New teacher credits her bright future to government 4Ps

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan – At 36, Mary Cris Sanchez, a mother of three, proved that age and poverty should not be a hindrance to succeed for she finally achieved a longtime dream to become a teacher.

Sanchez from Altavas, Aklan is one of the 23,378 who passed the September 2016 Elementary Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board of Professional Teachers on Nov. 28.

Sanchez attributed her success to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as her family is one of the 27,197 families benefiting from the government program.

“I am one of the products of 4Ps. If not because of 4Ps, I don’t know what will be my future,” Sanchez shared with the members of the media during a year-end forum spearheaded by the DSWD-6 in Boracay Island on Dec. 2.

Pantawid Pamilya is a conditional cash transfer program of the government for poor families who need to comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers for checkups, and attending the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

Sanchez whose only source of income that time was her meager income as a housemaid and babysitter was enlisted for the program from 2012 and was chosen as a Huwarang Pamilya or model family in the province.

She then took this opportunity to continue her college education and enrolled at Altavas College and took up Bachelor of Elementary Education.

“It is my dream to finish college so I took the opportunity to study,” said Sanchez.

However, no matter how strong, Sanchez felt that the world turned around against her, when her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

For four years while studying, Sanchez divided her time to attend to three children who go to school, an ailing husband, and selling goods to have an income for the family.

Her husband passed away in August.

Her children are G’Reign Grace, 16; G’Reighl Myrrh, 14, and Mico, 12.

Despite all the trials her family is facing, Sanchez took the exam in September for she believed that it is the only way for them to improve their lives.

After two months of waiting, Sanchez finally reaped the fruits of all her hard work through the years.

Sanchez said no one should give up on his or her dream, no matter how long will it take to achieve it.