RICE Den Barros Gasal believes that overcoming poverty gives life deeper meaning.
Today, her family in Dominorog, Talakag, Bukidnon lives more comfortably after years of hard work, sacrifice, and faith—an achievement she proudly shares as a Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) topnotcher.
Ricel Den credits her parents, Dennis and Maricel Gasal, for laying the foundation of their family’s success. Through careful budgeting and relentless effort, they stretched their limited resources to meet daily needs while investing in their children’s future.
In 2009, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office X enrolled the Gasal family in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
At that time, Dennis cultivated a small farm in Purok 5, Dominorog, which they did not own, while Maricel sold balut and penoy and managed a small sari-sari store to help support their household.
Despite their financial struggles, Ricel Den said her parents shielded their children from the weight of hardship.
“When my family joined 4Ps, I was still in elementary school, so life felt normal,” she recalled. “My parents worked hard and never showed us their struggles. It was only when I grew older that I realized our income was unstable and opportunities in our community were limited.”
She identified sustaining daily needs and education as their biggest challenge. Instead of giving up, her parents used these hardships as motivation to strive harder.
After Ricel Den finished elementary school, her parents made a bold decision to move to Cagayan de Oro City with very little money, holding on to the faith that life would improve. For two years, the family lived apart from her father, who stayed in Dominorog to tend the farm and visited when he could.
Meanwhile, her mother worked tirelessly selling balut and penoy and managing a sari-sari store, while Ricel Den and her sister focused on their studies.
Looking back, Ricel Den now understands the quiet sacrifices her parents made. “They carried those struggles silently so we could continue studying and dreaming,” she said.
Now, the family have build their own house and bought a farm to cultivate.
Lessons from Family Development Sessions
Ricel Den actively supported her mother in completing assignments from the Family Development Sessions (FDS), a core component of 4Ps. She also helped prepare for community activities in Talakag, experiences that later made her realize the value of the sessions.
“FDS taught our family to become more organized, plan for the future, and work together,” she said. “I learned that poverty is not just about lacking money. It is also about how families manage their resources, support each other, and remain hopeful.”
Gratitude to 4Ps and DSWD
Ricel Den expressed deep gratitude to DSWD and the 4Ps program for opening doors of opportunity for her family.
“I am forever grateful to the DSWD and 4Ps for the opportunities they gave my family and me,” she said. “I could not have reached my dreams without your support.”
She shared that the program helped her meet school requirements and allowed her parents to better manage their resources. With financial assistance and a scholarship, she focused on her studies and treated academic excellence as a way to give back.
“I gave my best as a form of gratitude and responsibility,” she said. “At the same time, I practiced self-love and valued my well-being, with the support of people who encouraged me.”
A message to fellow 4Ps beneficiaries
Ricel Den urged current 4Ps beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunities given to them.
“Let’s make it count,” she said. “Let us prove we deserve this support by chasing our dreams, becoming achievers, giving back to our communities, and growing into proud contributors to our country.”
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is the Philippine government’s flagship poverty reduction initiative, managed by the DSWD.
The program provides conditional cash transfers to improve the health, nutrition, and education of poor households.
