Home is the starting place of love, hopes and dreams — because home is where the heart is.

Amado “Mhadz” Diwata, a simple family man and private company employee, realized one thing when he finally fulfilled his dream to provide a home for his family: “The feeling is blissful.”

A native of Catanduanes, Mhadz traveled to Manila to fulfill his dreams by finding a decent job. He was able to help his family back in the province, and eventually make his own family after he reconnected with his young love, Noveliza Tabilog, an employee of a cooperative in Quezon City. They now have three kids, who are still in school.

“We are residing in the house of my wife’s parents, an awkward and uncomfortable state for me. My dream is to have my own home, and this will come true when our house in Naic, Cavite, is finally turned over to us this March 2024. The processing was fast. We are very emotional because amid our hardships and trials, we managed to build our own home. Salamat sa Pag-IBIG Fund,” said Mhadz in an online interview on Thursday.

He said acquiring a home through Pag-IBIG financing is now very easy; it only took them more than a year to complete.

“It’s easier, especially the staggered payment (scheme). Mabigat sa pakiramdam ang mangupahan kasi (Renting a home feels heavy because) it will be part of your monthly expenses. But with rent-to-own, the property will soon be part of your assets,” he said.

Mhadz is among more than 16 million members of Pag-IBIG Fund, a number that will continue to grow in the coming years.

Last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Pag-IBIG Fund to make its home mortgage financing more accessible to Filipinos so it would inspire them to work toward having property of their own and address the housing backlog.

“With millions of our countrymen denied the right to decent shelter, the stakes could not be higher. So, our task is clear: To build the greatest number of housing units by any administration,” the marching order said.

It was reported last year that Pag-IBIG Fund’s accomplishments include achieving the highest housing loan at P126.04 billion, aiding more than 96,000 Pag-IBIG Fund members gain new or better homes.

Pag-IBIG posted Short Term Loans amounting to P59.31 billion, covering 2.65 million members and an annual net income of P43.79 billion.

To date, Pag-IBIG has the highest total assets at P925.61 billion and the highest member dividends amounting P48.76 billion.

Pag-IBIG Fund is a government-owned and controlled corporation or GOCC under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development responsible for the administration of the national savings program and affordable shelter financing for Filipinos.