Being a single mother while pursuing college degree is a huge struggle, but for 23-year-old Rigie May R. Marbella of Barangay Millabas, Pilar, Sorsogon, balancing her responsibilities as a student and a mother has inspired her to achieve her goal in life.
“May” as she is fondly called by her friends got pregnant at the age of 19. She did not, however, let her situation negatively affect her life and she continued with her studies. Now, she is on her way to receive her degree in Elementary Education with Honorific-Academic Award from Bicol University Polangui Campus.
She expressed her thanks to her family who gave her the strength to persevere. “Maraming salamat po Ma Gina and Pa sa inyong walang sawang pagmamahal at pag-unawa sa akin. Napakaswerte ko dahil kayo ang naging mga magulang ko. Hindi man tayo mayaman at madalas kapos sa pera, pero hindi ninyo ako pinabayaan. Kahit na kahihiyan ang ibinigay ko sa inyo noon, mas naramdam ko ang pagmamahal kaysa sa panunumbat na siyang naging dahilan upang patawarin ko ang sarili ko. Salamat po sa lahat ng hirap at sakripisyo. Salamat din sa mga kapatid ko dahil nanatili tayong buo sa kabila ng lahat (Thank you, Mother Gina and Father, for your tireless love and understanding. I am lucky to have you as my parents. We may not be rich and we often lack money, but you did not abandon me. Despite blaming me for what happened and bringing you shame, you gave me your love instead—which allowed me forgive myself. Thank you for the sacrifices you made. Thank you to my siblings because our family remained complete and whole despite of what happened),” she said.
Struggle as a Single Parent
She was working for four years in various companies in Metro Manila, when she became pregnant. It was unplanned and unexpected.
“May scholarship sana ako pagkatapos ng high school pero hindi ko gusto ang kursong education noon kaya naglayas ako at nagtrabaho bilang cashier sa isang electronics company, sa iba’t ibang factory sa Manila para kumita at matulungan ang pamilya ko sa kanilang gastusin (I got a scholarship after high school, but at that time, I did not want to pursue a course on education so I left home and worked as a cashier in an electronics company and in other factories in Manila to earn and help my family),” she said in an interview.
Having experienced the hardships of being employed with no permanent job and paid under the minimum wage bracket, she opted to finally pursue a degree on education. Luckily, another scholarship was available. She was among those included in the Expanded Student Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESG-PA).
ESGPPA is an educational grant which gives priority to the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by providing them opportunity to get college education, increase their chances of getting better employment and ultimately improve the lives of their families so that they become contributors to national development.
The ESGPPA is implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) together with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
In 2012, SGPPA was launched covering 4,000 students. This was later on expanded to cover additional 36,000 students in 2014.
According to May, she does not regret having a three-year old daughter, despite the difficulties that she experienced. It was stressful juggling school and mother duties.
“Sobrang hirap. Ang hirap mag-aral habang iniisip kung saan kukuha ng pang gastos sa mga susunod na araw, kapag sabay-sabay ang deadlines ng projects, kapag wala ng gatas si baby tapos sasabayan pa ng sakit. Pero lahat ng yun ay pwede naman pala malagpasan. Lahat ng hirap, pagod, puyat, hiya at kapal ng mukha ay magkakaroon din ng bunga sa huli (It was so hard. The difficulty of studying while thinking about how we will get the money for our expenses, at the same time, the overlapping of deadlines for school projects, how I will get the milk for my baby, and getting ill, but I overcame them all. All the adversities, the weary, sleepless nights and shame, all paid off in the end),” she shared.
May shared how people ask her on how she could possibly finish her education with a baby, but she has learned not to care. Even though other people’s judgments hurt her and her parents, she said that stereotypes do not define people.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa magulang ko ng sobra sa pagtanggap nila sa akin at sa pagsuporta sa kabila ng lahat. Sila ang naging sandigan ko. Tinulungan nila ako sa pag-aalaga sa anak ko tuwing kailangan kong iwan siya para bumalik sa paaralan, kapag hindi ako makauwi kasi wala akong pamasahe at delayed ang allowance namin (I thank my parents for accepting and supporting me all the way. They were the ones I really depended on. They took the responsibility of taking care of my daughter when I had to leave her and return to school; when I could not go home because I had no money, and when the release of my allowance was delayed), she said.
Some single parents — and grandparents — would give up under the strain of working and raising children, but others rise from adversities.
Her Success
May wants to tell all single mothers that, “Life is tough but they can do it.”
Her story is a vivid proof that teenage pregnancy does not automatically mean putting away all hopes for a better life.
“Pero heto ako ngayon. Suot na ang simbolo ng tagumpay. (But here I am now, wearing the symbol of my success),” she proudly said.
She plans to take a review class, pass the licensure examination and immediately find work. “Malaki po ang pangarap ko sa aking pamilya at anak. Balang araw, alam ko maabot din namin ang lahat ng aming pinapangarap at ginhawa (I have big dreams for my family and my child. I am positive that we will attain our dreams and live a financially stable life),” she said.
It makes her happy to think that she can serve as an inspiration to others, especially to those who are in the same situation.
“Look around you, there are good people who will guide and help you, a miracle is just another term for hard effort, so if I can overcome challenges so can you.”
CCT
The 4P’s or Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) is program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor households primarily of children aged 18 and below. It is implemented by the DSWD together with other government agencies to include the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Health (DoH).
It provides cash grants to compliant household beneficiaries with health grant worth P500 and educational grants worth P300 and P500.00 each to the children studying in elementary and high school, respectively.
As of 30 March 2018, there are 4.39 million households enrolled in the program. ###
