Marck Lenard Gundran from Tubao, La Union is a former monitored child of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
And Marck is no stranger to sacrifices. He used to watch his parents set aside their own dreams and ambitions to provide for their children’s education and basic needs.
But Marck knew that his dreams did not have to be sacrificed, especially with his parents and a strong support system behind him — all rooting for him to succeed.
“Hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pangarap. Ngunit higit sa lahat, ang pangarap ay hindi dapat manatiling salita lang. Kailangan itong trabahuhin at paghirapan,” Marck often reminds himself and his fellow 4Ps beneficiaries.
After passing the 2025 Licensure Examination for Registered Electrical Engineers, Marck’s dreams are shining brighter than ever.
His journey was not without challenges, though, as Marck grew up in poverty. But through firm determination and support from programs like the 4Ps, he charged toward the future full of hope and opportunities waiting.
As recalled by Marck, his father worked as a laborer, while his mother earned a small honorarium as a barangay health worker. Every centavo they earned went to putting food on the table and making sure their children could attend school.
That is why when the family became part of the 4Ps in 2012, it brought so much hope and light to the family.
The monthly cash grants kept the Gundran children in school, and for Marck, the lessons from family development sessions (FDS) and youth development sessions (YDS) were just as important.
Eventually, Marck’s academic achievement combined with his consistent determination signed him up with the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) scholarship program in college.
The educational support helped but did not totally put financial struggle out of sight, especially as Marck navigated a very complex, and ‘expensive’ course.
The young man’s will to succeed however, never dulled. Even during nights of studying on an empty stomach, days of wondering how to make it through the next semester, he was able to push through.
And just like that, everything paid off in the end. Marck did not only make it through the next semester, but he also earned the title of Engineer before his name.
Now, Marck is determined to lift his family out of poverty and inspire others in his community.
“Nais kong maging inspirasyon na sa kabila ng kahirapan, hindi tayo dapat mawalan ng pangarap,” Marck said when asked for words he would like to say to fellow 4Ps beneficiaries.
“Kung ako ay nagtagumpay, kaya mo rin. Mangarap ka. Kumilos ka. Tumindig ka. Dahil ang tagumpay ay para sa lahat ng may tapang, tiwala, at tamang puso,” Marck said.
The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18.
And Marck’s story mirrors the mission of 4Ps — to give children from disadvantaged families a fair shot at success. (LSJ)
