God is gracious and knows what we need, so He is the one who opens doors of opportunity to sustain us. He let me experience His abundant grace when I was chosen as one of the beneficiaries of 4Ps, a program that supported my studies and became a beacon of hope for my family.

 

I was once a beneficiary of 4Ps from elementary to secondary. I can say that being chosen as a beneficiary made a huge difference in our family—it became a constant support in my studies. In spite of not having a stable job, with the help of this program, my parents were able to provide me with necessities such as vitamins and medicines for my health, school supplies for my schooling, and other financial support.

 

This program played a huge role for me to continue and finish my studies until high school. Like the other testimonies of people from a simple family, our family struggled financially. Just like the others, we didn’t have a fancy life; my parents struggled to make ends meet. Being aware of the situation of our family, even when I was a kid, I learned to be content with what my parents could offer. I can still remember that we seldom bought new notebooks before because we wanted to save our money for other important things. Instead of buying new notebooks every school year, my father taught me to recycle my old notebooks and make them new for me to use for the school year. There were times when my parents would borrow money from other people just so I could join activities in our school that had grade incentives. Being supportive parents, they would go to such lengths and make a lot of sacrifices to provide what I needed.

 

Indeed, for a simple family like us, struggling financially wasn’t easy, but through God’s grace, we were able to survive. My parents taught me that God will always provide and that He knows what we need. There is nothing impossible for Him, because He makes the impossible possible. As my parents clung to God’s promises, I learned to hold on to this—no matter how much I lack something, be it financially, in knowledge, or in understanding, He is a gracious God who is true to His promises and the God who will sustain me in every aspect of my life.

 

Being born into a simple family and being aware of how our family struggles financially, I feel motivated to do well in my studies and chase my dreams. My family and life experiences became my motivation to strive harder so that I can be a help to our family. Just as I want to achieve my goals in life, I want our family to have a better life even more. There were times when I lost my motivation to study due to challenges that I encountered, but I thought of the people who are my source of inspiration and became my motivation to move forward. My parents always remind me that they don’t have riches or land that I can inherit from them, but the only thing they could offer is education. So, despite the hardships and trials I face in life, I continue to persevere. I am blessed that God never leaves my side. Through His grace, He aligned things so that I could be in the right place.

 

To all the youth who are facing different trials and challenges in your studies—do not give up. You may rest when you’re tired, but do not quit. Quitting should not be an option—when you feel like you’re about to give up, remember all the reasons why you want to finish your degree. Don’t worry, you are not alone in your journey—the Lord has your back. You might not notice it, but God is working in silence. He is aligning things to happen according to His will just to sustain you. All your efforts will pay off someday—all the tears, the effort, and the time you spent will be rewarded. All your struggles today will be your greatest testimony someday, so continue to persevere.

 

To the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), thank you for implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Just as you helped our family by providing financial support, especially for my studies, may you continue to reach Filipino families in need by providing them with financial support. I believe that the more Filipino families you reach, the more chances the youth will have to access quality education. The more youth who have access to education, the more professionals our society can have, which will help make our country a better place. Again, to the DSWD and 4Ps, thank you very much— I am grateful to have once been one of your beneficiaries. May God continue to bless you in all possible ways! ##