Nurtured by 4Ps hope: A journey earning the police badge

Testimony of Josallie Ann Z. Esto

Former 4Ps household beneficiary

LIBACAO, Aklan (Pagbabago) – This is the story of my struggle, hope, and resilience. My name is Josallie Ann Z. I am 26 years old, single, and I come from the mountainous municipality of Libacao in the province of Aklan. I am the second child of the four siblings, daughter of Reynaldo and Marilyn.

I am proud to share my story that despite our struggles; I graduated from high school as one of the top students of my class in the school year 2018-2019. I went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Criminology, and graduated on June 5, 2023 with flying colors. Then, I passed the Criminologist Licensure Examination on March 6, 2024, and recently joined the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Let me start my story about our situation before. My father works as a tricycle driver, waking up early and working long hours just to provide for our family, while my mother stays at home to care for us and manage our daily needs. ‎

There were times when my father continued to drive his tricycle from day until late at night, because what he earned during the day was simply not enough-especially with one of my siblings already in college. He sacrificed his rest and pushed himself to exhaustion, all for the sake of our education and future. ‎

We experienced moments when we had nothing on the table but a single can of sardines, sometimes cassava leaves cooked in coconut milk and the three of us would share it as our only meal. There were also times when we had no money for school activities, projects, or contributions and we felt the weight of our parents’ struggles in every small expense. Through these hardships, we learned early on the meaning of patience, sacrifice, and resilience.

‎Becoming a 4Ps beneficiary became a turning point in our lives. The program helped ease our burdens, especially in supporting our education and health needs. Through the financial assistance, we were able to continue our schooling and buy basic school supplies, more importantly, 4Ps gave our family hope, motivation, and the belief that a better future is possible. ‎

Now that I am already serving the PNP, I am the proudest one. Because of 4Ps, my parents felt supported and encouraged to keep striving for us. It inspired me to take my studies seriously, dream bigger, and never give up, no matter the challenges. Today, I am deeply grateful for the program and for the people behind it. 4Ps did not just help us survive, it gave us the chance to believe in ourselves and the life we could build.

The 4Ps has given many families not only support, but also the strength to keep moving forward. This testimony comes from a 4Ps beneficiary who shared a personal journey of hardship turned into hope, a reminder that with help and determination, a better future is possible.‎ (Submitted by: MOO Libacao, Aklan POO)