For Key Princes Santiago, nothing is impossible if you work hard for your dreams in life.

Key Princes, 18 years old from Brgy. Maglinao, Basay, Negros Oriental, finished her Senior High School with flying colors.

As a young child, she focused on her academic studies, and her perseverance paid off with academic achievements. She was a consistent first honor student from pre-school to grade six and graduated as the Class Valedictorian in elementary.

“Pag-first year nako sa highschool, nag-second rank ko pero wala ko na-discourage kay ga-adjust pa sad ko ato pagtungtong nako og highschool (When I was a first-year high school student, I ranked second in the class. But it did not discourage me to persevere because I had to adjust, yet, at that time),” said Key Princes.

She persevered and completed her Grade 10 on top of her class in Maglinao National High School.

Key Princes’s family is one of the partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in the town of Basay. Her father, Francis Ortiz, is a construction worker and currently working in Cavite, while her mother, Karen Santiago, is a housewife and an active 4Ps Parent Leader in their barangay.

“My parents decided that I study my Senior High School in Imus City, Cavite, because my father is also working as a construction worker here,” added Key Princes.

Key Princess shared that she was still five years old then when her father left and went to Manila to look for a job to sustain their daily needs.

“My father has been working so hard to send me and my siblings to school and to provide for our school needs. It has been a long time since my father left, but we managed to survive, especially from all the trials that we have encountered as a family,” she said.

The eldest of four siblings, Key Princes, aimed to study and work hard to top her class. She gives importance to education because she believed it is the key to unlock her dreams in life.

When their family became part of the national government’s major poverty alleviation program, it helped sustained their family through the cash grants they received for the education and health aspect of the family.

“I would always be a proud 4Ps child-beneficiary. The program had greatly helped in sustaining my education. For my part, I have to continue to study hard and help my mother do the household chores. As a catechist in our local parish, I also help other children in the community by sharing bible verses and lessons. I wanted to be an inspiration to other children who also have the same dreams as me,” shared Key Princes.

While finishing her studies, she also worked as a beauty salon assistant to augment her allowance.

Her efforts did not go to waste, as she graduated in Senior High School with Honors in General Flaviano Yengko Senior High School.

As Key Princes enters the university, she will bring all the values her parents instilled in her.

“I want my parents to be proud of me and be a good example to my three younger siblings. I hoped I could be able to achieve my dreams in life so that I could help my family,” ended Key Princes. ###

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