The Medina family started in Moncada, Tarlac with practically nothing.

The family used to live in Manila where they struggled to make both ends meet.

Couple Rodolfo and Marina did not have regular jobs.

“Kaya ako nananahi, minsan sa gabi, nakikilaba. Minsan humihingi pa ako ng pagkain dito (sa Moncada), ng bigas, ganun,” Marina told the Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago (#KPAP), an award-winning online documentary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as she narrated their family’s struggles in life.

This proved difficult as they have three children who they were trying to send to school. When things got worse as they were even paying monthly rent, Marina said they heeded the advice of her mom to relocate to Moncada, Tarlac.

Without a house of their own, the family left Manila and stayed with Marina’s mom in Tolega Sur, Moncada, Tarlac in 2020.

Although life was still hard as they had no regular employment or livelihood, 2020 became a turning point for the struggling family.

“Nakikibilad ako ng palay nun, tapos may nagsabi, halika pa interview tayo sa barangay hall, may dumating na taga-Department of Social Welfare and Development,” Marina recalled.

Marina said she told the DSWD regional staff about their situation, as they had practically nothing with only her mom supporting them.

As they were in dire need of assistance, they became beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and this started their journey to a better life.

“Nun nasubukan naming mag-pay out, tuwang-tuwa kami. Yung una kong pay-out, P1,600 yun. Habang tumatagal, malaki na ang naitutulong sa amin,” Marina said.

She added: “Ang 4Ps kung gagamitin ng tama, makakatulong talaga. Yung ibang pamilya nga nakabili pa ng baka.”

Marina also said she is not ashamed of telling that her family was a 4Ps beneficiary, as they indeed started out poor.

“Nakatulong talaga ng malaki ang 4Ps. Lalo na nagbigay sila ng baboy at saka manok, doon na nag-umpisa talaga yung buhay namin na nakaluwag,” the mother of three said.

“Maganda at nakuha kami sa 4Ps at malaking naitulong ito sa amin. Kasi ang pay-out non eh every three months, makukuha mo, malaking bagay ito at naitutustos sa pag aaral ng aking mga anak,” Rodolfo added.

Aside from the cash subsidy, Marina is also thankful to the required monthly family development sessions (FDS) they attended which helped them manage their family, taught them leadership and other life skills, and provided livelihood training.

With her hard work, Marina became a 4Ps parent leader, which was a testament to her dedication to the program and in helping her fellow beneficiaries as well.

Their eldest child, Lyka, a former 4Ps monitored child, graduated Cum Laude and was the top in their batch. Lyka has since passed the licensure exam for teachers and is now working and helping the family achieve their dreams.

Lyka told KPAP that “noong dumating po ang 4Ps, high school po ako non naalala ko. Natulungan yan po kami lalo na sa pag aaral ko. Dahil nga po sa monitored child ako ng 4Ps, lagi po nababantayan yong pag-aaral ko.”

After graduating from high school, she was able to get a full scholarship which was also granted because she was a 4Ps monitored child.

“Kahit na yung pasasalamat pakiramdam ko kulang pa po, sa lahat ng binigay sa amin ng gobyerno, ng 4Ps, dahil ilang taon kaming ginabayan, hindi lang sa pag aaral ko kundi sa pang araw araw namin , kaya lubos po ang pasasalamat ko sa lahat ng bumuo ng programang ito para matulungan kami na kahit paano ay makaangat sa buhay po, “Lyka added.

The former 4Ps monitored child also advised all 4Ps children to take advantage of this opportunity, study hard, and use the program as a stepping stone to fulfill their dreams.

Her father, Rodolfo, likewise expressed his gratitude and hoped that the program will continue so that it can help more families who are struggling in life.

The DSWD’s Municipal Action Team Leader in Moncada, Ringgo Tipay, said that the Medina family is among those who graduated from the 4Ps program who had achieved notable transformation in their lives.

“Napakagandang sabihin po talaga na mayroong pagbabago na naranasan ang family from the start na talagang mahirap po yung buhay nila, unti-unting umasenso na po yung family. Napakagandang halimbawa ng Medina family na sila po ay isang success na bunga ng ating programa,” Team Leader Tipay said.

To help the 4Ps families graduating from the program, Moncada Mayor Estelita Aquino said the municipality has an agreement with the graduates making them priorities in their programs and services. This is to help sustain the gains of the families through the 4Ps.

Indeed, the Medina family has gone a long way from the struggling family that went home to Moncada in 2020.

Through hard work and proper management of resources, the family now has their own home and other investments.

Marina also became a model of a community member empowered through the FDS. From a parent leader, Marina gained the trust of the community and was elected as barangay chairperson.

As Lyka shared her gratitude, she also expressed her hopes that the others will not waste the chance given by the government to step toward a successful life.

“Hindi ko naman po sinasabing successful na ako, kasi alam ko pong malayo pa po ako, pero alam ko pong nakahakbang na ako,” Lyka proudly said.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act No. 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education and empowers parents to be responsible stewards of their family.

The #KPAP is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS), which are under the Strategic Communications group. It is hosted by TMS Director Aldrine Fermin and is posted every Tuesday on the DSWD’s official Facebook page. (GDVF)