Zamboanga Peninsula — On July 16, 2025, amid the busy lines and hopeful crowds of a local job fair, Florabel N. Cordero, 38, and her 22-year-old son Nelvin, walked out with more than just job offers — they walked out with a dream fulfilled, a testament to years of perseverance, sacrifice, and unwavering family unity.

It was a full-circle moment for the mother-and-son duo who had, just three years earlier, graduated together with a degree in Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education, majoring in Garments and Fashion Design. Their graduation in May 2025 was marked not only by diplomas but by distinction. The Cordero duo received the Most Emulating Award, and was recognized for Best Demo Teaching. For both, the accolades were deeply personal affirmations of their shared journey through hardship.

Nelvin shared that having his mom as his classmate was both a fun experience and a challenge. He enjoyed having his mother around during their classes, they got to bond not just as mother and son but also as classmates and friends. Yet, it was also challenging as the pressure to Nelvin was higher since Florabel got to personally monitor his performance in school as his mother.

“Pressure sa akoa kay kinahanglan ipakita nako ang akoang best kay naa man siya sa akong kiliran (I felt the pressure to give it my best because she was literally by my side),” Nelvin shared.

In an interview, as they talked about their double success, Nelvin and Florabel could not help but also recall their past experiences and struggles. Born into poverty and constantly on the move, the Cordero family once had no permanent address. They moved from place to place, renting tiny spaces, always hoping to find where they could finally stay and earn enough to live decently.

“Apiki kaayo mi, sir, niadto mi sa Sirawai… naghabal pud ang akoang bana, hangtod niuli na mi diha sa amoa (sa Salug).. pero nagpa-eskwela pud ko sa akoang mga anak, sir. Ang Pantawid ato gasuporta ra gihapon sa amoa bisan naabot mi sa Zamboanga City sir (We were very poor, we stayed in Sirawai… my husband also worked as a habal-habal driver until we moved back here (in Salug)… but I ensure that my kids go to school. The 4Ps program supports us even went we moved to Zamboanga City),” Florabel recounts their experiences early in the days.

The family has been supported by the Pantawid Pamilyang PIlipino Program (4Ps) since 2015. The 4Ps is a poverty-alleviation program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that helps the poorest of the poor families in the country to escape the inter-generational cycle of poverty.

With three children to raise, Florabel dared to dream again when she and Nelvin enrolled in college — not as parent and dependent, but as classmates and equals. While most mothers guide their sons to school, she sat beside hers in class. Together, they faced deadlines, presentations, and the uphill battle of returning to school in their 30s and 20s, respectively.

Behind their academic success stood the quiet hero of their story: Florabel’s husband, who bore the brunt of supporting their education. A man of few words and many callouses, he juggled three grueling jobs as a dump truck driver, welder, and construction worker to ensure that tuition, uniforms, and books were covered.

“Apiki man gud kaayo ang wala nakahuman kay kung gusto ka magtrabaho, dili man jud puede nga muqualify kag office kay wala ka nakahuman nga kurso. Mao to nga naningkamot gyud ko nga mutiwas kog eskwela. Bahalag lisud kaayo mi, nagpadayon gyud mi. (It’s hard if you haven’t finished your studies ‘coz even if you want to find an office job you cannot get hired because you don’t have a degree. That’s why I persevered to finish my college education no matter how difficult it was, we strived),” Florabel said.

And now, all those years of struggle and sacrifice have borne fruit.

During the 4^th leg of the Livelihood and Employment Caravan which was held in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte on July 16, 2025, Nelvin was the very first 4Ps beneficiary to receive an offer. He applied for a position as Microfinance Officer at ASA Philippine Foundation. After being hired, he helped his mother on her job application with Maanyag International Manpower Corporation. And as luck would have it, she was hired as a Recruitment Officer.

“Dako mig pasalamat sa DSWD og sa 4Ps. Daghan jud nga tabang og lessons ang amoang nakat-onan sa programa. Karon nga mograduate na man gyud mi sa Pantawid, ok na jud para matabangan pud ang uban nga wala pa sa programa. (A huge thanks to the DSWD and 4Ps for the help and lessons that we learned. Now that we will be exiting the program soon, it’s okay to give the same opportunity to others),” Florabel added.

As Florabel begins her new role in helping others find employment, and Nelvin supports micro-entrepreneurs in building their futures, they carry with them the lessons of their past — that success isn’t always about how fast you reach your goal, but how much heart and hardwork you put into the journey.

Their story is more than a tale of employment. It is a story of resilience, family, and the beautiful bond between a mother and son who chose to rise — together.