Many Filipinos dream of becoming engineers, but many also give up along the way, weighed down by the difficulty of the program and the challenges of everyday life.

For Jesa Mae Duavis, long hours of studying and growing up with limited means were not enough to stop her from pursuing her goal. With the support of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), she pressed on—turning a childhood dream into a career as a professional engineer.

In Barangay Panghagban, Buenavista town in Bohol, dreams once had to compete with daily survival. For Jesa Mae and her family, life was shaped by limited resources and the constant worry of how to make ends meet. Like many children from poor households, Jesa grew up knowing that education was her family’s only real chance to rise above poverty.

Jesa was a former monitored child under the 4Ps, a program of the DSWD that provides conditional cash transfer to its beneficiaries with the aim of breaking intergenerational poverty.

Through the 4Ps, her family received regular cash grants provided they meet the health, nutrition, and education requirements. The support helped ensure Jesa could stay in school, remain healthy, and focus on her studies.

Her dedication did not go unnoticed. In 2016, Jesa was recognized as one of the 4Ps Exemplary Child provincial winners, a distinction given to young 4Ps beneficiaries who show excellence and good values at school, at home, and in their communities.

The recognition became a turning point, strengthening her belief that her dreams were valid and achievable.

“As a former Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Child provincial winner, the program inspires me to push forward. So to all dreamers like me – never lose hope. No matter how tough the road may seem, nothing is impossible when you believe in yourself and trust His plan. Your dreams are within reach—go after them,” Jesa shared.

But despite her optimism and encouragement from her family, the road ahead was far from easy. Jesa admitted that pursuing a career in engineering was difficult, weighed down by financial challenges and the pressure of wanting to lift her family out of poverty.

Still, she persevered, leaning on the support of her family, her faith, and the assistance they received from the 4Ps.

“It may be difficult, but it is never impossible. With the support of DSWD and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, I turned challenges into stepping stones toward my dreams,” Jesa said.

Beyond financial aid, Jesa also credits the guidance and values imparted by the program, including the regular monitoring and reminders from the Angels in Red Vests (ARVs), who worked closely with household-beneficiaries to promote responsibility, discipline, and long-term planning.

A decade after she was recognized as an exemplary 4Ps child, Jesa has achieved her dream of becoming a licensed mechanical engineer.

Jesa is now a Project Engineer at Shangri-La Mactan after passing the Licensure Examination in 2025. Her journey reflects how sustained support from the government, paired with grit and determination, can create lasting change.

“This journey has taught me that with determination, the right support, and unwavering faith in God, no obstacle is too great,” Jesa pointed out.

Jesa’s story is one of many that shows what is possible when families are given the opportunity to invest in their children’s future.

From a once-dreaming 4Ps child in Bohol to a professional engineer contributing to the country’s workforce, Jesa Mae is living proof that with the right support, trust in oneself, and faith, breaking the cycle of poverty is possible—and that many more dreams can still be built, one step at a time.

The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program of the Philippine government with the DSWD as the lead agency. (KB)