Tampok ang kuwento ng buhay ni Sheena Mae Obispo, 23, sa isang artikulo sa official website ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na ini-upload noong September 24, 2024.
Ang kanyang pamilya ay naninirahan sa malayong barangay ng Panoypoy, Camalig, Albay.
Nagtapos siya ng kursong Bachelor of Science in Social Work bilang Cum Laude sa Bicol University, Daraga Campus.
Nag-Top 1 din ang dalaga sa September 2024 Social Worker Licensure Examination (SWLE).
Nakakuha siya ng 87 percent rating.
Benepisyaryo ang kanyang pamilya ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) simula noong 2011.
Aniya sa artikulo, “Even though we barely had enough, thanks to 4Ps, we were able to make both ends meet.”
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PAMILYA NI SHEENA NAGSAKRIPISYO PARA SA KANYANG EDUKASYON
Ang journey ni Sheena ay isang patunay na walang pangarap na imposible sa isang taong determinado.
Mula sa isang mahirap na pamilya, ang kanyang amang si Eddie ay nagtatrabaho bilang construction worker at house painter.
Ang kanyang inang si Teresita naman ay housewife.
Si Sheena ang panganay sa tatlong magkakapatid.
Lumaki at namulat siya sa isang komunidad na kapos sa pagkukunan ng mga pangunahing pangangailangan.
Gayunpaman, simula’t sapul ay naniniwala ang kanyang mga magulang sa edukasyon.
Mula nang maging benepisyaryo ang kanyang pamilya ng 4Ps, nasuportahan ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan ng pamilya at maging ang pag-aaral ni Sheena.
Pagbabahagi niya, “I grew up knowing the value of hard work and the importance of education.
“My parents sacrificed a lot to make sure I stayed in school.”
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MAAGANG NAGKAROON NG SOCIAL AWARENESS
Gaya ng ibang estudyanteng mula sa mahirap na pamilya, naranasan ni Sheena ang napakaraming pagsubok simula elementarya hanggang high school.
Madalas niyang problema ang baon at pambili ng mga school materials at projects.
Pero hindi siya na-discourage.
Nakumpleto niya ang kanyang elementary education sa Floresta Elementary School sa Jovellar, Albay.
Sa Cotmon National High School sa Camalig naman ang kanyang secondary education.
Nanirahan siya sa kanyang isang tiyahin sa Danislag, Daraga pagsapit niya ng senior high school.
Sa yugtong ito ng kanyang buhay, nagsimulang yumabong ang kanyang passion sa kawanggawa at nagkaroon ng malawak na kamalayan sa kalagayang panlipunan, lalo na ang estado ng kahirapan ng mga Pilipino.
Kaya nang magkolehiyo, iyon ang landas na kanyang tinahak.
Ani Sheena, “I always knew I was destined for social work.
“I wanted to help communities like mine and saw how essential social workers are in uplifting families.”
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NAHIRAPAN SA ONLINE CLASSES
First year college si Sheena nang lumaganap ang COVID-19 pandemic.
Nang mag-shift sa online ang mga klase, lalong dumami ang kanyang problema sa pag-aaral.
Dahil bulubundukin ang kanilang lugar, wala halos internet connection.
Bukod sa academic pressure, dagdag na pahirap sa kanya ang technological limitations.
“There were times when I couldn’t attend online classes because we had no signal.
“It felt like I was missing out, and I had severe anxiety about falling behind.”
Nagtulung-tulong ang kanyang buong pamilya para maresolba ang kanyang dilemma.
“My family set up a small fish ball stall and sold vegetables just to keep me online.
“I knew I had to make it work, not just for myself but for them too.”
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HINDI MAKAPANIWALANG TOP 1 SA BOARD EXAM
Bilang bahagi ng requirements ng kanyang kinuhang kurso, nakumpleto ni Sheena ang kanyang field instruction sa DSWD Field Office V – KALAHI-CIDSS, kung saan na-assign siya sa Brgy. Ilaur Sur, Oas, Albay sa loob ng apat na buwan mula February hanggang May, 2024.
“Working in communities, opened my eyes and deepened my understanding of its importance.
"It solidified my commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, inspiring me to dedicate my career to uplifting those in need.”
Nang maka-graduate, nag-fokus na siya sa pagre-review para sa licensure examination.
Nang lumabas ang resulta, tuwang-tuwa siya nang makita ang pangalan na Top 1 at nasa unahan ng mga topnotchers.
“I couldn’t believe it. All the sleepless nights, the struggles, and my family’s sacrifices—it was all worth it.”
Aniya, ang kanyang tagumpay ay utang niya sa kanyang support system—ang kanyang mga magulang, mga kapatid, mga guro, at sa komunidad na naniniwala sa kanyang husay at talino.
Nagpasalamat din siya sa DSWD.
“I would not have made it this far without the love and support of my family and the opportunities provided by 4Ps.”
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PAGIGING TOP 1, ITINURING NA BIYAYA NG DIYOS
Kahit nagtapos bilang Cum Laude, aminado si Sheena na nahirapan siya sa board exam.
Ang kanyang pagiging Top 1 ay itinuturing niyang biyaya ng Diyos.
Pagbabahagi niya sa panayam naman sa kanya ng Philippine News Agency last September 24, "Honestly, I didn’t expect the results.
“I was just hoping that all of us from BU would pass, given how much effort both the faculty and the university have put into supporting us.
“But as for topping the board, that I felt as impossible as reaching for the moon."
Aniya, ang emotional aspects ng pagkuha ng board examination ang pinakamahirap na i-manage.
"I was consumed with self-doubts because there were still so many topics that I could not totally grasp a week before the exam.
"On top of that, there was also the financial strain as staying in Manila is expensive."
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ANG TAGUMPAY NIYA AY TAGUMPAY RIN NG MGA MAHIHIRAP
Ngayong isa na siyang licensed social worker, determinado si Sheena na suklian ang benepisyong nakuha niya mula sa gobyerno.
"I am also very grateful for all the external help that we received from 4Ps, as it empowered our family to not only rely on the assistance we receive, but also to be self-reliant."
Nakikita niya ang kanyang tagumpay hindi bilang personal o pansarili kundi tagumpay ng mga kapwa niya nasa laylayan ng lipunan.
“I owe it to the people who helped me along the way.
“I want to use my skills to uplift others, especially those from marginalized communities like mine.
“I want to prove that with hard work, faith, and a little help, anything is possible.”
Plano niyang magtrabaho sa local organizations at government programs gaya ng 4Ps para matulungan ang iba pang pamilya na makawala sa kadena ng kahirapan.
“Social work is about more than just providing services; it’s about giving people hope and the tools to change their lives.”
Paalala niya sa mga kabataang produkto ng maralitang pamilya na nangangarap makatapos ng pag-aaral, huwag na huwag susuko.
“Remember that you’re not alone. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world by yourself.
“There are people and programs that will help you. You just have to keep pushing forward.”
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