Anna Marie Catina Catimbal

Anna is a little girl with a big dream. She is the eldest child of her parents, Arlene and Edwin.
Born with challenges in life, Anna is beyond her situation. Her mother is a housewife while
her father is a pedicab driver and at times a construction worker. She has a little sister that is
looking out on her that’s why she strives hard to be an inspiration and a good example to
lead.

Ever since she started schooling, her parents knew that she is a brilliant child. She received
awards from kindergarten and up to now still striving in 7th Grade. (Kindergarten - Top 6,
Grade 1 – Top 8, Grade 2 – Top 7, Grade 3 – Top 4, Grade 4 – Top 4, Grade 5 – Top 4,
Grade 6 – Top 4, Grade 7 – present) She is a consistent top student since then and active in
many extra-curricular activities. She won awards such as 1st Place in a Spelling Quiz Bee
competition, 3rd Place in Essay Writing, 8th Place in Copyreading and Headline Writing, and
3rd place in Nutrition Month Drawing Contest. She is also into sports like Baseball (Grade 3
and 4) and Soccer (Grade 5) where she became a player representing their school. And she
also has leadership skills wherein she became the Vice President of Supreme Pupil
Government (Grade 6) at her school, Polo National High School. With one of their projects,
“Tara Basa Tuwing Sabado”, she had a chance to teach out of school youth to learn how to
read. Every Saturday, together with her organization co-members, they give time to help the
community raised youths through education.

With her untiring effort to be a productive and excellent student, she never forgets to be a
good daughter and sister at home. She helped her little sister in her projects and
assignments. She also helped with household chores despite the school works she just
finished. Anna is such a good daughter according to her mom. A shy girl but brave to
toughen up on life’s challenges. She is the least to boast of her accomplishments because
she’s focused on how to be more. The fire in her heart to reach her dream is her driving
force and that’s to have their own house for her parents someday. She’s looking forward to
limitless opportunities that she can take for her family. The nightmare of her past is her
biggest fear. The hardship they experienced in their everyday life looking for a house to rent,
and food to fill their hungry stomachs. Now, that they are far from their situation before, she
can’t thank enough the City Government of Valenzuela for the help they have been receiving
since day one.

Anna didn’t forget a single day to be thankful to the Lord for His constant provision to her
family. She is most grateful that her family was chosen to be one of the beneficiaries of the
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the City Government of Valenzuela. It started
in 2008 as a poverty-alleviation program of the national government. The program selects
families who most need assistance and provides them with a minimum monthly stipend of
Php 1900.00: Php 500 for health and nutrition, Php 300 for the education in Elementary (for
her little sister) and Php 500 education in High School (for her as a High school student), and
Php 600.00 for Rice Subsidy.

Because of 4Ps, Anna’s father has purchased a pedicab as a source of their everyday needs.
With wise handling of cash incentives, slowly they bought appliances that once they’ve only
dreamed of. She is happy to sleep with foam in her bed and living in a decent apartment.
Unlike their struggle before, Anna is more eager to study harder to achieve her dreams.
There is no hindrance to finishing her studies as long as she will remain focused and inspired
because of the help she has been receiving. And as a giveback, she is more determined to
give her best in everything she will do. And as she promised, she will not waste this
opportunity and will come back successful in her future. To be an inspiration to all youth, that
poverty is never a hindrance in achieving one’s dream but a driving force to be successful in
whatever they can ever dream of.