Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — In a country where many families struggle to make ends meet, there are those like the Palacios.

The mother, Rachel, was left to care for her six children when her husband passed away.

Living in the slums of Manila, she provided for her family by working as a laundrywoman, earning an average income of P500 a week.

But it’s not only her own kids that she looked after.

As a volunteer for a nongovernment organization, Rachel visited depressed areas in Manila, teaching values and reading and writing to street children under five years old.

Her kids, Michel, Chemil and Merielle, also offered their services for free, helping out in peer-to-peer activities that address issues like bullying.

The Palacios’ philanthropy won them a special citation during the first ever Jolllibee Family Values Awards (JFVA) in 2011.

Now on its sixth year, the annual search will recognize six more exemplary Filipino families who have made an impact in their communities.

It chose from 388 qualified Filipino families here and abroad, a 30 percent increase from last year.

Of this number, 15 families have been shortlisted. An 11-member panel of