MAKATO, Aklan – Another two beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ranked ninth and tenth in the November 2021 Midwife Licensure Examination based on the result released on Friday last week (November 12).
The top 9 is Star J-Lyn P. Mercado of Banate, Iloilo while the Top 10 is Judilyn Vergara of Makato, Aklan. Both are graduates of Diploma in Midwifery at the Iloilo Doctor’s College.
STAR J-LYN’S JOURNEY
Star J-lyn is an academic achiever from elementary to senior high school and even up to her two-year Diploma in Midwifery where she graduated as Valedictorian and ranked Top 9.
As the eldest daughter among the four siblings, Star J-Lyn preferred to grab the opportunity to accept the scholarship offered by the Department of Health (DOH) because she knew that her parents could not send her to college.
In 2011, Star J-Lyn’s family was included in the 4Ps. She and her two other siblings were monitored children by the program. At that time, her mother started planting and selling a variety of plants and flowers while her father worked as a driver.
Years have passed, it was a blessing when their father was regularized as a heavy-equipment driver of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). However, many challenges came into their life that tested their patience, relationship, and financial capacity.
Their mother had an ectopic pregnancy and the following year, their house was damaged by Super Typhoon Yolanda. The family was financially drained but God has sent angels for them through other people to help them with their finances. Also, through the help of the government, they received financial assistance of P10,000 to rebuild their house. Their house was built through everyone’s cooperation.
“Hindi man ito malaki but dito kami nagsimulang mangarap uli dahil nagawa ito sa tulong ng bawat miyembro ng pamilya,” Star J-Lyn said. In 2019, another problem has shaken the family when their mother had to undergo intestinal operation. The operation was a little bit sensitive but it was successfully done.
“Minsan tinanong ko sa sarili ko kung kailan kaya matatapos ang pagsubok sa buhay namin. Pero hindi talaga kami sumuko at patuloy lang na lumalaban sa buhay. Bitbit pa rin namin ang aming pangarap na balang araw aasenso din ang buhay namin at masabi ko na na break talaga namin ang cycle of poverty sa aming pamilya,” she said.
Finally, one of their prayers was answered when Star J-Lyn passed the board and soon she will be graduating next year. Her brother next to her is also studying, at the University of Iloilo (UI-Phinma), taking up Marine Engineering. He is also an academic scholar.
Her two other siblings are still in high school and are currently being monitored by the program after Star J-Lyn and her brother have already reached the age of 18.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD at iba pang national government sa patuloy na pag-alalay sa amin lalo na sa aming pag-aaral. Nagpapasalamat din ako sa Diyos at patuloy nya kaming ginagabayan at hindi pinapabayaan,” said Star J-Lyn.
JUDILYN’S VERSION OF SUCCESS
For her part, Judilyn’s family lives in Bicol where the head of the family used to work as a company driver. When the head of the family died, they moved to their mother’s hometown in Makato, Aklan.
At the age of six, Judilyn witnessed the struggles and sacrifices of her mother raising three of them. There was even a time that their mother worked as a nanny to support their studies and other needs. In God’s grace, they were able to survive with the help of their aunt who works as a domestic helper.
The family felt grateful when they became Pantawid beneficiaries. It was a huge turning point in their lives. Through the program, they were able to adjust to the challenges of the vast changing economy and were able to support the educational and health needs of each family member.
As a daughter of a single parent and a financially- struggling family, Judilyn knew how it was to not have the things that other children enjoy. Despite the numerous struggles they experienced growing up, they never complained, instead, they took these as challenges and motivation to do better in their studies.
When the opportunity knocked on the door for Judilyn through the scholarship on Midwifery, she was hesitant to accept it because she had no idea about the course and her dream was supposed to enroll in a tourism course. She also thought about the distance and the amount of time she will be spending away from her family. However, poverty in life pushed her to sacrifice a bit so that she could finish any course and find a better job.
She decided to accept the scholarship of the Department of Health (DOH) and started a new chapter of her life in Iloilo City. Judilyn gradually embraced her fate. She learned to love the course and did her very best to become the best version of herself not only to finish her studies but to reach the dreams of her family as well.
She only wished to pass the licensure examination and be able to practice the profession that she devoted her efforts with but because of her determination, she did not only pass the exam but was gifted with the chance to top it.
Judilyn expresses her gratitude to the program and to the people who have helped her from the very start. She knows that the journey ahead will never be easy, much more the journey towards breaking the cycle of poverty but as long as her family believes in her, she will survive.
Both Star J-Lyn and Judilyn will be finishing the Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in April next year (the one they finished is a two-year diploma course to take the Midwifery board). As a return of service to the government, they will be rendering eight years of public service. They will be deployed at any point of Region 6 particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA). Both said, if they will be invited to become the resource persons for the Family Development Session (FDS), they are much willing to share their knowledge with their co-beneficiaries.
Aside from them, 18 other 4Ps beneficiaries in Aklan also passed the board examination. They are Rhea Mae E. Feliciano, Andria D. Sapico, Marc Oliver S. Feliciano, Renalyn F. Gregorio, and Ricagin Mae Tiu, all of Altavas. Also, Casy Marie S. Sauza, and Joel M. Cuaterno Jr., all of Balete; Hannah May S. Patricio of Nabas, and Rena Marie R. Insecto of Malinao.
On the other hand, three passers are from Libacao namely Chingbe R. Francisco, Jonica A. Colas, and Angelyn B. Villorente while aside from Top 3, Marie Joy Cristhel Nacor, four other passers were from Madalag namely Dandy D. Gregorio, Alvin T. Zaquita, Jomar D. Terano, and Cheryy Mae D. Nabalde. For Makato, aside from Judilyn, Anthonette E. Borlado also passed the board./dswd6
On the photo: Star J-Lyn and Judilyn during their graduation photo ops.