Testimony of Vanesa Joy Dacunes

4Ps beneficiary, Cum Laude

DINGLE, Iloilo – As the scorching heat of the sun burned down on my skin, I inhaled the polluted smoke from the passing big trucks and cars. Thick sweat ran down my body, and my arms grew numb as I held up the plastic bag filled with mushrooms, or what we simply called “uhong.” Every passing vehicle, I’m praying that one of them would stop and buy so I could go home and use the money for our allowance and food.

“A penny saved is a penny earned,” they say, and I learned that lesson early on. At the age of nine, I experienced selling “uhong” along the highways of our barangay together with my siblings.

I am Vanesa Joy Dacunes, the second daughter of a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary. Let me share with you our life story and how the 4Ps significantly changed our lives.

We are five siblings in our family, with less than two years of age gap between each of us. We were born and raised on the property of our great-grandmother in Brgy. Libo-o, Dingle, Iloilo. My father worked tirelessly as a carpenter and farmer to provide food for our family.

From a young age, I learned how hard life can be. We peddled vegetables in the streets of Pototan, sold “uhong” on highways, and harvested palay rice and monggo seeds. On weekends, my siblings would fetch firewood from distant areas, and we would wash our laundry far away. We lived in a compound where more than ten families shared a single water pump. We could barely afford to buy meat and other foods like what other children are enjoying.

However, for us, we believed that “every cloud has a silver lining,” and we found joy in the simple things: a shared meal, family laughter, and the kindness of our community. We were grateful for simple staples like peanut brittle, coconut candy, butong-butong, and dried fish, learning to appreciate what we had.

Our backyard vegetables were often our main source of food. When we ran out of rice and money, my mother fed us bananas until my father returned from work every weekend. In elementary school, we didn’t have money for recess snacks. My mother would write a note to our auntie who sold snacks at the school canteen, asking if she could lend us some food until we had money.

In 2012, our family was qualified to be a 4Ps beneficiary, which provided the financial support we needed. We were always happy when 4Ps released funds because it meant a small increase in our allowance, from three pesos to five pesos. On special days like our birthdays, we might even have ten pesos. “A little help goes a long way,” and we appreciated every bit of support.

Despite financial difficulties, my father was determined to send us to school, and my mother worked hard, planting vegetables to sell for our school fees. We often helped peel and pack vegetables late into the night. My parents’ love for us was immeasurable—they never gave up, even when it rained or they were sick. They believed in us, and we made them proud by excelling academically. I graduated as class valedictorian, and my siblings received honors, too. Excelling academically helped us secure scholarships for high school, covering our miscellaneous fees.

In high school, I not only excelled in academics but also participated in extracurricular activities like journalism, spelling contests, and quiz bees. My elder sister and I won awards in journalism contests, despite sometimes lacking the money to attend. Our teachers helped by paying for our registrations, shirts, and food. We went to competitions with only fifty pesos to share, but we always brought home awards in gratitude for their kindness.

I was in Grade 10 when my younger brother entered high school, making us four high school students in the family. I also worked as a house helper to help support my family. My parents were hesitant, but I insisted. I graduated junior and senior high school with High Honors from Rufino G. Palabrica Sr. National High School. I pursued senior high school at St. Vincent College, Pototan Campus, taking Accountancy and Business Management, and was granted free tuition. I was also the School Student Council Chairman. I chose St. Vincent because of the more affordable transport costs.

In 2020, the pandemic brought new challenges. My elder sister struggled with online classes, and we didn’t have a proper phone or internet connection for her to attend lessons. I decided to forgo my dream of studying Accountancy and enrolled in a nearby college to save on expenses. It was a difficult decision for our family.

Thanks to scholarships and 4Ps, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management at West Visayas State University-Pototan Campus. Studying during the pandemic, with its online classes and poor internet connection, was difficult. But I recently graduated Cum Laude, received two Service Awards, and led two major school organizations that received Outstanding School Organization Awards.

I am now a step closer to my dreams and hope to make my parents even prouder. My experiences have made me stronger, and I am grateful that God has guided me throughout. May my story inspire others to work hard and remain patient in the face of adversity. No hardship can stop you if you remain grateful and faithful. The struggles you face will serve as life lessons, and as I always remind myself – “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that count.” (Submitted by Dingle Municipal Link, Christine T. Caro of Iloilo-Guimaras POO)