As she set foot once again inside the gates of Naga Central Elementary School, Jaricklyn Bordon Villaganas could not help but recall all the memories she had as a young pupil in her Alma Matter. It is the same school but it is a different feeling 20 years apart.

Every step, as she walked closely to the stage, reminded her of the difficulties she had triumphantly hurdled. All those times when she sees her classmates all dressed up with new uniforms, the excitement in their faces as they open their bulky pink pencil cases at trollies, how cute they looked when it rains with their pink raincoat, umbrella, and knee-high boots –things that she never had because she comes from a poor family that could barely afford food on the table, even more so, luxury items for school.

But this time is different. She remembers them all not in the eyes of envy but from the perspective of gratefulness.

“I was reminded of these situation[s] po the moment pagpasok ko sa school and felt so blessed ano meron na po ako ngayon. (I was reminded of these situations the moment that I stepped on that school again and felt so blessed for what I have attained and acquired now),” Jaricklyn said.

Jaricklyn was invited as a Guest of Honor to her Alma Mater, Naga Central Elementary School, recently. Excitement and anticipation filled her soul as she took a glance at the young graduates where she once was seated. In her mind, she wanted to penetrate their minds and communicate to them the same value that she sees in education so that they, too, will grow up holding in their hands the same, or even greater, hope for their future.

“As I [went] on with my speech, I learned [that] many of them are 4Ps beneficiaries who can relate to the life na meron ako before (that I had before). I’m happy po, that I was given the chance to share my stories and inspire others,” Jaricklyn added.

Jaricklyn graduated in college on April 06, 2017 and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers in the same year.

Currently, she is a employed at Kabasalan Science and Technology High School. She teaches Science for 7^th-graders and Research subjects for 8^th-graders.

Her family is no longer a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to give way for more families to attain the same success and opportunity that was extended to them when they were still in need.

 

LITTLE DREAMER, BIG DREAM

During her visit at the school, Jaricklyn saw herself falling in line with a big smile on her face, marching, feeling proud of her success academically. As a kid in a disadvantaged family, her proudest moments are when she is able to come up onstage to receive an award and share the moment with her parents.

She knew that the accolades that she received as an honor student are the priceless rewards that she can give to her parents who worked tirelessly to support the needs of their 4 children. Her father is a motorcycle (habal) driver while her mother was a stay-at-home mom.

Back when Jaricklyn was a little girl, she was fond of playing doctor-patient games. She would nurse her pretend-dolls as if they were patients and she was the doctor. This fun game turned into a little dream that sparked her desire for a better life. But in her little mind, she also understood that they cannot afford education for a medical course.

Jaricklyn and her family were members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty-alleviation program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This meant that they belonged to the poorest of the poor families in the country. The program provides educational and health assistance to poor families for up to 18-years old or until the monitored child finishes high school. Albeit helpful, this cannot bridge her towards becoming a professional doctor someday unless she finds another way.

With this, she turned to another passion –teaching. She enjoyed passing on knowledge and nurturing young minds. So she decided to take up Education and become a teacher instead. Life must have led her to her destiny because this is where she felt her purpose in life.

Fast-forward to date and as she spoke to many 4Ps and non-4Ps children during the 70^th graduation ceremony of the Naga Central Elementary School, she encouraged the children to not view their impoverished life as hindrances to succeed but rather see it as a contributor that can build their character and see the bigger picture of their dreams to motivate them to study and work harder.

“Para po sa mga 4Ps children, alam ko nakakalungkot isipin maging mahirap per[o] ito yung bagay na hindi mo dapat ikahiya. Because of our situation, na build up ang character natin, and naging determined and driven sa buhay. Ang nakakahiya po if we will remain poor kahit natulungan na tayo at walang ginawa para makaahon ka sa hirap. (To 4Ps children, I know that it is sad to live a poor life but this is not something to be ashamed of. The situation that we are in helped built our character and we became determined, driven in life. What’s shameful is if, despite all the help that we received, we remain poor and did nothing to uplift our lives,” Jaricklyn’s ending statement during a virtual written interview by the DSWD.

“You (refering to 4Ps Provincial Link Evalinda Jimeno) and the DSWD family are part of whatever feat I have today. And I will be forever grateful.”