“Napakalinaw pa rin sa aking balintatanaw ang mga pagkakataong kailangan naming gawin at tapusin nang maaga ang aming asignatura sapagkat ilaw ng lampara lang ang aming gamit (I could still vividly remember when we needed to finish our assignments early because we only have a lamp as source of light),” Christoper Dante “Tope” Bedaña emotionally shared. He added, there were times when he needed to go to school with an empty stomach. “Nais ko rin sanang mangarap noon. Pangarap na maging isang abogado pero hindi ko magawa dahil alam kong kakailanganin namin ng maraming pera at ayaw ko namang lumangoy pa ang aking pamilya sa putikan para sa akin. Sa panahong iyon, nakalublob na kami sa kumunoy ng kahirapan (I also wanted to dream. To aspire of becoming a lawyer but I dared not because I know that it would be needing much money and I no longer want my family to swim in the mud for me. At that time, we were already mined in poverty),” Tope tearfully uttered.
Pierced with Thorns to Shine Like the Stars
“Iniisip ko noon, hindi ko na yata makukulayan ang aking pangarap. Pero pinakinggan ng Diyos ang aking mga panalangin. Ipinagkaloob sa amin ang biyayang mapabilang sa 4Ps. Dito na nagsimulang magkakulay ang aking mundo. Unti-unting nakikita ko na ang pag-asang maaaring magkatotoo ang aking pangarap – ang matulungan at maiahon ang aking pamilya mula sa kinasasadlakan naming kahirapan (I used to think that I may not be able to achieve my dreams. But God heard my prayers. We were blessed to be included in the 4Ps. My dreams started to unfold. Gradually, I have seen hope that my dream would come true – to help and unsheathe my family out of poverty),” Tope narrated. Through the 4Ps, the odds started to be in his favor.
“Sa tulong ng 4Ps, naging ESGP-PA Grantee ako noong 2014. Nakapagtapos ng kursong Bachelor of Elementary Education Specialized in General Curriculum nang walang sakit ng ulo ang aking mga magulang para sa pambayad ng tuition. Masasabi ko ring bukod sa cash grants, maraming aral ang naituro sa akin ng programang ito. Tinuruan ako nitong kumapit sa aking mga pangarap. Mga pangarap na ilang gabing iniiyakan at ipinapanalanging matutupad. (With the help of 4Ps, I became an ESGP-PA Grantee in 2014. I was able to finish Bachelor of Elementary Education Specialized in General Curriculum without burdening my parents to pay my tuition. I can say that apart from cash grants, this program taught me great life lessons. It taught me to hold on to my dreams that I spent many nights crying and praying hard to come true),” Tope humbly relayed with gratitude.
Tope is now living his dreams as a Grade II Teacher at the Laboratory Elementary School Department, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University – Bacnotan Campus, Bacnotan, La Union since 19 August 2022.
Molding Lives beyond Borders
“Tinatanaw kong malaking utang na loob sa programa ang tatlong taong aking ginugol para pagsilbihan ang aking kapwa benepisyaryo bilang Administrative Aide IV sa DSWD Field Office 1 – 4Ps Regional Program Management Office. Alam kong kahit papaano ay may kaunti akong naiambag sa implementasyon ng 4Ps upang matulungan ang mga kapwa ko benepisyaryo (I consider my three-year service with the Program as my way of giving back and means to serve fellow beneficiaries as an Administrative Aide IV at the DSWD Field Office 1 – 4Ps Regional Program Management Office. I know that in my own little way, I have contributed to the 4Ps implementation to help my fellow beneficiaries),” Tope shared.
Tope humbly relayed his arduous journey to his fellow 4Ps graduating beneficiaries during the 4Ps Graduation Ceremony in July 2022. Tope shared the limelight with his mother, Glenda, as they both received the Katibayan ng Pagkilala to recognize their household’s efforts in achieving self-sufficient level of well-being after six years of being a 4Ps household beneficiary. From nothing, Tope rises and promises to soar high. (by: Christoper Dante Bedaña, former Administrative Aide IV with inputs from Jaesem Ryan Gaces, Information Officer / Pantawid Pamilya).
