I grow up in the hacienda community in the Municipality of E. B. Magalona where my father was a hacienda driver while my mother is a full-time housewife taking cared my six (6) brothers and I am the youngest and only girl. The income of my father could not support the family with nine members instead our life based on a day to day survival. I can say that we are living in very severe poverty.
I was able to finish high school but out-of-school youth for two years. At 18, I worked in SIMAG Garment Factory for six months and later worked as a Storekeeper of SIMAG Sari-Sari Store, a youth project, to augment our family income. Working in SIMAG opened the opportunity for education to me.
I passed the SIMAG Qualifying Examination for college, and I enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Social Work. Although, SIMAG will pay for my school fees my family could not affort to support my daily allowance especially that my chosen course was offered only at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos, Bacolod City. I decided to join the other working students of SIMAG Training Center that will provide for my allowance. Working and studying was not easy, need sacrifices, and endurance but I survived.
Unfortunately, while I was in my 4th year, I met a car accident with my other two co-working students in which one passed away. I was hospitalized for weeks but survived. Because of trauma, SIMAG sent me home while continuing my schooling. They kept paying my school fees and providing my monthly allowance until I finished my college degree. I passed the Licensure Examination for Social Work.
I am now working in one of the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in Manila and receiving a modest salary to help my family in hacienda. Even my father already retired for being a hacienda driver; our family is still living there.
My years in SIMAG Training Center and associating myself with SIMAG Staff molded me to be reliable, considerate, cooperative, and God-fearing person that SIMAG and my family can be proud of. Looking back on my previous experiences while staying at SIMAG Training Center, I can say that time management, self-discipline, determination, and team player are my best assets that I will bring in attaining my dreams and goals in life.