Dreams, when fueled by relentless action and supported by the right interventions, can indeed turn into reality.

This is the living testament of 23-year-old 2nd Lieutenant (Lt.) John Roy E. Baran, a simple young man from Oslob, Cebu, who recently graduated from the prestigious Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and was conferred the Sports and Physical Development Unit (SPDU) Award.

But behind the crisp uniform, the snappy salutes, and the gleaming medals is a story of a young boy who once carried sacks of sand just to provide for his daily needs—and a family whose trajectory was forever changed by determination and by the assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Harsh realities early in life

As the eldest of five siblings, John Roy learned the harsh realities of life at a very young age. To ease the heavy burden on his parents, John Roy naturally embraced the role of a dependable older brother.

While other children played, John Roy was already a familiar face in their household chores and was known for his street smarts and resourcefulness. He even took on odd jobs, like carrying heavy sacks of sand, just to earn a few coins to augment his family’s meager daily budget.

John Roy’s mother, Mary Jane Baran, vividly recalls the immense struggle of raising five children when their income was barely enough to survive.

“Mahirap ang buhay namin noong hindi pa ako benepisyaryo dahil asawa ko lang ang may trabaho at lima silang mga anak namin. Ako naman ay nag aalaga ng mga hayop, [pati na] sa mga anak ko para makatulong sa asawa ko,” Mary told the DSWD’s Kwento ng Pag-asa at Pagbabago (KPaP) team.

In 2014, a ray of hope shone on the Baran household when they officially became beneficiaries of the 4Ps. The program provided conditional cash transfers that helped the family address their health, nutrition, and educational needs.

For John Roy, who was a consistent honor student from Grade 1 to Grade 6, this meant he could keep his eyes locked on his academic goals.

Even before he dreamt of entering the PMA, John Roy’s foundation on discipline was forged at the Sisters of Mary School-Boystown, Inc., a charitable Catholic institution providing free secondary education to underprivileged boys.

John Roy processed his scholarship requirements entirely on his own.

“Desidido siyang mag take ng exam. Siya mismo nagpa-xerox sa kaniyang report card for requirements. Sa araw ng exam, binigyan ko na lang siya ng 50 pesos para pamasahe sa bayan kasi doon gaganapin ang exam. Ilang buwan lumabas ang resulta, nakapasa siya doon,” Mary proudly recalled the effort her eldest son.

At the Sisters of Mary School-Boystown, John Roy learned to face life’s ultimate tests. There were days he attended classes without any pocket money or packed lunch, fueled only by his burning desire to learn.

But the safety net provided by the 4Ps gave their family the breathing room they desperately needed, ensuring there was at least a small budget for the household and his basic school needs.

“Before entering PMA, I was a proud student of the Sisters of Mary School–Boystown, Inc., and a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). These opportunities helped ease my family’s financial burdens and allowed me to focus on my studies while developing the values of discipline, faith, and perseverance,” John Roy shared with the DSWD team.

John Roy’s mother watched in awe as his perseverance only deepened over the years. His hard work paid off remarkably, graduating in the Top 5 of his entire senior high school class.

Grueling path to PMA

Coming from Oslob, taking the entrance exam was a logistical and financial nightmare. Yet, poverty was an obstacle John Roy was already used to outsmarting.

“Sa mismong araw ng exam maaga kaming nag byahe. Mula Oslob, Cebu, 4 1/2 hours ang byahe pagdating sa testing area. Konting tao pa lang sa loob pero sa [dahil] sa pagmamadali, pumasok na siya sa loob [kahit] hindi pa siya nakakakain. Nag exam siya na walang almusal at 5 hours sa loob ng testing area,” Mary shared as she looked back at the sacrifices her son made.

Two months later, the results arrived – John Roy was accepted. Inside the PMA, John Roy flawlessly executed his duties as a cadet while never forgetting his role as a loving son and brother back home.

Whenever the physical and mental exhaustion of cadet training threatened to break him, John Roy anchored himself on one powerful quote.

“Throughout my journey, I carried the words of Venerable Aloysius Schwartz: ‘You were not created to be fat little ducks waddling in the mud but to be eagles destined to rise above.’ These words inspired me to aim higher and overcome every obstacle,” John reflected.

Soaring like an eagle

Today, the young boy who once hauled sand on his small shoulders flies high like an eagle. Graduating with the SPDU Award, John Roy has proven that the cycle of intergenerational poverty can be broken when grit meets opportunity.

For Mary Jane, witnessing her son’s success is a triumph not just for their family, but for the programs that believed in them.

“Si John Roy, wala kaming gastos sa high school at college niya. Naging member pa kami ng 4Ps [kaya] nagpapasalamat [ako] dahil malaking tulong [ito] sa aming pamilya, at marami kaming natutunan tulad ng paano gagamitin ang pera, pagdidisiplina sa aming mga anak, at pag respeto sa kapwa tao,” Mary gratefully shared.

As John Roy steps into his new life as a commissioned military officer — ready to serve and protect the nation — he looks back at his roots with profound gratitude.

“As the Regimental Military Training Officer of the Cadet Corps, Armed Forces of the Philippines, I remain grateful to God, my family, Boystown, and the 4Ps program for helping me turn my dreams into reality,” John Roy said.

Army 2nd Lt. John Roy E. Baran’s story goes beyond a personal victory. It is a shining beacon of hope for every 4Ps household in the Philippines, proving that no matter how difficult the beginning, the end can always be a masterpiece of courage, faith, and hard work.

#KPAP is the DSWD’s award-winning online documentary which is a joint production of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) and the Digital Media Service (DMS) under the Strategic Communications Group. It is hosted by Information Officer Bianca Piedad-Tamondong and airs every Tuesday over DSWD’s official Facebook page. (KB)