𝟒𝐏𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (#𝟐) | “𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐨𝐤: 𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥, 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧”

 𝟒𝐏𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 (#𝟐) | “𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐨𝐤: 𝐊𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥, 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐨𝐧”

“Marami-rami na rin akong pinagdaanan, kami ng aking mga kapamilya. Sa loob ng higit isang dekada ng pagiging benepisyaryo ng 4Ps, masasabi kong napakalaking tulong ito kung kaya’t nakaraos kami hanggang sa araw na ito. Hindi mabilang na problema at karamihan ay hindi na rin maalala pa, at may mga hinaharap din sa kasalukuyan. May mga pagkakataong pawala na ang pag-asa, ngunit andito pa rin ako at ang aking pamilya – buhay pa rin kami. Siguro iyon ang pinakasaysay ng programang ito, o marahil ay ginawa ko lamang itong pinakakahulugan ng mga karanasang humubog sa akin, sa amin."

(I've been through a lot with my family. After more than a decade of being beneficiaries of the 4Ps program, I can say that it has been a tremendous help that has allowed us to get by until today. We’ve faced countless problems, many of which I can no longer remember, and there are still challenges we’re dealing with now. There were times when hope seemed lost, but here I am with my family—we're still alive. Perhaps that’s the essence of this program, or maybe I've just found meaning in the experiences that have shaped us.)

- Carl Jason M. Centeno, 22 years old, a Pantawid member from Brgy. Cadre Site, Bayambang, Pangasinan. Graduated magna cum laude, Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in Social Studies at Pangasinan State University-Bayambang Campus and a successful Licensure Examination for Teachers passer.

***

“Wala pa man akong trabaho, at hirap sa paghahanap nito, masasabi ko na rin siguro, maituturing na rin na tagumpay ang mabuhay hanggang sa araw na ito. Iyong mga araw na akala natin ay wala nang direksyon ang lahat, wala nang solusyon sa mga problema, wala nang panghahawakan pa. Ang simpleng tulong na kaloob ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng buwis ng mga mamamayan ng ating bansa ay isa sa mga bagay na nagpapaalala na 'mayroon at mayroon din'; may mga bagay pa ring pwedeng kapitan o asahan.

"Mahirap kasing umasa, lalo na kung umaasa na lang ang isang tao sa wala. Kaya may mga oras din akong ginugol sa pag-iisip na madidismaya lang din ako kapag umasa pa ako. Ngunit aywan ko ba, para bang may bagay na nagtutulak pa rin sa akin na bumangon, kumain, alagaan ang aking sarili at ang mga taong mahalaga sa akin. Kaya naman sa bawat araw ay ginagawa ko na lamang ang aking makakaya. Sa tuwing pasuko ako, madalas kong naiisip ang mga panahong akala ko katapusan na, pero gumawa pa rin ng paraan ang Diyos upang maituloy."

(Even though I don't have a job yet and I'm struggling to find one, I can say that simply being alive today is a success in itself. There were days when it felt like everything was going nowhere, with no solutions in sight to our problems and nothing to hold on to. But the simple support provided by the government through the taxes of our fellow citizens reminds me that there is still hope and something to rely on. It’s hard to hope, especially when it feels like there’s nothing to hope for. There were times I spent worrying that I’d just be disappointed if I dared to hope. But for some reason, something keeps pushing me to get up, eat, take care of myself, and look after the people I love. So, every day, I do my best. Whenever I feel like giving up, I often think back to the moments when I thought it was all over, but somehow, God found a way for me to hold on and keep at it.)

“Natakot akong hindi makapasok sa kolehiyo sa iisang university na pinasukan ko… Natanggap ako at nakapasok ako.

Natakot ako sa mga posibleng kompetisyon sa klase, at sa posibleng terror na mga propesor… Naging malapit ako sa ilan sa kanila habang nasa kolehiyo.

Natakot akong magkaroon ng bagsak na grado at mawalan ng scholarship… Na-maintain ko ang passing grade at napanatili ito.

Natakot ako dahil maraming bagay ang wala ako… ngunit nagawang iraos ang pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng mga bagay na mayroon ako.”

(“I was scared I wouldn’t get into college at the only university I applied to… but I got accepted and was able to enroll. I was afraid of the competition in class and the possibility of having tough professors… yet I grew close to some of them during my time in college. I was scared of failing and losing my scholarship… but I managed to maintain a passing grade. I was afraid because I felt I lacked many things… yet I was able to get through my studies with what I had.”)

After he passed the board exam, Carl immediately looked for a job to help his family, and luckily, he was accepted to teach at Bayambang Polytechnic Colleges on August 1, 2024.

“Marami pa akong hindi nabanggit, ngunit siguro’y sapat na iyon na patunay na kahit hindi pa tapos ang aking kwento, kahit marami pang maaaring mangyari, ay masasabing tagumpay ito. Sapagkat ang laban ay hindi sa akin; ang laban ay sa Diyos, at matagal na Siyang nagtagumpay.

(“There’s so much more I haven’t mentioned, but I believe that’s enough to show that even though my story isn’t finished yet and many things could still happen, this can already be considered a success. Because the struggle isn’t just mine; it belongs to God, and He has already triumphed long ago.”)

Carl’s story is a testament to the unmatched power of hope and determination in facing life’s challenges. Continuously fighting despite the trials, he has become an inspiration to many. Ultimately, Carl’s success story is not just about him but everyone who continues to dream and strive despite hardships. Every step he takes demonstrates that success is not just measured by material wealth but by inner strength and faith in God and oneself. There is always light at the end of every trial; we just need to keep going, trust and believe.

Isa na namang kuwento mula sa isang 4Ps beneficiary.

(by: Joan G. Velasquez-PDO II/Municipal Link Pantawid Pamilya)