A TOPNOTCHER in the March 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) has credited the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for playing a crucial role in his educational and professional journey.
Jorean Jumalon Silmaro, a resident of Compol, Catarman, Camiguin, and a former 4Ps beneficiary, ranked seventh in the LET for Professional Teachers with a score of 93.20 percent. He shared the spot with four others: Davie Marie Gacasan Abad, Bea Geraldine Ylaya Larobis, Juliana Mae Berame Magtagad, and Aillen Godoy Rulona.
“I truly consider 4Ps as one of the most defining blessings in my life — definitely part of my ‘Top 7’ fate. It didn’t just help financially; it opened doors that once seemed out of reach,” Silmaro said.
His father, Ronnie, works as a driver, while his mother, Mary Jean, sells barbecue for a living. Their family joined the 4Ps program in 2010 — a moment Silmaro described as a turning point.
“Before 4Ps, our income was barely enough to cover food and basic needs. Buying school supplies or paying for projects was a constant challenge,” he said.
Without a permanent home, the family frequently moved from one rented house to another. Support from the program allowed them not only to cover educational expenses but also to start saving. Eventually, they were able to purchase land and begin building their own home.
“The program didn’t make life easy, but it gave us stability, hope, and the means to dream,” Silmaro said. “It allowed me to study with the tools I needed, without feeling like a burden to my parents. That support gave me the focus and motivation to excel.”
Silmaro graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Camiguin Polytechnic State College. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in education, major in elementary education, at Lourdes College in Cagayan de Oro City.
In 2020, his family officially exited the 4Ps program after attaining self-sufficiency.
“4Ps was more than just financial aid. It was a lifeline that helped shape my future and empowered my family to rise above poverty. I am forever grateful,” he said.
The 4Ps program, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, provides conditional cash grants to the country’s poorest households. It aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by investing in education, health, and nutrition. (PIA)