For Norilyn Adarayan of Agusan del Sur, the dream of becoming a teacher did not come out of nowhere— it began in her childhood.

“Bata pa lang po ako, pangarap ko na po talaga maging isang guro,” Norilyn shared during her guest appearance on Home Eco Nanay, a program of Radyo Magasin 1278 AM on Thursday (February 26).

As a young girl, she would often play teacher with her friends, unknowingly laying the foundation for her future.

“Nakahiligan ko po kasing magturo-turo sa mga kaibigan ko, doon ko narealize na ang sarap pala magturo, kaya pag may nagtatanong sa akin kung ano ang gusto ko paglaki, ang sinasagot ko ay maging guro,” she recalled.

But the path to that dream was far from easy. Growing up, Norilyn faced financial hardship at an early age.

“Elementary pa lang, pinakamalaking hamon na aking naranasan ay kahirapan talaga, especially financial,” she said.

But through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Norilyn and her family slowly got back on their feet.

The 4Ps is a flagship poverty reduction program that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households with the ultimate goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

“Malaki talaga yung tulong ng 4Ps sa mga panahon na yon kasi hindi na nagkakaproblema yung parents ko kung saan kami kukuha ng pambayad sa paaralan. Natutustusan na nila yung aming mga pangunahing pangangailangan,” Norilyn said.

Her family became a beneficiary of 4Ps in 2016. Through perseverance and support from the program, Norilyn continued her education until 2024, the year when she achieved a major milestone— passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

“Hindi ko akalain na… ngayon nakita ko na yung pangalan ko sa screen na lisensyado na ako. Hindi ako makapaniwala, kaya noong pagbasa ko, grabe ang tuwa, naiiyak, halo-halo talaga,” she recalled.

From a struggling elementary student to a Licensed Professional Teacher (LPT), Norilyn’s journey shows the changes in her life since their family become a 4Ps beneficiary.

“Malaki po ang pagbabago mula noong 2016 hanggang ngayon. Mas naging responsable, matiyaga, at determinado ako dahil sa mga pagsubok na pinagdaanan ko noon. Natuto akong pahalagahan ang edukasyon at magsikap para sa magandang kinabukasan,” she said.

Today, Norilyn works at the Provincial Planning and Development Office of Agusan del Sur as a provincial development specialist, proof that her journey did not end with earning her license but continues in public service.

For those who may be facing the same hardships she once endured, Norilyn offers an advice:

“Mangarap lang tayo nang malaki, at sabayan natin ng pagsisikap. Dapat maging determinado tayo kahit mahirap ang buhay. Hindi hadlang ang kahirapan upang hindi natin makamit ang mga pangarap sa buhay.” she said.

Norilyn’s story stands as a testament to how perseverance, family support, and social protection programs like 4Ps can help turn dreams into reality. (CC)