CORDILLERA, Philippines — Hope often reveals itself in the quiet strength of ordinary people. For Alfred Chullag, a Pag-abot beneficiary,  hope became the light that carried him through years of hardship.

Settled in the mountains of a small rural neighborhood in Barangay Dontogan, Baguio City, Alfred’s story represents one of perseverance. Through every struggle, he remained steadfast—a man whose resilience became the foundation of his family’s success and a better future.

Alfred Chullag was born in Bontoc, Mt. Province but was raised in Zambales where his father worked as a miner at the Akoje Mining Company. He lost his eyesight due to a severe case of measles at the age of three, a condition shared by his wife, Aurelia Balittle, who in 2019 married Alfred after being widowed in 2015.

Due to their underlying conditions, it makes it challenging for them to find a regular job. Alfred has previously completed training in massage therapy, however this skill did not translate into viable work due to his physical frailty and weak hand strength limiting him from performing tasks required in that field.

This has led to Alfred’s frequent busking in the public streets which he did for more than 10 years especially along Session Road regardless of his safety, visual disability, advanced age and the local government’s prohibition against such activities.

His persistence to continue busking stems not from the disregard of the regulations but from the pressing need to provide for his family.

Alfred also lives with step-son, Aurelmar, who continues to pursue his education in accordance with his parent’s wishes despite their difficult circumstances. His days living on the streets living off busking were about to come to an end when on 07 May 2025, he was approached by a team from the Pag-abot Program during a profiling and reach-out activity.

Through the intervention of the Pag-abot’s social workers, Alfred expressed his desire to receive appropriate support to avoid returning to street-based activities and improve his living conditions.

Alfred received financial assistance from  the program amounting to PhP 10,000.00 which signified his start to a more dignified quality of life.

Alfred’s situation improved after the Pag-abot Program reached out and assessed his family’s needs. He received PhP 60,000.00 worth of Livelihood Assistance, which enabled his family to start a rug-making business and eventually expanded into a LPG and water-retailing business. Alfred also received assistance from DSWD’s partners including the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which provided trainings in Basic Bookkeeping, Financial Literacy and Business Registry Assistance and Processing.

These initiatives helped provide the knowledge and skills Alfred and his family need to sustain and expand their livelihood despite their disability and economic situation.

Looking back at the time he spent on the streets to where he is now, Alfred shared: “Pagyanamak iti dagitoy DSWD Pag-abot Program ta tinulungan dak met uray kaskasanu, ada met iti kasla ma-irikrikos met nga pagalalaen ti kwan nu awan pay kurang nga kwan ket inararereg da ken kasta met agyamanak met kadakayo nga social worker nga nang tulong ken dakami ta nu awan kayo ket siguro talaga nga rigak, haan mi amo ti pangalaan mi ti kwa. (I am very thankful for the Pag-abot Program for helping me by providing the means me and my family need to live and for the investment for our business. I am also thankful for the social workers of the Pag-abot Program who helped me. Without them I would still be experiencing hardship because even through busking we were not able to live off of that.)”

Alfred hopes to inspire his fellow beneficiaries still living in the streets. “Dakayo met nga kakadwak nga kwan, haan kayo nga madanagan ta nu bilang man ada met ti mangkwan kadakayo tulungan dakayo dagitoy DSWD Pag-abot Program tapnu nu kasta ket haan tayo unay marigatan. ‘(To my fellow beneficiaries and visually impaired, do not worry because there is always help like the DSWD Pag-abot Program who will make sure that we do have a hard time living.)’”

Alfred Chullag’s journey is a testament that hope can still be found even in the most difficult circumstances. From spending years surviving through busking on the streets despite his disability and old age, he and his family are now slowly building a more stable and dignified life through perseverance, community support, and the assistance provided by the Pag-abot Program.

Further, Alfred and Aurelia are now active members of a Persons with Disabilities organization in the city, demonstrating their commitment to community engagement and support.

Alfred’s story is a reminder that the struggle for daily survival can turn into an opportunity for growth, self-reliance, and renewed purpose, with the right support such as the Pag-abot Program. #Sky P. Aguinaldo, Project Development Officer II