For Mary Joyce Martinez, a mother of five from Talim Island in Rizal, each day means stretching every penny they had just to put food on the table.
Dreams of becoming someone her children could look up to or a neighbor her community could count on was once a quiet hope, often blurred by the noise of daily hardships and quest for survival.
But in 2013, lady luck smiled on them. Her family became part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)— the flagship poverty-alleviation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
What started as support for her children became the spark that awakened a leader — an advocate, and a woman who found her voice and used it to uplift others.
From small beginnings
Mary Joyce and her family’s story revolved around a small, crowded home tucked in a corner of Barangay Boor in Talim Island, Rizal.
Her husband, Emilito Martinez, would always seize earning opportunities as mechanic and laborer. But it was still quite hard to budget his income for a large family.
“Wala pa po akong trabaho noon. Bale si mister ko lang po ang may trabaho sa sobrang hirap po,” Mary Joyce shared in an interview by the Kwento ng Pag-Asa at Pagbabago or #KPAP, the online documentary of the DSWD.
When the Martinez family was enrolled into the 4Ps in 2013, the entire family felt a big sense of relief.
The cash grant helped the family heads in covering the educational and health needs of the family’s five children.
“Napakaraming sakripisyo na ginawa bilang magulang, lahat po na yong pag kakakitaan pinapasok ko po para lang po may maisuporta sa kanila. [Kaya yung nanggagaling na suporta mula sa 4Ps] napakalaking tulong po talaga sa mga gastusin namin,” Mary Joyce said.
4Ps’ transformative influence
The program’s development initiatives such as the Family Development Sessions also empowered Mary Joyce to be involved beyond the payout lines.
She took on the role of Parent Leader, organizing and guiding others in managing their benefits wisely.
Among those who were impressed by her leadership is Hazel Joyce Ocampo, a 4Ps municipal link officer
“Si Ate Mary Joyce or mas kilala namin as ”Ate MJ,” isa po sya sa pinaka active na parent leader dito sa Barangay Boor so isa po sya sa na identify namin talaga na ah yong community involvement nya dito sa community na sobrang active,” Hazel Joy explained.
Her involvement deepened as she became a Barangay Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Officer. The once-quiet housewife had found her voice and she is now using it to protect others.
Mary Joyce’s metamorphosis did not stop there. It rippled within her family.
Her eldest, John, a monitored child under 4Ps, finished high school with honors and now serves as a Sanguniang Kabataan or SK Chairman in their barangay.
According to John, the support he got from DSWD fueled his determination to better his studies over the years.
“Dati pa talaga, wala ako sa focus. Di ako masyadong ano sa pag aaral. Pero syempre nakikita ko rin ang buhay namin. Meron naman pong tumutulong, bakit hindi ko ibibigay yong part ko bilang isang estudyante nong nag-focus po talaga ako sa pag aaral lagi po akong nasama sa top,” John said.
Thanks to the stability provided by 4Ps and the sacrifices of their parents, another daughter, Maria Cristina, is now attending college in Pampanga.
The rest of the children continue their studies—an achievement that once seemed out of reach.
Emilito, as the head of the family, was happy that his children are now steering a better life, something that he had always wanted for them.
“Wala ho kasi akong pamamana sa kanilang iba kundi ‘yong pag aaral lang kasi ako hindi ako nakatapos kaya lang ang ibibigay ko sa kanila lagi ko naman pong sinasabi sa kanila yon bilang magkakapatid sila,” Emilito shared with a smile filled with a sense of relief.
“Dahil sa 4Ps, nakakaluwag po kami kasi halos naibibigay po sa mga bata yong gusto nila nakapag aral sila ng maayos kung ano po yong mga kailangan sa school na bibili po,” Emilito continued.
4Ps is a start, not a destination
Mary Joyce knows what it feels to struggle finding your ground and purpose when going past the day without a rumbling stomach is almost a luxury.
That’s why today, she dedicates herself to uplift and encourage others—especially mothers like her.
She also actively urges co-beneficiaries to use the support they receive as a starting point, not a destination.
“Gamitin nila po sa tama yong nakukuha nilang payout sa 4P’s kasi kung sa ibang bagay po nila gagamitin, wala pong mangyayari.” Mary Joyce urges.
The Martinez family’s story holds a simple truth: behind every struggling parent is the potential for strength. Behind every child in need is the chance for greatness.
Programs like 4Ps, when paired with willpower and proposed community spirit, can ignite transformations that last a lifetime.
The Martinez family shows that there is greatness in all of us and sometimes, it just takes an extending hand and a tap on the back to uncover it.
KPAP is the award-winning online documentary program of DSWD, aired every Tuesday over the Department’s official Facebook page. (LSJ)