One of the topnotchers in the March 2025 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) credited the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for helping transform his life and paving the way for his academic and professional success.
Jorean Jumalon Silmaro, a native of Compol, Catarman, Camiguin, and former 4Ps beneficiary, placed 7th in the recent LET for Professional Teachers with a 93.20% rating. He shares the spot with four others: Davie Marie Gacasan Abad, Bea Geraldine Ylaya Larobis, Juliana Mae Berame Magtagad, and Aillen Godoy Rulona.
“I truly consider 4Ps as one of the most defining blessings in my lifeโdefinitely part of my ‘top 7 fate,'” Silmaro said. “It didn’t just help financially; it opened doors that once seemed out of reach.”
Silmaro is the son of Mary Jean, a barbecue vendor, and Ronnie, a driver for Motorola. His family joined the 4Ps program in 2010, a turning point that helped ease their daily struggles.
“Before 4Ps, our income was barely enough for food and basic needs. Buying school supplies or paying for projects was a constant challenge,” he said.
“We didn’t even have a permanent homeโwe moved from one rented house to another.
“The 4Ps assistance helped cover school expenses and enabled his parents to save. With this support, they eventually bought a small lot and started building their own homeโa milestone they once thought impossible.
“The program didn’t make life easy, but it gave us stability, hope, and the means to dream,” Silmaro added. “It allowed me to study with the tools I needed and without feeling like a burden to my parents. That support gave me the focus and motivation to excel,” Silmaro said.
A consistent academic achiever, Silmaro graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Camiguin Polytechnic State College, where he earned a degree in Bachelor of Elementary Education. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education, majoring in Elementary Education, at Lourdes College in Cagayan de Oro City.
Silmaro’s family officially exited the 4Ps program in 2020, having reached a level of self-sufficiency.
Reflecting on his journey, Silmaro said, “4Ps was more than just financial aid. It was a lifeline that helped shape my future and empowered my family to rise above poverty. I am forever grateful.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) administers the 4Ps program, which aims to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by providing conditional cash grants to the poorest families in the country. Silmaro’s story stands as a testament to the transformative power of the program when matched with hard work and perseverance.
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