One’s success is often celebrated by many in the community. Most people have seen your victory but do not share the struggles that you went through to get there. But for this specific beneficiary, her community was with her throughout her journey to becoming a licensed Social Worker.

Born into a family with less fortune, Ramilyn E. Martinez knew that she must keep her aspirations high to make her dreams come true. From a young age, she learned the weight of hard work, pushing herself through sacrifices in pursuit of completing an education.

Through all these sacrifices, she was surrounded by people who want to see her succeed in life –a community that share the same vision of seeing her in graduation gown and walking onstage with head held high.

Ramilyn’s parents, hardworking as they were, did everything to make ends meet. Their meager income from selling pastry in the neighborhood barely provided for the daily necessities of the family.

In High School, Ramilyn’s education was supported by DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty-alleviation program that provided cash grants to indigent households for the education and health of children. Every month, Ramilyn received 500pesos during her Junior High School days and 700pesos when she became a Senior High School student. The cash assistance helped her get through high school.

“It really means a lot that the government cares about the well-being of its people especially the marginalized sector,” Ramilyn expressed.

Seeing how the Social Workers served not only as a ‘ayuda’-givers but rather as catalysts of change that brought empowerment to their family, Ramilyn was inspired to take up a degree in Social Work once she stepped in the university.

In college, even when she was already ineligible to receive grants from 4Ps, many others opened their palms and offered help for Ramilyn to finish her education.

Other than her parents, the first person to willfully support her was her aunt. She hosted Ramilyn while she was in Zamboanga City for her tertiary education and provided her money for her daily expenses and transportation which tremendously helped ease the financial burden on the shoulders of Ramilyn’s parents.

In return, Ramilyn helped in her aunt’s bakery by selling bread and pastries, doing household chores, and cooking for her aunt’s children, her cousins.

“I always keep in mind that as long as there are people who are willing to help me in my studies, I will continue to strive hard and give my best,” Ramilyn spoke about the help that she received from various people.

“Additionally, with the assistance of the 4Ps, it helped and made me realize the importance of education and its role in shaping my future opportunities and how I would be able to contribute to society and to the nation building, just like what the national agency particularly the DSWD [does],” she added.

Fast forward to present, Ramilyn’s hardwork and the contributions of the people around her finally paid off. She graduated as Cum Laude at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU). In 2024, she took the Licensure Examination for Social Workers in Davao City and passed the said exam in the same year.

In the end, it wasn’t just her dream that was realized. As she crossed the finish line of her journey, the entire community felt the triumph. Every hand that guided her, every word of encouragement, and every small act of support had woven a shared success.

“I’m very grateful that a lot of people [helped] me throughout my journey. My success is also their success.”

Contributor: Timothy A. Bayson, Municipal Link