For Joy Diasen, a dream is a seed that, when planted in faith and tended with relentless work, eventually yields a bountiful harvest.
The 24-year-old from Conner, Apayao, recently made headlines by clinching the eighth spot in the November 2025 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) with a remarkable rating of 92.40%. Her success is more than just an academic milestone; it is the final reaping of a harvest years in the making—a victory over the cycles of poverty.
Growing up as a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Diasen’s young life was defined by simplicity and sweat. “Growing up wasn’t easy,” she recalled in a radio interview. “My parents earned just enough to survive each day, but that was never a reason to stop studying hard.”
To help their parents manage the costs of having five children in school simultaneously, Joy and her sister spent their weekends working on a local farm to earn their school allowance of five pesos a day.
While her own hard work provided the labor, Joy credits the DSWD’s 4Ps for providing the vital inputs her family needed to survive. “I am incredibly thankful we were 4Ps members. It was our backbone during those times when our resources simply weren’t enough,” she said.
Beyond financial aid, her parents cultivated a culture of gratitude. They taught Joy and her siblings to be thankful for the “smallest things,” ensuring that even when their pockets were empty, their spirits remained fertile with hope.
With the support of her older siblings and her cousin, Diasen graduated from Easter Colleges in Baguio City. Her success follows a family trend: three elder siblings have already completed their degrees, while the youngest is currently a college freshman. The family officially exited the 4Ps program in 2019.
“Your background does not define your limitations. We may lack the privileges others have, but that is no reason for our futures to be lacking as well. Work hard, strive, and commit your plans to the Lord,” said Joy, hoping to inspire other 4Ps beneficiaries and those facing similar hardships.//DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT,CHRISTIAN ROBERT M. SANDOVAL
