In Barangay Santiago, Loreto, Dinagat Islands, a small group of women is quietly changing the shape of their community. The Santiago Women’s Organization, led by Janice Gonce Lambunao, a devoted 4Ps beneficiary, has grown into a refuge of hope, strength, and shared purpose. What began as a circle of neighbors has become a lifeline: 60 active members, 26 of whom are also 4Ps beneficiaries, who show up for one another with courage and conviction.

For these women, the organization is far more than meetings and projects. It is where fears are softened by friendship, where confidence is learned through practice, and where the simple act of gathering becomes an act of resistance against helplessness. “The organization truly helps us become knowledgeable, responsible, and empowered women. It also made us realize the power of unity,” says Janice, a statement that captures the group’s heartbeat.

Their achievements are concrete and wide-reaching. One member — a Parent Leader under the 4Ps program — was honored as the Best Parent Leader in the Province of Dinagat Islands, proving that when women are given the chance to lead, they do so with excellence. The group has organized clean-up drives that keep neighborhoods livable, joined fire protection trainings that protect families, and taken to the stage with Zumba performances that lift spirits while promoting health. Their Zumba entry won recognition as the most reacted video and best health promotion piece — small trophies that signal a much larger victory: women teaching their community how to move, breathe, and prioritize well-being.

Membership here opens doors beyond awards. It offers stress relief after long days, a safe space to grow self-worth, and a classroom for understanding rights and gender equality. These women are learning to claim their voices, to advocate for their families, and to stand together as responsible, engaged constituents — not just for their households but for the wider 4Ps community.

What makes the Santiago Women’s Organization special is how ordinary acts build extraordinary change. A clean-up drive becomes a lesson in stewardship. A dance becomes a public-health lesson disguised as joy. A training becomes readiness that could save lives. Each activity is stitched together by patience, persistence, and a steady, communal belief that they are the backbone of a healthier, kinder barangay.

Janice Gonce Lambunao, a member of the Santiago Women’s Association, recalls their lack of confidence in the impact their association has in their community, and is delighted to have been proven otherwise.

“Sa una, kulang kami sa kumpiyansa, walay gahum ug nagduha-duha nga dili kami makahatag ug positibong epekto sa among katilingban. Karon, nahibalo kami nga aduna diay mi kusog ug kaabtik nga makausab sa among komunidad,” she remarked. (“We were once women who doubted our strength, powerless in our own eyes. But today, we rise with confidence, knowing that together we can create a positive impact and transform our society.”)

In a place where opportunities can be thin, the organization cultivates abundance: confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging. They transform challenges into stepping stones and private struggles into shared victories. Together, they prove that empowerment is not only an idea — it is a practice, lived daily in small, brave decisions.

For the women of Barangay Santiago, joining the organization is a declaration: that their lives matter, that their labor counts, and that when they lift each other up, entire families and the community rise with them. Their story is a reminder that change often begins in the quiet insistence of women who refuse to be invisible.

Truly, 4Ps has done more than give cash assistance; it brought mothers together and gave them reasons and resources to be strong for their children. Through its conditionalities and regular gatherings, 4Ps created safe spaces for learning, for sharing parenting knowledge, and for collective problem-solving. In Barangay Santiago, mothers used those opportunities to learn about health and nutrition, ensure their children stayed in school, prepare for emergencies, and lean on each other during hard times. What started as a financial lifeline became a community of care: women who not only manage household needs, but who also lead, advocate, and build a steadier future for their families — a clear reminder that 4Ps nurtures resilience and unity as much as it alleviates poverty.

Republic Act No. 11310 or the 4Ps Act, which was launched in 2008 and formally institutionalized in 2019, serves as the country’s primary poverty alleviation strategy and human capital investment initiative. It grants conditional cash assistance to qualified poor households for up to seven (7) years, aiming to enhance their health, nutrition, and education.