MARILYN: Giving back service to the community
A story of 4Ps monitored child who becomes an agent of change
Testimony of Marilyn F. Quiatchon
DSWD staff and 4Ps Beneficiary
Laua-an, Antique
E.B. MAGALONA, Negros Occidental – “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job, and determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” This quote which I borrowed from Vince Lombardi is my motivation and strength in my everyday life.
I am Marilyn Flores Quiatchon, a proud Angel in Red Vest as I joined the Department in 2023 as a Community Development Worker – Project Development Officer II assigned in this town. It has been my dream to become a Registered Social Worker since our household became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and I am one of the monitored children in the family. Do you know why? because I want to pay back our government for all the opportunities that were given to us. I am not here without the help of our government. Now, this dream is not far to happen because I am now a living testimony of how the program works for me and my family.
Born from poverty, I am the third child among the six siblings. My parents are farm laborers at Brgy. Guinbanga-an, Laua-an, Antique. During my elementary days, I witnessed the struggles of my parents in providing our basic needs, especially food and education. Despite we encountered hardships and problems, we pursued our education. Luckily, we have been selected and registered as eligible beneficiaries of the 4Ps way back years ago. My mother is a grantee and she gained many learnings by attending the monthly Family Development Sessions. One of the best learning she liked most is about financial literacy where she became a responsible parent and wise spender.
This motivates my mother to earn a living by selling delicacies such as caramelized peanut brittle, and banana chips, among others to sustain our daily baon. At a young age, I experienced being bullied even until my teenage life because of my unique hair and skin color. My high school days weren’t that easy. Some people misjudge my ability to finish high school, yet I am so determined to finish my education. I ignored those bad influence people and kept my positive values in life until I graduated from my secondary education.
When I was about to enroll in college, I was depressed because my mother told me they could not afford to send me to college due to a lack of financial support. I obeyed my parents to stop schooling for almost two years and prioritized my older brother to finish his college degree. I decided to work in Manila as a Sales Lady in a grocery store and even a house help to support my brother’s school expenses.
In 2014, my brother graduated as a Marine Engineering at the same year, I quit my job to go back to Antique to pursue my college. Luckily, my mother informed me that I was included in the list of Expanded Student Grant-in Aid Program Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to take the qualifying examination.
I’m so blessed to be one of the Top Passers as I placed Top 9 at our municipality level. I took the course Bachelor of Science in Social Work at Capiz State University-Pilar Campus and my journey in college taught me how to overcome all the hardships and challenges in life even far away from my family.
I graduated in 2018 and after that, I temporarily looked for a job back in Manila to sustain our daily needs. Last year, I went back in Antique to find for a stable job until was hired in DSWD-6. Since then, I have been able to help my family financially and able to repair some parts of our old house to make it more comfortable for them. The good thing is that my eldest brother was also able to aboard in an International Shipping Company. Our household is now Level II. By God’s grace, I am praying that we will reach Level III in due time.
Being a CWD, I can relate to the situation of my fellow 4Ps beneficiaries and I want to help them as far as I can to alleviate their lives from poverty. I want my story to be heard by them so they can be motivated that despite our poor situation, I was able to overcome the challenges and reach my dream in life. Currently, I am preparing to take the Licensure Examination for Social Work this year to become a Registered Social Worker.
For the program and community that I am serving now, my aspiration is to ensure the smooth implementation of the program, follow the mandates of our Department, increase linkages and collaboration with the program partners, and initiate good practices most applicable to the poor, particularly to 4Ps beneficiaries, vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors. * (EB Magalona MOO Team, Negros POO1)
