As a flagship program of the Philippine government in human capital development, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) aims to empower children, instill values, and equip families with life skills.

For Atty. Golda Meir V. Piñon, a former 4Ps monitored child from Ilocos Region, the program was indeed life-changing as it helped her access education, realize her full potential, and achieve her goals in life.

“Gusto ko pong maging isang abogado.” 

This was the answer of Golda when asked about her childhood dream. Her inspiration came from her mother’s former employers—both lawyers—whom she often stayed with during summer vacations while her mother worked as a household helper.

 “Parehong abogado ang mag-asawang amo ng mama ko at kasa-kasama niya ako noon tuwing bakasyon sa eskwelahan. Inspirasyon ko man sila, parang suntok sa buwan na maging kagaya ko sila dahil mahirap lang kami,” she recalled.

This year, that dream came into reality, as Golda earned her “Atty” title after passing the 2025 Board Examinations and being one of the 5,594 passers out of 11,420 takers. 

Looking back, Atty. Golda’s early life was marked by responsibility. At just four years old, she witnessed her mother become a solo parent. As the eldest of three siblings, she learned the importance of perseverance and hard work early on. 

Despite life’s hardships, she remained steadfast in her education, graduating high school as Salutatorian. This, with the help of monthly educational cash grants they received from the program. 

“Hindi ko sinukuan ang pag-aaral kasi alam kong iyon ang pinakasusi sa tagumpay na laging pinapaalala ng mama ko,” Atty. shared.

Her academic promise earned her a scholarship through the Commission on Higher Education’s Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), a program that prioritizes 4Ps household beneficiaries. The scholarship enabled her to pursue higher education and continue chasing her long-held dream of becoming a lawyer.

Yet, for Golda, the support went beyond financial aid. 

Her family became a beneficiary of the program in February 2012 and exited in March 2022, as there were no eligible family members remaining for monitoring.

“Bilang isang solo parent ang mama ko, napakalaking tulong ng mga FDS [Family Development Sessions] sa aming pamilya,” she emphasized. 

Her mother attended these monthly sessions, but the lessons extended to the entire household. 

“Lahat ng natutunan ni mama patungkol sa financial literacy, tamang pagba-budget, disaster preparedness, pagpapahalaga sa education, at pamilya ay ibinabahagi niya sa amin,” Atty. Golda added.

Through the FDS, their family learned to manage limited resources, prepare for emergencies, and prioritize education. The sessions instilled discipline, accountability, and a deep understanding of responsible decision-making. 

“Napakaganda na may proper monitoring ang 4Ps. Hindi lang basta ayuda. May mga tanong, may gabay, at may direksyon. Sinisigurado nilang ang tulong ay nagagamit nang tama at nagbubunga,” Atty. Golda said.

Today, Atty. Golda stands as living proof that sustainable change arises not merely from financial assistance but from knowledge, values, and life skills—the very lessons imparted by the FDS. 

Atty. Golda is one of the more than 39,800 4Ps monitored children who passed their respective board and licensure examinations, according to the latest available data of the program.

Her dream of becoming a lawyer has become a reality, reflecting the core mission of the 4Ps, which is empowering families through education, values formation, and life skills so that children from poor households can break the cycle of poverty and build brighter futures. #