MARK Anthony Salazar Arcayan, who topped the February 2022 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination, has credited the National Government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for his personal and scholastic achievements, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Eastern Visayas said Thursday, March 10, 2022.

“Malaking tulong ang 4Ps sa aming pamilya. Dahil sa suporta ng programa, kami ay naka-survive,” said Arcayan, a resident of Merida, Leyte.

(The 4Ps program has greatly helped my family. We survived because of it.)

Arcayan added that 4Ps has augmented their resources for education, nutrition, and health.

“He is the third among seven children of a 4Ps household who recently graduated from the program after remarkably reaching the self-sufficient level of wellbeing,” said the DSWD-Eastern Visayas.

Citing 4Ps Municipal Link (ML) Aileen Dellosa, DSWD-Eastern Visayas said “the family started with almost nothing.”

“But all its members share very good relationship among each other. The parents work hard and the children study diligently,” the department said in a statement as it congratulated Arcayan for his accomplishments.

Arcayan’s father, Rogelio, works as a barangay secretary, while his mother, Amelia, is a parent leader and church volunteer.

Arcayan graduated as class valedictorian and magna cum laude at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City with the degree Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Arcayan was also a scholar of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Meanwhile, the DSWD-Eastern Visayas cited Arcayan’s guiding principles that helped him succeed in life.

“First is consistency. Everyone must develop good habits because excellence is indeed a habit or something one does consistently. He said that even if an individual is intelligent, if one does not constantly study or practice, there will be a chance of disremembering or overlooking. Moreover, a person must be consistent and determined despite the many challenges and negativities around,” it said.

“Second, one must strive to maintain balance in all aspects of existence including, family, school, work, physical, spiritual, social and even love life. Third is prayer. We must have a constant relationship with God. We pray always even if we are not in need or in pain,” the DSWD-Eastern Visayas added. (SunStar Philippines)