their home, service wasn’t just a job; it was a way of life, practiced quietly in everyday acts and in their commitment to others.
This foundation became Roma’s guiding force as she took on the role of PESO manager in San Quintin, Pangasinan. “I prefer to be the one giving, not receiving,” she shares, her conviction clear. “But for that to happen, we need to help those in poverty become productive too.” It’s this philosophy of empowering others, not just providing for them, that drives her daily work and fuels her partnership with Pure Bayanihan—an effort to bring lasting hope and opportunity to her resilient town.
The Reality of Rural Philippines
San Quintin sits beautifully near the Caraballo Mountain Range, a small town of 33,000 people where everyone knows their neighbors and community spirit runs deep. The landscape is stunning, the people are hardworking, and during fiestas, the town comes alive with celebration. But beneath this picturesque surface lies a harsh economic reality.
“We don’t even have a mall,” Roma explains with a mix of fondness and frustration. “The people here are incredibly hardworking—our farmers are so resilient. When it rains, when typhoons hit, when the land dries up, they keep going. But there’s just no industry here, no local jobs.”
This lack of opportunity creates a painful cycle. Young people leave for Manila, families struggle to make ends meet, and those who can’t find work elsewhere—the elderly, those with limited education, people with physical limitations—are left with few options. It’s a story repeated across countless Filipino communities, but Roma refuses to accept it as inevitable. What her town needed was a way for everyone to move forward together.
Beyond Band-Aid Solutions
As a PESO (Public Employment Service Office) manager, Roma facilitates employment opportunities, organizing job fairs and connecting locals with employers to save them the costly trip to Manila. But she’s learned that employment facilitation only goes so far. “Not everyone is employable,” she admits. “Some are too old, some lack education, others have physical limitations. What do we do with them?”
This is where Roma’s frustration with traditional government programs becomes apparent. While agencies like DSWD provide cash assistance and DOLE offers emergency employment programs, she sees these as temporary fixes. “Most government programs are band-aid solutions,” she explains. “They’re not long-term. People get aid today, but what about tomorrow? We keep giving handouts, but we’re not breaking the cycle.”
When Collaboration Creates Real Change
Empowering Out-of-School Youth Through Livelihood and Education
The transformation in San Quintin began when Roma Madrigal discovered that over 2,100 local youth were out of school—a number that shook her deeply. “These are our future leaders,” she reflected. “When we retire, who will replace us? Young people who never got an education?” Instead of giving in to despair, Roma saw an opportunity. Many of these youth were naturally gifted in technology and design, even without formal schooling.
Working with Pure Bayanihan, Roma and the youth co-created a souvenir and tarpaulin printing shop—an enterprise that harnessed their skills and filled a real market need, especially with elections on the horizon. But the project came with a revolutionary condition: members could only receive their dividend if they were enrolled in school. “Our dream,” Roma explains, “is that someday, those 2,100 out-of-school youth will become in-school youth. We want to break the cycle of poverty through education.” To make this even more impactful, 40% of the group’s income is set aside for an educational fund, helping these young people save up for college tuition so that staying in school becomes a real, reachable goal.
The impact has been immediate and profound. Since the project launched, forty members have received TESDA training, and five have enrolled in college. Roma’s voice softens as she shares a story: “There was one girl whose father died, and to survive, her mother did laundry while she, as the eldest, stopped studying to sell barbecue. Now she’s not selling barbecue anymore—she’s back in school.” Stories like this offer hope that, with the right support, youth can reclaim their futures.
A Grocery Store for Solo Parents: Practical Solutions, Real Dignity
As the printing shop flourished, Roma turned her attention to another group in need—solo parents, whom she calls “living heroes.” These are single mothers and fathers carrying double responsibility, often with little time or resources to spare. When Roma asked what business would actually work for them, their answer was clear and practical: “We don’t have time for complicated businesses. We’re taking care of children and working multiple jobs.” The solution was a community grocery store, selling everyday necessities like noodles, soap, milk, and coffee—items they already needed and bought regularly.
This model allowed members to buy goods at lower prices, saving on household expenses, while also earning a share of the profits. It was more than just a business; it was a self-sustaining system that gave solo parents back both time and dignity. One member, who used to do laundry for three different employers—her hands covered in cuts—now only does laundry once a week and spends her days managing her own store, with more time for her children.
Support for the project has grown quickly. “The local church has also started buying from them just to support the members,” Roma shares with pride. “The community is recognizing and supporting these solo parents. It’s beautiful to see.” Their presence is now felt not just in the neighborhood but beyond—recently, the solo parents even set up a stall at the town trade fair, proudly showcasing their products to a wider audience.
These two projects, born from real needs and shaped by collaboration, are showing San Quintin—and everyone watching—how much is possible when local government, nonprofits, and the community work as one.
The Power of True Partnership
What sets these projects apart is not just the livelihood or the training, but the way they were made possible—through real partnership between the local government and Pure Bayanihan. The municipality stepped in with free space and utilities, while Pure Bayanihan provided the capital, tools, and training. Each side brought what it could offer, and together, they created something neither could have achieved alone.
Roma puts it simply: “The impact is wider and stronger when everyone helps each other. The government office has its resources, the NGO brings in something different—when we combine everything, we can give people something complete.” This spirit of collaboration fills the gaps that government programs alone can’t always reach, turning short-term relief into long-term transformation.
But the partnership doesn’t end there. Both projects are built on the principle of paying it forward: 10% of their earnings go back to the community for service projects. “This all started as a blessing,” Roma says. “Donors came together through Pure Bayanihan to give you this opportunity. When you start earning, you should share with the community too—become part of the solution.”
It’s this cycle—of giving, growing, and giving back—that makes the change sustainable. And it’s a reminder that when government, nonprofits, and the community work as one, the results are not just bigger—they’re truly life-changing.
Something Complete
Roma’s story shows us that lasting change isn’t just about resources or good intentions—it’s about truly knowing a community, building on its strengths, and working hand-in-hand across all sectors. When government, nonprofits, and the people themselves bring their unique gifts to the table, what once seemed impossible becomes real.
As Roma puts it, “The impact is wider and stronger when everyone helps each other. The government has its resources, NGOs bring something different, and when we put it all together, we can give people something complete.” This is what transforms short-term relief into long-term hope.
And the results speak for themselves: young people returning to school, solo parents regaining dignity and time with their families, and a community that now believes in its own power to shape the future. Every peso invested, every hour volunteered, is carefully watched over—because for Roma and her neighbors, this is about more than projects. It’s about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and proving that no one has to be left behind.
Watch the full episode to hear firsthand how collaboration is transforming lives.
More importantly, join the bayanihan by becoming a donor! Your support can help create more sustainable livelihoods—so families can lift themselves out of poverty, children can stay in school, and communities can thrive for generations. Join us in empowering more local heroes and building lasting solutions.
