Behind every success is a history of hidden sacrifices, and for Denver Maennard Baldogo of Anao, Tarlac, his journey is a testament to what happens when a persevering individual meets the right opportunity.

Long before he was wearing a hard hat and overseeing projects, Denver’s family faced the harsh realities of poverty as there were days when they felt completely cornered, unsure of how they would even afford their next meal.

Then, a big change happened when their family became beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

4Ps is the flagship poverty alleviation program of the Government that provides conditional cash grants to poor families, specifically for the education and health of the children. Ultimately, the program is designed to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty by investing in human capital and empowering marginalized families toward self-sufficiency.

“Ang buhay namin noon, wala pa ang 4Ps, napakahirap, meron ‘yong time na hindi namin alam kung paano namin itatawid ang pang-araw-araw namin,” Denver recalled.

For Denver’s family, the intervention did more than just put food on the table, as it provided the vital support needed to keep the children in school. The monthly 4Ps Family Development Sessions (FDS) conducted by the DSWD also opened their minds to better ways of living.

He credits these sessions for teaching them discipline and the family values that lay the groundwork for true success.

“Para sa akin, marami [ang naitulong], kasi bukod sa financial na tulong, marami kaming natutunan sa mga monthly FDS, natuto kaming lalong paunlarin ang antas ng aming pamumuhay,” Denver explained.

Despite facing obstacles, giving up was never an option in their household. Armed with the desire to rise out of poverty and the gains achieved by his family through the 4Ps, Denver used their struggles as the motivation to keep moving forward.

Dreams finally achieved

After years of hard work, in April 2025, Denver officially earned his title as a Licensed Electrical Engineer after passing the challenging board exam.

That milestone paved the way for his current career as a Site Engineer at Power Core, where he actively applied his degree and contributed to the industry.

Even with his newfound professional success, Denver never forgets where he came from. He dedicates his achievements to his family and the DSWD for the assistance extended to this family when they needed it the most.

“Kami ay nagpapasalamat nang malaki dahil sa tulong na aming natanggap, para po sa amin, malaking tulong po sa amin ‘yon, lalo na sa aming mga natutunan sa mga FDS,” Denver happily said. (KI)