Allexia P. Decena, 12, is the eldest daughter of Mr. Hernando and Ms. Juvy Decena. She is the second of four siblings of the household. The family resides in the apartment unit in Dau Home-site, Dau, Mabalacat City,   Pampanga. The Decena family opted to live for the past six years in 3m x 7m apartment unit due to the limited income earned by Mr. Decena, who works as Factory Worker with the minimum wage for ten years in a garment manufacturing company in Clark, Pampanga. While Ms. Juvy Decena, the grantee is a stay at-home mother who focuses on taking care of  their four children. 

The Decena family has been a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) for seven years now. According to Ms. Decena, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program   has been significant in augmenting to their household’s financial needs for several years, especially with the children’s education, health and other daily living expenses.

Among the children of Mr. and Ms. Decena, their 12-year-old daughter Allexia was the one who stood out in terms of academic prowess. She is now a Grade 7 student, her achievements over the years in primary school have solidified this as observed by her parents. 

She is the class valedictorian of her batch in primary education last school year, a consistent honor student. She is a constant pick for the academic competitions of her former school – Dau Home, site Elementary School and the same with her current school. She is now enrolled in Jose C. Feliciano College, private school in Dau, Mabalacat City. More recently, she has  named as one of the awardees of With Honor (Top 1) in her class for the first quarter of this academic year 2019-2020 as a Grade 7 student, bagging several academic awards.

Excellent, loving, determined, responsible and persistent, were the descriptions given to Allexia by her class adviser and her teachers at the Jose C. Feliciano College for this academic year, 2019-2020. She is also loved by her classmates as she exhibits concern and constantly helps them. 

Furthermore, she is described to be a loving daughter to her parents, and that she is one of a kind student at her age as she manifests and strives to reach her dreams. She is one epitome of underprivileged student, who expresses great courage and perseverance to reach her life-goals. With the actual observation and judgment of her class adviser, Allexia is perceived to become successful in life in the future.

Allexia can be described as a little bit of a timid child, she never bragged or boasted about her academic accomplishments, and have the sense of humility just exudes from her personality. Her love toward her family also shows with her harmonious relationship with her parents and siblings. 

When asked about her motivation in her academic persistence, she shared that she wants to achieve her dream of becoming a teacher someday. She stated that becoming a teacher would enable her to help others by sharing her knowledge and talent to children like herself. Another reason that keeps her motivated is to help her family to improve their quality of life, she mentioned that she wishes to have a home of their own that would provide comfort and shelter for their whole family in the future.

The academic awards and the non-academic achievements of Allexia for her age are truly deemed extraordinary, but, what makes her even more special is her obvious, well guided upbringing in in this world. She is described as an obedient and kind-hearted child from the time, both her parents can remember. They added that Allexia has not caused any problem in their household growing up, instead, she gave her family utmost pride and happiness by bringing home more than enough accomplishments as a student of her age. Allexia and her family are living the proof that no matter the hardship life present to us, all could be turned into success when the family works with love, humility and perseverance.

Story by Karlo L. Katipunan

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