Thanks to GMA Network’s hit morning TV show Unang Hirit (UH), a family’s dream has come true: to live in a brand-new house among the living.

Nelly Baladad has been sharing space with the dead for two decades. She lives with her family in a shanty atop a stack of graves inside Pasay City’s public cemetery.

Thus, when UH announced its “Bagong Buhay, Bagong Bahay, Year 4,” Nelly’s husband encouraged her to send an entry. Little did Nelly know when she sent her letter to Unang Hirit that her story would be chosen from thousands of other entries.

Last April 3, UH surprised Nelly’s family with a brand-new home.

HOUSE ON TOP OF A TOMB

Amongst the cemented tombs in the cemetery stands the Baladad family’s home made from scraps of wood and tarpaulin. Nelly’s husband, Rino, works as a janitor that pays him minimum wage. Because Rino’s income can barely support their needs, Nelly works as a grave cleaner to help provide for their two children, especially since their eldest son has cerebral palsy.

The family of four sleeps in a cramped space that does not have a bathroom and running water. They use the deep well and the public restroom inside the cemetery.

Adding to their already challenging lives is the need to demolish their house yearly. Every November, when people flock to the cemetery to commemorate All Souls Day, they would tear down their house and find shelter in nearby mausoleums whose owners are kind enough to let them stay.

THE LIFE-CHANGING ANNOUNCEMENT

The Baladad family was told that they were among the contest finalists and that they were going to be interviewed that morning. Unknown to them, they were in for a life-changing surprise.

UH hosts Susan Enriquez and Shaira Diaz interviewed them about their hardships before announcing that they were not just a finalist, but the actual winners of the brand-new house and lot!

“Sobrang saya ko po. Hindi ko po talaga alam kung anong nararamdaman ko ngayon,” says Nelly in between tears.

Unang Hirit hosts also surprised the family with various other gifts such as groceries, supplies for Nelly’s son Ranier, bicycle for her husband Rino, and a small start-up meat products business.

THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES

This is the fourth time that UH has given away a brand-new house for its “Bagong Buhay, Bagong Bahay” promo.

“Mixed emotions lagi kapag nagbibigay ng award sa mga kapus-palad na kababayan natin. Sila kasi ang mga taong tila ba kasama sa naging kapalaran ang kahirapan ng buhay kaya tanging panalangin ang pinanghahawakan. At sa sandaling nakamit nila ang mga pangarap sa pamamagitan ng Unang Hirit, alam mong dininig ng Diyos ang kanilang panalangin” says Susan, echoing the sentiment of the whole UH barkada.

The promo was launched last December 2022 and since then, thousands of entries were sent in, among them stories about the challenges that families faced after surviving disasters including typhoons, floods, and fires. Each of these was thoroughly read and evaluated by the UH team under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry or DTI.

For more information about GMA Network, visit www.gmanetwork.com.