February 25, 2025 – “Dumaranas ka man ng dilim, meron pa ring liwanag na masisilayan.”

The 2020 pandemic had been a big blow to 32-year-old Cherry Lyn Abejoro, especially for the small family she was building at that time.

Her husband, Jocel, lost his job as a construction worker, so they resorted to relying almost everything on their relatives and acquaintances.

“Wala kaming sariling bahay, at nakikitira lang kami sa aking lola. Dumarating rin sa puntong wala kaming makain dahil sa kakapusan sa pera,” shared Cherry, a resident of Brgy. Banay Banay in Padre Garcia, Batangas.

However, no matter how hopeless their situation was, Cherry still found the ‘light’ to guide their family to move forward.

Start of a change

In 2022, Jocel fortunately was able to secure a new job as a merchandiser.

“Kahit papaano, maayos ang trabaho ng aking asawa ko at nakakapagbayad na kami ng utang,” shared Cherry.

This gave Cherry hope that somehow, it is not too late yet for their small family to build the good future they have been dreaming of.

A year later, they became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The 4Ps is one of the poverty alleviation programs of the national government that invests in the education and health of children through the provision of conditional cash grants and family development interventions to qualified poor families.

Cherry acknowledges that the financial assistance from the 4Ps have greatly helped with their family’s finances, especially for their food and the educational needs of their two children.

As such, she was able to save some of her husband’s salary and enabled her to start a small store at home.

“Nagsimula ako sa pagtitinda ng shampoo at sabon, nakap’westo lang ako sa k’warto namin,” shared Cherry.

Even though her store has very limited stocks, Cherry was strict with the finances.

In managing her small store, she made sure to apply what she learned from the monthly family development sessions from the 4Ps, especially in handling their finances and saving for the rainy days.

“Tiyagaan lang po talaga sa tindahan. Ilang buwan na labas-pasok lang ang mga paninda mula sa kwarto hanggang sa terrace dahil wala kaming p’westo,” she shared.

Slowly standing on their own

From the makeshift store in their bedroom, Cherry believes that they have come a long way already.

“Dahil po sa pag-iipon namin, nakapagpatayo kami ng maliit na tindahan. Mayroon na kaming maayos na p’westo,” happily shared Cherry.

They also bought two computer sets that they rent out for added income.

“Sa ngayon ay nakakaraos na kami sa araw-araw. Masaya sa pakiramdam lalo at nakakatulong na ako sa aking asawa sa paghahanap-buhay,” she shared.

Cherry is even prouder that despite being a new beneficiary of the 4Ps, she has already learned a lot along the way, especially on valuing the help of the government without relying solely on it.

“Wala po kaming sinayang na tulong mula sa 4Ps. Lahat po ay aming pinahalagahan at patuloy na pinauunlad pa,” she shared.

These days, Cherry and her husband are more determined and are focused on working hard and saving enough money for the future of their two children–one is in Grade 10 and the other is in kindergarten.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa 4Ps dahil binigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makabangon at makapagsimula ng bagong buhay,” shared Cherry. [with reports from BACapuno]