“No dreams are too high for those whose spirits are undaunted and with might.” This has been proven true by Frederick Ramirez and Joshen Nazario, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), who have both demonstrated excellence in their chosen field of sports despite the hardships of life.
After losing his mother in 2016, Frederick’s dream of having a good future seemed out of reach. His father earned a meager income as a coastal fisherman in La Union. However, with the help of 4Ps, Frederick was able to pursue his studies and become a student-athlete at Jose Rizal University-Vicente Fabella. He was recently part of the Philippine team that won the gold medal in the men’s 4x400m relay event at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia. The team beat Thailand by just 0.01 second, with a time of 3 minutes and 7.22 seconds. Frederick also won a bronze medal in the men’s 400m event at the SEA games.
Joshen, a native of Brgy. Liloan, Ormoc City, is the first-ever Ormocanon to bring home a silver medal in the history of Palarong Pambansa in the men’s artistic gymnastics category, both in vault and individual all-around. He is the sixth among the seven children of Rodela and Rowena Nazario. Despite their financial struggles, Mrs. Nazario is very proud of the achievements of not only Joshen but all of her children. She is also grateful to be a beneficiary of 4Ps, a government program that helps to provide for the needs of her children, particularly in health and education.
The stories of Frederick and Joshen are a testament to the power of determination and hard work. They show us that with the right support, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter how humble their beginnings.
The 4Ps is a flagship social protection Program of the Philippine government aimed at improving the health, nutrition, and education of poor households. Through conditional cash transfers, the program aims to break the cycle of poverty and provide opportunities for families to build better futures for themselves and their children.