By Gideon C.
Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY – A
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) recipient has proven that poverty is
not a hindrance to success, after she graduated Cum Laude from an education
degree at the Josefina H. Cerilles State College-Main Campus in Mati, San
Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur.
Lizel Tagologuin, a former college
dropout and now a licensed teacher, shared her story to 1,000 4Ps beneficiaries
who just finished high school during a mass graduation held recently at the Pagadian
City Gym by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
At
18, Tagologuin said, she stopped her studies because she got married and
immediately bore a son.
Tagaloguin
admitted that she had experienced failure in her life because of her early
marriage. “I don’t have the courage to face and mingle with people because of
my shortcomings in life. But, I’ll take it as a challenge to continue my
studies to have a bright future for my self,” she said. Thus, her early
marriage has not prevented her to pursue her dream to earn a diploma.
4Ps recipient
Tagaloguin
said she was second year college when she became a recipient of the 4Ps
program.
Driven
by her ambition to finish a degree, she enrolled in Bachelor of Elementary
Education at Josefina State Cerilles College in June 2010.
At
first, she had a fear that she could not manage her time because she has a
child to attend to. Because of her determination, perseverance and persistence,
she was able to finish college with flying colors.
“As a mother and student at the
same time, I found it difficult to do all my work because my son was already 3
years old then. I studied in the morning and got home during lunchtime to see
my son. Sometimes, I come to school late,” she recalled.
Cum Laude, LET passer
On April 2014, she graduated as
Cum Laude in her class. “I did not expect to graduate and receive the award because
of my situation. But because of my prayers and determination, I was able to
attain my ambition in life. I realized that all of our dreams could come true, if we have courage
to pursue them.”
Tagaloguin
took and passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
Grateful to 4Ps
Tagaloguin
thanked the government for implementing 4Ps program for it helped her in
completing her college degree.
“I
am very much thankful to the government through the DSWD for implementing the
program because it really helped the poor people,” Tagaloguin declared.
“The
government’s 4Ps program really helped in funding my studies in college. I used
the money that I received to fund my schooling because my husband is jobless,”
she added.
“Without the program, I could have
not finished my studies in college. I could not be, what I am today,”
Tagaloguin concluded.
Role model
Meanwhile, 4Ps regional program coordinator
Ma. Socorro Macaso said Tagaloguin is a good role model, to be emulated by the
young generation.
Macaso
was also very impressed with Tagaloguin’s performance as 4Ps recipient.
Student, wife, mother
“As
a student, wife, mother, and daughter she never failed to attend family
development sessions and she was a top student in her class,” Macaso added.