He learned to fish at age nine, so he can help his parents support the family and has taken care of his five younger siblings, especially the second one, Marco, who has orthopedic impairments and special needs.

“If you want to succeed and attain something, you must have the interest and must work with love,” said Meco Alvarez Cantanero, 18 years old, a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary from Poblacion I, Babatngon, Leyte.

At dawn and as early as one o’clock in the morning, late at night, or sometimes the entire night, Meco would go fishing, with or without his father,  if the latter has another job to take on. This is for them to earn money or to have something to eat at least.

Nevertheless, even if they were struggling, Meco did not neglect his studies. He has persevered until he graduated in Grade 12 with Academic Excellence award last April 4, 2018, at Malibago National High School.

Around 16,032 4Ps children beneficiaries are expected to graduate this year in the Eastern Visayas region.

Furthermore, his parents shared that Meco and his siblings are diligent in their studies,  and expressed that other parents should also work hard for their children and prioritize the latter’s’ needs. Father is Reynaldo, 42 years old, fisherman and laborer, and mother is Nerlita, 40 years old, working as a Job Order in the Babatngon Municipal Office and currently undergoing the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) dressmaking training for additional income in the future,

“I have confidence in myself, but there are things I cannot do because there are barriers such as money. Nevertheless, I don’t take it to heart and just keep on since God exists and nothing is impossible with Him and with our own determination,” Meco expressed. “I put in a lot of effort in everything. I even have to work first so I could buy my phone and later on buy load so I could access the internet and do school researches.”

He can see his parents strive hard, so he strive even harder.

Meco then shared that when his family became a beneficiary of 4Ps, with the Family Development Sessions (FDS) and the regular conditional cash grants, his parents were already able to buy them all of their requirements in school. Consequently, with their new uniforms, bags, shoes, and other things, they became inspired to study more. For them,  it felt different compared before when they would go to school on damaged slippers and with torn garments.

Indeed, he believes that if he finish schooling and have his own automotive business, he will become more successful, he’ll get a job, and be able to fully support his family and even their community.