“Education is everything. When we invest in education, we invest in opportunities,” says Edmund C. Ababa.

That is how valuable education is for Edmund, a determined youth from Barili, Cebu, and a proud Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary, who dreamed of giving his family a better life.

For years, Edmund clung to his dream of completing his studies and creating better opportunities, not only for himself but for his loved ones. It was rooted in his experiences with life difficulties during his upbringing.

At a young age, he used to take care of his paralyzed father, Eduardo Ababa, who had a stroke in 2017, at the same time pursuing his studies.

His mother, Gina, became the sole provider, working multiple roles as a housemaid, laundrywoman, and market vendor selling vegetables. It was a hard life, but the reminder of his mother that “education is the only way we can change our lives” became his guiding light.

In 2021, while Edmund was only 18, tragedy struck—his father passed away, after suffering from complications due to diabetes. It was a devastating moment for their family, adding weight to their struggles, and it came at a time when Edmund was still finishing his education.

His family made a living by selling vegetables in the town of Barili, Cebu, and they were constantly struggling financially until they became a 4Ps family beneficiary.

In 2022, the Ababa household became part of 4Ps under set 11A. Through the cash grants received from the program, it helped ease some of her mother’s burden, who was a single mother working as a vegetable vendor, raising six children, and all were studying.

“The cash grants we received were not just financial assistance: they were lifelines that allowed us to dream beyond the limits of our circumstances,” said Edmund.

With the support of the 4Ps and his unwavering determination, Edmund continued his journey. He endured long hours of studying, helped his family whenever he could, and never lost sight of his goal.

Civil engineering was not his first choice. Edmund wanted to take up accountancy, but they could not afford the tuition, allowances, and boarding house in the city.

Since he excelled in mathematics and the Cebu Technological University (CTU) Dumanjug extension campus, a state university near his home, offered a civil engineering program, he took advantage of this opportunity.

Over time, he grew to love the course and is proud of pursuing it.

After years of sacrifice and hard work, Edmund, the second of six siblings, is now a licensed civil engineer.

He graduated in August 2024 and passed the Civil Engineering Licensure Examination in November 2024, becoming the first in his family to hold a professional license—a dream realized.

Currently, Edmund is working as a civil engineer at CEDCO Engineers, a consultancy firm in Cebu that specializes in bridge and highway design. He is assigned under the structural department, assisting the head structural engineer.

Their eldest, Edgene, who graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, is now an accounting personnel, working in Cebu City. Then there’s Lucy, a graduating student taking a degree in secondary education.

The 4Ps monitored children are Angel Mae, Grade 9; Precious, Grade 7; and Regel Anne, the youngest, Grade 4.

Their mother, Gina, also serves as a 4Ps Parent Leader in their community. She continues to sell vegetables in the Mantalongon public market to sustain her children’s education.

As a Parent Leader, Gina advocates for education and health among 4Ps parents in the neighborhood, sharing what she has learned throughout the years and underscoring its importance to uplift their current situation.

Edmund considered his mother the strongest person in their lives. They owed their progress and achievements to her. He wanted to make her and her family proud and show her that all her struggles were not in vain.

Now that he and his sister, Edgene, are both working, they help their other siblings who are still studying and ensure that education remains a priority.

“For someone like me, who did not inherit land or wealth, education is everything. It is the one thing that can truly lift us out of poverty. Many people underestimate its power. When we invest in education, we invest in opportunities. That is why I value it not just as a path to success, but as a means to improve the life of my family and inspire others who are on a similar journey,” said Edmund.

His story is proof that poverty is not a barrier when paired with perseverance and government support. From the humble stalls of a vegetable market to earning a professional license, his journey is an inspiration to many young Filipinos who dare to dream big despite the odds. ###