SHE woke up early morning to catch up with all the chores expected of her as a housemaid.
Ruth Ann Azucena of Brgy. Mandu-awak, San Dionisio, Iloilo was 17 years old way back then. She decided to work as stay-in house maid in Iloilo City after her parents refused to enroll her in college. Her parents’ disappointment stemmed from their experience with her two older sisters who got married early without finishing their college.
As a result, they did not allow Ruth to enroll in college because of fear that Ruth may also follow the footsteps of her two sisters. Even if she promised to study well, Ruth was not able to sway the decision of her parents who were also hard-up in their daily expenses plus three of her siblings were enrolled in high school and elementary.
One day, a family friend in Iloilo City was looking for a stay-in housemaid Ruth volunteered to work just to make herself busy and to save some money for her next enrollment. Being a housemaid is not an easy task for this little girl.
Everyday, she washes clothes, cleaning the house, cook food, and prepare the needs of four children before going to their respective school. Ruth sacrifices all these hardships for more than eight months. She seldom went home to save the expenses. Mobile phone is the only device she could directly communicate with her family once she misses them much.
Unexpectedly, she received a phone call from her mother informing her about the examination for Student Grant-in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA). Her mother told her once she will pass the examination, scholarship will be granted to her.
Ruth’s family has been included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for almost 6 years already.
Ruth did not let the opportunity pass. She tried her lack and take the examination at the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College (NIPSC) -Estancia Campus, Iloilo. Luckily, she passed the examination. Then, she decided to stop working and went home to prepare for the next enrollment.
Ruth wants to take up Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) because she loves to cook. She wanted to be a Chef. However, the course is not included in the priority curricular programs of the Commission on Education (CHED). Instead, she has chosen to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Management just to finish college and reach her dreams.
In 2014, Ruth enrolled at NIPSC in Sara, Iloilo. Since first year, Ruth maintained good grades until she graduated magna cum laude on April 4, 2018. Apart from academic award, Ruth also received special awards such as Outstanding Student on BSTM and Best in Tour Guiding.
Ruth said she never expect to receive such awards because she only wanted to prove to her parents that what she promised to them remain a promise.
“I am proud to be an ESGPPA scholar. I am very thankful to our government especially to the CHED and DSWD for facilitating our needs. Without you, we could not reach our dreams. Thank you for making our dreams come true”, she said.
PLAN
Ruth is now preparing her resume to apply for jobs. As first plan, she will apply to their local Tourism Office in Sara, Iloilo if there is a vacant position.
“I wish I could find a better job so I could help my parents send my other siblings to school,” she stressed.
Ruth also said she has three siblings who are currently enrolled. One is now a third year college while the two are in high school who both under monitoring by Pantawid Pamilya.
“The program helped us in so many ways especially on our education and health. That’s why I am confident that my three siblings could also finish their senior high school as long as the program is always there,” she added.
Ruth said once she could already find a job, she will set aside some of her savings so that she could enroll to a culinary course. “My dream to become a Chef is still a dream. I don’t lose hope to reach for it”, she ended//dswd6/Montesa G. Caoyonan.
