From 4Ps Beneficiary To Educator: Inspiring Children To Value Education Amid Difficulties

BURUANGA, Aklan- I started as a simple girl from a family of seven children. I faced challenges. I struggled. I dreamed. I studied. I persevered. And finally, I became a teacher. My story is a story of hope, family, education, opportunity, and perseverance.

I am Ma. Mae Jane M. Abon. I am the daughter of Amelito and Gina. Growing up with four brothers and two sisters was never easy. Life was filled with challenges, sacrifices, and moments when we had to learn how to share not only the things we had, but also our dreams and hopes for the future.

My parents became my first teachers in life. For me, school was not simply a place where I learned lessons from books. It was a place where I learned to dream beyond our circumstances. Every school day was a step toward the life I wanted for myself and, someday, for my family. I knew that my parents were making sacrifices just so we could continue our education. Because of this, I promised myself that I would do my best. I wanted my parents to know that their sacrifices were not in vain.

My journey as a student was not always easy. There were many challenges along the way. Sometimes, there were not enough resources for school needs. There were moments when I had to make do with what was available. There were also times when I had to face difficulties while carrying the responsibilities of being a daughter and a student.

But every challenge taught me to become stronger. I learned that dreams are not achieved simply because we wish for them. Dreams become possible when we continue working for them even when the journey becomes difficult. As a student, I held on tightly to one important dream: I wanted to become a teacher. Why a teacher? Perhaps because I understood the power of education. I knew what it felt like to have dreams while coming from a humble family.

I wanted to become someone who could tell children, “You can do it. Your situation today does not have to determine your future.” I wanted to become the kind of teacher who would see potential even in a child who struggled. I wanted to encourage learners who were afraid to dream. I wanted to become a teacher who could make children believe that education could change their lives. However, reaching that dream requires more than determination. It required financial support.

This is where the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), became an important part of my journey. On November 9, 2010, my family became a beneficiary of 4Ps. Being a beneficiary of 4Ps was a blessing to our family. The assistance we received helped us meet some of our basic needs and, most importantly, helped support our education. For a family with seven children, every assistance mattered. The support of 4Ps became more than financial help. It became an opportunity. It became a bridge between our difficult present and the future we were hoping for.

The road toward becoming a teacher was not easy. There were moments when I felt uncertain about the future. I knew that becoming a professional teacher required dedication, perseverance, and countless sacrifices. But I also knew that every difficult step would bring me closer to the dream I had carried since I was young. Most of all, I remembered the opportunity that 4Ps had given me. I was not going to waste it. Slowly, the dream became a reality.

After years of studying, enduring difficulties, and believing in myself, I finally reached the profession I had always dreamed of. On November 2017, I successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) ang became a public teacher on March 11, 2024 at Bel-is Elementary School. The moment I stepped into a classroom as a teacher, I realized that I had come a very long way. I was no longer just the little girl who dreamed of a better future. I was now a teacher standing in front of children who also had their own dreams.

And I thought of 4Ps, which became one of the instruments that helped me continue my education. I realized that my story was not simply a story about receiving assistance. It was a story about opportunity, perseverance, and responsibility. 4Ps did not simply give me financial support. It helped create an opportunity for me to remain in school and pursue the education that would eventually lead me to my profession.

Today, whenever I look at my pupils, I see a reflection of my younger self. I see children who have dreams. I see children who may be facing challenges at home. I see children who may sometimes doubt themselves. And because I know what it feels like to struggle, I want to remind them that their circumstances should never become the limit of their dreams. As a teacher, I now have the privilege to inspire young learners. I can tell them:

“Never give up.”
“Believe in yourselves.”
“Poverty is not a hindrance to achieving your dreams.”
“Study hard, work hard, and one day, you too will achieve your dreams.”

These words are not merely words for me. They come from experience. I have lived with them. I am one of the living proof that when a child is given an opportunity to study, supported by family, guided by teachers, and determined to succeed, a beautiful future can be created. My journey is a reminder that success does not happen overnight.

Now, that dream is no longer just a dream. It is my reality. But becoming a teacher is not the end of my journey. It is the beginning of a greater responsibility. Now, I want to use my story to inspire others. I want my pupils to understand that where they come from does not determine where they can go. I want them to know that failure is not the opposite of success.

And as I continue my journey as an educator, I carry one promise in my heart: I will continue to teach, inspire, and touch the lives of my learners because once, I was also a child who needed someone to believe in my dreams. From a 4Ps beneficiary to a teacher, this is my testimony that dreams can come true when we never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and never giving up.(Submitted by Buruanga MOO, Aklan POO)
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