Right at this moment, I feel like my dream to share my own story of success has come to reality. Now, I am filled with so much joy in my heart knowing that I have overcome the tough and tiring challenges of my college years leading me to where I am now. And this would not have been possible without the very important individuals who were always behind me to facilitate my education.

I am Kimberly Velasco Jumuad, a 25-year-old goal-achiever and a daughter of a fish vendor and a carpenter which we all know that albeit decent, do not ensure financial security. I grew up witnessing the hardwork and sacrifices of my parents which are evident through their sweat, their white hair, the skin discoloration, the pain and exhaustion every time they went home from their respective works. Seeing them in that situation pushed me to decide that I should craft my own life story. That one day, I should have a stable job that will enable me to help provide for the needs of my family as the breadwinner. They were my inspiration to move forward and strive harder in my studies.

I can still vividly remember how we were able to survive the stormy times that our family experienced. That ‘sud-an ug asin, toyo ug oil perfect combination isip sud-an, ginamos, tinabal, usahay mangutlo ug dahon sa kamote para sabawan ug daghan’ were common to me. These were just a few of the many reasons that pushed me hard to finish my education.

Being a working student prior to having a grant and a student-leader in the campus was quite a heavy task, but I’ve strived hard with the strong thought in mind ‘dili gyud ko magpabiling nagkalisud sa kinabuhi’. But my fighting spirit would sometimes say ‘Kapoy naman kaayo pero laban gihapon’ because I do not want to become an additional burden to my parents. So, I must find ways on my own.

Fortunately, I received good news during the second semester of my first year in college. My mama informed me that I was one of the lucky students chosen to become grantees of the Expanded Student Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation, a program that used be under the 4Ps that provide grants to college students. My life then had changed.

The program has helped me suffice my educational needs, my food, my college expenses, and through it, I was able to give something to my family. Through the program, I was able to experience how it feels like to ride an airplane for the first time, going to Cebu and to Dumaguete for a seminar and workshop with some of my co-ESGPPA grantees meeting other grantees of the program from different regions. I was able to experience Dakak Park and Beach Resort and was able to eat delectable foods served there. It was because of the seminar conducted for all of the ESGPPA grantees enrolled in Jose Rizal Memorial State University to improve our financial literacy and/or financial budgeting skills.

You see? The program does not only suffice our financial needs, but it also helps us meet our needs socially and intellectually. The program helped me enrich my life story. That’s why I am forever grateful and thankful to all the prime movers of the said program, to the ones who crafted it and delivered it to us, special mention to mam Nimfa Tejeros for her passion to serve and facilitate especially whenever I have queries, to my mother and father who never get tired of giving their support to me and my siblings, and to Dr. Jay D. Telen, the Dean of students affairs and services of JRMSU for allowing us to engage in several worthwhile experiences which made us the proudest to become an ESGPPA grantees despite the many judgments we received.

It was because of the program that I was able to graduate from the degree Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English at JRMSU Dapitan Campus, I was able to take my Licensure Examination for teachers, and thank God, Glory to God in the highest, I am now a licensed professional secondary teacher working as regular/permanent at the Department of Education – Dapitan Division, and I am now extending my support to my family as the breadwinner and I am now able to share the blessings I received to other people.

I am where I am today because I have made it through college. Education has enabled my family to break the cycle of poverty. I was very fortunate for being a beneficiary of the ESGPPA that supported my college education under the 4Ps. But now, the 4Ps no longer have the ESGPPA program. 4Ps, according to its implementing rules and regulation, could only provide for the education of children until high school. That is why we appeal to the partners of the DSWD-4Ps to support and fill in the gaps needed to sustain the development of a 4Ps family. Please help them help themselves just as I did with mine.

And to all of us who are lucky enough to receive beautiful opportunities to change our life story, remember that life may be full of battles but with the right armor and weapon, we will win.