“Pinatunayan ko na ang isang Ati ay maaaring maging lisensyadong propesyonal at may kakayahang maglingkod sa bayan.”

These were the words of Ronenmae Espartero Elosendo, an Ati and former monitored child of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), who is now a licensed criminologist.

“Ako si Ronenmae Espartero Elosendo, nagmula sa bayan ng Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. Ang aming angkan ay kabilang sa mga Ati. Mahirap ang aming buhay kaya ang aming sambahayan ay naging benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) at ako ay isa sa mga minomonitor na bata,” Ronenmae said through a letter she sent to the DSWD.

For the first time in the Elosendo family’s history and also in their community, a member of the Ati indigenous people (IP) crossed the line between dreaming and becoming.

And that someone is Ronenmae. It did not happen all at once, nor without struggle, but when it did, it changed everything.

Ronenmae’s journey was shaped by hardship and resilience and now stands as a testament on how the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the 4Ps program, can become a bridge between adversity and aspiration.

From an early age, Ronenmae understood what it meant to live on the fringes. As an Ati, she grew up facing discrimination, a burden she carried alongside her family’s poverty. Yet instead of breaking her, these experiences became the very fuel that propelled her forward.

“Bilang isang Ati, lumaki akong nakararanas ng diskriminasyon dahil sa aking kulay at sa tribong aking pinagmulan… Ang sakit na ito ang nagsilbing lakas ko upang magsumikap at patuloy na lumaban sa hamon ng buhay,” Ronenmae said in an interview.

Every day, Ronenmae and her siblings would walk four kilometers to school under the scorching sun and pouring rain. Her farmer-parents toiled tirelessly to support her education, holding on to a dream that had once been out of reach for them.

“Mula pa noon, hindi naging madali ang aking pinagdaanan… Malaking tulong ang programang ito sa aming pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain, kalusugan, at gastusin sa pag-aaral,” the former 4Ps monitored child said.

Through it all, the 4Ps became their steady pillar—helping meet the family’s daily needs and ensuring that Ronenmae stayed in school. But beyond financial support, the program nurtured something deeper: a sense of purpose.

“Nagsilbi itong inspirasyon upang ipangako ko sa aking sarili na hindi ako susuko kahit gaano kahirap ang buhay, dahil may pamilya akong umaasa at may pamahalaang sumusuporta sa aking pag-aaral,” Ronenmae said.

Armed with determination and guided by a dream to protect her people, Ronenmae pursued a degree in BS Criminology. For her, education was not just a personal ambition. It was also a weapon against injustice.

In February 2026, Ronenmae faced one of the biggest challenges of her life: the Criminologist Licensure Examination. When the results came in, they marked not just a victory, but a breakthrough for her entire community.

As a licensed criminologist, Ronenmae sets her sights on joining the Philippine National Police (PNP). Her goal is clear—to stand at the frontlines, not only as an enforcer of the law, but also as a voice for those who have long been unheard and discriminated against.

Ronenmae’s story is more than an individual success; it is a powerful narrative of inclusion, empowerment, and transformation achieved through the support of the government – through the 4Ps of DSWD.

For Ronenmae, the journey does not end with her achievement. It begins anew—with a mission to ensure that no child in her community grows up without someone to defend their rights and dignity.

In her triumph, the bridge built by the DSWD has carried not just one dream across—but the hopes of the marginalized IP communities toward a more just and equal future. (KB)