The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is one of the flagship programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Through the provision of conditional cash grants, this program aims to reduce poverty and improve the lives of impoverished Filipino households.
As of May 2024, there are 4.4 million household-beneficiaries of the 4Ps program. Of these, many “monitored children” will eventually attain a college degree and embark on successful careers. One great example is Dexter Astorga, a former 4Ps monitored child who not only passed — but topped — an engineering board exam!
Life of Financial Hardship
“Isang kahig, isang tuka (One scratch, one peck)” is a Filipino quote that best describes Dexter’s childhood experience. Hailing from Santo Tomas City in Batangas, his family just had enough resources to get by each day, according to a DSWD press release.
Dexter’s father was a coconut harvester and occasionally a construction worker, taking on whatever jobs he could find. Despite their financial difficulties, however, his parents worked hard to provide the needs of the family.
“Maswerte na kung may pag-eextrahan (It was lucky if there was extra work available),” Dexter shared regarding his father’s jobs. “Kung wala, tinutulungan muna siya ng kanyang mga kapatid para maitawid ang maghapon (If not, his siblings would help him to get through the day).”
Sacrificing Basic Needs
As a young child, Dexter recalled having to sacrifice some of his basic needs for his studies. “Nariyan ang mga araw na papasok ako nang walang laman ang tiyan sapagkat mas nananaig ang kagustuhang matuto kaysa sa pagkalam ng sikmura (There were days when I went to school on an empty stomach because my desire to study was greater than my hunger),” he recalled.
Because of their situation, Dexter’s mother taught him to be thankful and content. “Dahil sa kakapusan, itinanim ng aking ina sa aking pagkatao na kailangang maging kontento sa kung anong nakahain at palaging mapagpasalamat ultimo sa pinakamaliliit na biyaya (My mother taught me to be content with whatever was available, and to be thankful even for the smallest blessings),” he reflected.
Joining the 4Ps Program
Eventually, Dexter’s family became a beneficiary of the DSWD’s 4Ps Program, an initiative that provides assistance to the poorest families. And despite the initial stigma of being labeled as among “the poorest of the poor,” his family was thankful for the program.
Over the years, the program helped support Dexter’s education, from elementary to senior high school. “Dahil sa buwanang cash assistance na natatanggap namin, ramdam kong nabawasan ang bigat ng pinansyal na pasanin ng aming pamilya (Because of the monthly cash assistance that we received, I felt that the financial burden on my family became lighter),” he stated.
Family Development Sessions
Aside from the financial aid, Dexter was also grateful for the program’s Family Development Sessions (FDS), which he believes helped to strengthen their family.
“Noon, hindi lubos na nauunawaan ng musmos na batang tulad ko ang kahalagahan ng mga pulong na iyon. Ngunit ngayon, batid ko na ang mga Family Development Sessions na iyon ang nagpalakas sa aming pamilya (Back then, I didn’t fully understand the importance of those sessions. But now, I believe that those Family Development Sessions strengthened our family),” he reflected.
“Dahil sa mga iyon, mas nauunawaan ng aking mga magulang kung paano maging responsableng miyembro ng komunidad at maging mga mabubuting pinuno sa aming tahanan. Ang FDS ang rason kung bakit mas naging malapit ang pamilya namin sa isa’t isa (Because of those sessions, my parents better understood how to be responsible members of the community and good leaders in our home. These FDS sessions are the reason why our family became closer to one another),” he added.
Achieving Academic Excellence
As a student, Dexter worked hard and reaped outstanding awards. He graduated as the Class Valedictorian in his elementary school batch. Eventually, he finished junior high school as the third highest honor student, as well as a “Best in Mathematics” award. Upon finishing senior high school, he received the “Excellence Award in Pre-Calculus” and graduated with high honors.
After finishing senior high school, Dexter’s status as a “4Ps monitored child” ended. And so, this motivated him to find ways to help support his family. He started working part-time in a fast food restaurant, taking on the night shift to help with daily expenses.
“Papikit-pikit man sa klase kinabukasan, batid kong ang paghihirap na aking pinagdadaanan ay para sa aming kinabukasan (Even if I felt sleepy in class the next day, I believed that my struggles were for my family’s future),” he said.
Dexter received a scholarship from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which enabled him to pursue a degree, “Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering” at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Santo Tomas Branch. In college, he received several awards, namely the “Extra-Curricular Exemplary Awardee” and the “Extension Service Awardee for Extension Service.”
Upon finishing college, Dexter immediately looked for a job to help support their family, especially since his father, who was working as a welder, had begun having health problems.
“Ang usok na nanggagaling sa dalawang bakal na pinagdidikit n’ya ang naging mitsa ng pagkakaroon niya ng sakit na hika. Kung minsan din ay hindi tumitigil ang pagluluha ng mata niya dahil sa malakas na kislap ng liwanag kapag nagwewelding (Smoke from the two metals he was welding caused him to have asthma. Also, his eyes were often teary because of the bright light during welding),” he explained.
Topping the Board Exam
Although Dexter applied with several companies, finding a job was difficult, since he was a fresh graduate with no experience. Still, he made wise use of his time by studying programming and web development. While he was in Manila to review for the board exam, he supported himself by offering tutoring, programming, and web development services.
“Ang mga ibinabayad sa akin sa mga proyektong kinukumisyon ang naglagay ng laman sa aking sikmura at nakapagpapadala rin ako ng pera sa aking pamilya sa probinsya (The payments I received from commissioned projects filled my stomach and I was also able to send money to my family in the province),” he shared.
Juggling his freelance job and board exam review was hard, but all of Dexter’s hard work paid off. After taking the exam, he gained the highest score, emerging as Top 1 in the Board Examination for Electronics Technicians!
During the oathtaking ceremony, Dexter proudly delivered a speech as the board exam topnotcher.
“Ang mga ngiti ng aking ama at ina habang ako ay nagsasalita sa entablado ay hindi lang nagbigay ng galak sa aking puso. Ito rin ang nagpaalala sa akin kung paano iginapang ng aming pamilya ang aming buhay sa tulong ng patuloy na diskarte at mga programa tulad ng mga scholarship at ng 4Ps (The smiles on my father’s and mother’s faces as I speak on stage not only brings joy to my heart. These also remind me of how our family struggled and endured with the help of programs like scholarships and the 4Ps),” he declared.
“Tiyak akong ibang-iba ang kalalabasan ng aming buhay kung walang umagapay sa aming pamilya upang umalpas sa sumpa ng kahirapan (I believe that our lives would have turned out very differently if there were no programs that helped our family to rise from poverty),” he added.
These days, Dexter works in Muntinlupa City, as a network engineer for a company based there
Final Thoughts
Dexter’s life story is truly inspiring, indeed! He is living proof that through hard work and with help from programs like the 4Ps, anyone can overcome poverty and achieve their biggest dreams.
Meanwhile, here is another success story about a family that also struggled and overcame poverty, thanks to the 4Ps program.