Mary Joy has shown remarkable initiative in augmenting their household income. She began a small-scale livelihood venture by producing and selling pichi-pichi to help meet their daily needs and support her children’s educational expenses.

Further strengthening her livelihood efforts, Mary Joy became one of the recipients of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) assistance, receiving Fifteen Thousand Pesos (₱15,000.00) in August 2025 as start-up capital. This financial support enabled her to expand and formalize her small enterprise.

Through valuable interventions and her own perseverance, Mary Joy successfully established and registered her enterprise under the business name “JOY’s Food Processing,” which is duly certified and registered with the Department of Trade and Industry. The acquisition of her business registration marked a significant milestone in her entrepreneurial journey, symbolizing her commitment to operating a legitimate, compliant, and sustainable enterprise.

Her determination and entrepreneurial spirit reflect her proactive approach to overcoming economic challenges.

Mary Joy is married to a hardworking and family-oriented husband who earns a living as a barber. Despite the modest and sometimes unpredictable nature of his income, the couple works collaboratively to provide for the needs of their four children—Adriana Margu, Princess Eunice, Alvin Jee, and Harvie Jr.—all of whom are currently enrolled in school. Mary Joy and her husband strongly uphold the value of education, recognizing it as a fundamental pathway toward securing a better and more stable future for their children.

Since becoming a member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2023, Mary Joy has consistently demonstrated active and meaningful participation in program and community activities. She regularly attends community assemblies, pahina sessions, and other barangay-led initiatives.

In addition, she diligently participates in Family Development Sessions (FDS), where she gains essential knowledge on responsible parenthood, health and nutrition, education, disaster preparedness, and family values. She conscientiously applies these learnings within her household to strengthen family relationships and promote overall well-being.

As part of her capacity-building development, she actively participated in various entrepreneurial and technical trainings. On September 11–12, 2024, she attended the Entrepreneurial Mindsetting cum Training on Business Expenses and Savings, conducted through the partnership of the Sustainable Livelihood Program and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The training enhanced her knowledge in financial literacy, proper expense documentation, budgeting, and the importance of savings for business sustainability and growth.

Moreover, on September 24, 2025, she successfully completed the training on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Food Safety held at the Jabonga Municipal Gym. This training provided her with essential competencies in proper food handling, sanitation procedures, quality assurance, and compliance with safety standards—ensuring that her products meet acceptable health and regulatory requirements.

At present, her pichi-pichi products are marketed within the community and available for pre-order. Her business has shown steady growth and increasing demand, contributing additional income to their household and strengthening their financial stability.

Seeing her growth, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga has been exceptionally proud of Mary Joy and her family for their inspiring growth and perseverance. The Field Office, together with the 4Ps Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) is committed to supporting her and her family’s continued prosperity.

Mary Joy Cebrian’s journey exemplifies the transformative impact of government support programs combined with personal determination, responsible parenthood, and active community engagement. Her story stands as a testament to resilience, initiative, and the pursuit of long-term socio-economic improvement for her family.