In her testimonial, graduating beneficiary, Ms. Connie Torralba, from Brgy. San Aurelio 2nd , Balungao, Pangasinan uttered, “Hindi dapat tayo 4Ps forever. Kailangang ipakita natin sa iba na umaangat tayo sa buhay. Walang mananatiling mahirap dahil ang 4Ps ang naging kaagapay natin para tumawid sa kaunlaran. Mananatili ang 4Ps sa puso ko dahil ito ang nagbigay lakas sa aking pamilya para talikuran ang kahirapan. Ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin ang aking pagiging Parent Leader para suportahan ang aking mga miyembro. (We should not remain a 4Ps beneficiary forever. We should show others that our quality of life is improving. No one will remain poor because 4Ps served as our companion towards development. 4Ps will remain in my heart because it gave strength to my family to leave poverty behind. I will still continue being a Parent Leader to support my group members).”
Sharing is caring
“Kusang loob po akong pumirma ng waiver form kasi alam kong kaya ko na pong buhayin ang aking pamilya at marami pang mas nangangailangan ng tulong mula sa 4Ps. Kung puwede lang sana na ako na mismo ang magbigay ng naiwan kong slot sa kanila. Nagtapos man ako sa programa, masaya pa rin sa pakiramdam dahil may isang pamilyang aangat na rin ang buhay (I voluntarily signed the waiver form because I can already support my family now and there are still others who need 4Ps more than I. If only I myself can give my slot, I will outright give it to them. Though I already graduated from the program, I still feel great because there will be one family whose life will be changed for the better),” Connie relayed.
Solo but not alone
As a solo parent, left by her husband, it was really a whirlwind for Connie to support her children alone. Good thing, her two eldest children are now already working and earning an income. “Simula noong naging benepisyaryo kami ng 4Ps noong 2013, sa pag-aaral ng mga anak ko talagang grabe, laking tulong talaga yung mga natanggap naming benepisyo (Since we became 4Ps beneficiary in 2013, the benefits we received were really a big help to us),” Connie testified.
Connie proudly shared that her two eldest daughters are now holding managerial positions in a private company. While her third child is a part time private teacher after successfully passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers, who was once a grantee of the Expanded Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA). Acknowledging the importance of education, Connie continues to invest in her two youngest children who are currently in college and senior high school.
Bicycle, that is how Connie likened her eight-year 4Ps journey. In order to maintain balance, keep going. With the life challenges they hurdled, Connie still stands firm with the ideals she learned from 4Ps and chooses to hold on with the hope of achieving progress by keeping her eyes on the road not only for herself but also for her children and co-beneficiaries. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Information Officer II / Pantawid Pamilya)
