As a child, Ara-Belle Anzures, now 23, used to worry about going to school.

“Naaalala ko pa, elementarya pa lamang kami noon, pero halos maiyak na ako sa kaba at pangamba. Iniisip ko kung paano kami papasok sa esk’welahan nang walang gamit man lang,” shared Ara-Belle, a resident of Brgy. Tumalim in Nasugbu, Batangas.

For a young girl like her, going to school without supplies was a big deal at that time.

As such, the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to their family to respond to this problem has been a big deal for her as well.

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.

“Buong puso naming ipinagmamalaki na kaming magkakapatid ay produkto ng 4Ps. Bilang isang guro na sa ngayon, hangad kong magbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga kabataan na pareho ang naging karanasan sa amin,” she shared.

Ara-Belle is one of the 929 former child-beneficiaries of the 4Ps in the CALABARZON Region who passed the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers last September 2024.

A big help for their school needs

Ara-Belle narrated that though his father worked hard as a jeepney driver, most of his income was just enough to buy their food for a day. As such, they would often encounter problems in school such as buying notebooks, pencils, uniforms, and most especially, their daily allowance.

“Maraming beses na nag-aalala kami kung kakayanin pa naming magpatuloy,” shared Ara-Belle.

However, despite difficulties such as these, Ara-Belle and her two other siblings continued to study hard. According to her, their parents always reminded them to focus on their studies for their future.

When they became a beneficiary of the 4Ps in 2012, the young Ara-Belle found new hope.

“Noon, isang araw bago ang pasukan, wala pa kaming mga gamit sa school. Linggo iyon pero natanggap namin ang cash grant mula sa 4Ps. Agad kaming namili ng aming mga gamit tulad ng papel at lapis,” she shared.

For Ara-Belle, this experience has since made her value 4Ps as a support of the government to children like her.

“Ang 4Ps ay hindi lamang programa na nagbigay ng pinansyal na suporta, ito rin ay nagbigay sa amin ng pag-asa. Hindi lamang mga gamit sa school ang naibigay nito sa amin, nagbigay rin ito sa amin ng lakas ng loob na magpatuloy,” she shared.

Giving back to the government

“Sa bawat sentimong natanggap namin mula sa 4Ps, tiniyak namin na magagamit ito nang maayos at makabuluhan,” shared Ara-Belle, who added that her parents continued working hard to support all their other needs.

For Ara-Belle and her two siblings, they all made sure to study hard.

“Ang kuya ko ay isang lisensyadong mechanical engineer, ako naman ay lisensyadong guro, at ang bunso namin ay nasa ikalawang taon sa kursong Accountancy,” she shared.

Ara-Belle now works as a college lecturer in Batangas State University. Both she and her brother are able to contribute to their household’s finances.

As a proud 4Ps child-beneficiary, Ara-Belle is confident about her family’s future. She also plans to use her profession to inspire others.
For her, her story is proof that getting a diploma is not impossible, especially for families like hers who use every opportunity to their advantage.# [Based on the story written by Ara-Belle Anzures and report submitted by JMBrucal]