Jezrael “Rael’ Alonzo was outside their house while doing his best to finish his school requirements when the lights went off. His mother, Glady, checked on him and said in a calm voice concealing her worries, “Inikkat da metten tay saksakan, nakkong. Iyanos mo latta pay lang tatta nga awan pay bukod tayo a kuryente. Addan to maawat tayo aggapo 4Ps ta isun to pagkabit tayo kuryente. (They already unplugged our connection, son. Please bear with it now that we do not have our own electricity yet. We will receive something from 4Ps and we will use that to apply for electric connection).” While his mom went back to their house, he silently said, “Nagrigat ti biag. Nu napanglaw ka, nasipnget ti lubong para kenka (Life is very challenging. If you are poor, the world seems dark for you).” He was holding his tears while trying to finish his school requirements with a small ray of light from the moon and neighboring lights.
“Makikurkuryente kami laeng idiay karrubami ta kaar-aramid laeng diay balaymi ket awan kwarta ni Mama nga agpakabit kuryente. Kasanok ngata malpas dagitoy requirements ko ket awan metten silaw? (We tapped electricity to our neighbor because our house was under construction and Mama could not afford to apply for power connection to the line. How can I finish my requirements without any light?),” Rael emotionally shared.
This situation made Rael promise to himself, hanging on to whatever strength is left of him bearing in mind the words of his mother, “Rael, iyagawaam ken ilalaing mo ti agadal, ta saan mon ton a mapadasan ti kastoy (Rael, work hard and study hard, so that you will never experience anything like this again).”
He shared, from that night on, every time I encounter challenges and felt like giving up, I always remember that moment, when it was almost unbearable, while struggling and fighting for my dreams using a flashlight. It always echoes in me, “Uray awanan kami, masapul ko ti agballigi (Though we have nothing, I need to succeed).”
He held his head high upon sharing that 4Ps played a crucial role in helping him stay on track. With so much hope and perseverance, his family was able to support his education through the cash grants from 4Ps. According to him, 4Ps did not just provide them monetary assistance but more so, hope and a guiding light – a chance to fight the fangs of poverty.
Rael has always strongly believed that education paved their way out of hardship and poverty. He shared that 4Ps made sure that he could continue pursuing his dreams and push forward, even in the darkest days in their life as a family.
He is now living his dream and flourishing in his chosen field as a newly hired Instructor in August 2024 at the University of the Philippines in his Alma Matter. Rael graduated as College Valedictorian and Magna Cum Laude with the degree Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting.
With this success, Rael cannot help to look back on his painful experiences that made him a better person which inspired him to derive his own definition of 4Ps – Perseverance, Panagyaman (Gratitude), Power of Education, and Pag-asa (Hope). “Even in the most difficult moments, we can find strength, hope, and the drive to succeed,” Rael uttered.
After 12 years in the program, Rael proudly represented his family during the 4Ps Graduation Ceremony, as they received recognition from DSWD Field Office 1 – Ilocos Region. Alonzo Family led the 55 graduated/exited household beneficiaries in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on September 2024. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, 4Ps Information Officer)
