From a Housewife to a Licensed Teacher: Aileen Desamparado’s Story of Change

It took Aileen Fernandez-Desamparado 15 years to complete her college degree, not because she was a lazy nor a troubled student but because her family at that time is not financially capable to send her to a university.

Understanding of her family’s situation Aileen went to work instead and eventually met her husband Abner whom she has two children Airen and Ann Jela. After she got married Aileen dedicated her time to her children and their small farm making her a housewife.

Airen and Ann Jela are monitored children of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the conditional cash transfer of the Philippine government that invests in the education and health of poor children age 0-18.

“If not because of the help we get from Pantawid Pamilya I wouldn’t be where I am today,” shared Aileen, 31, a parent leader of Barangay Baod, Bantayan, Cebu who recently passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

Aileen graduated as Magna Cum Laude at Madridejos Community College (MCC) last March. She took the review class before taking the exam, which equally divided her time as a mother, a wife and a student.

Aileen disclosed that the financial grant she received from the program has helped her family in meeting their day to day need, which allowed her and Abner to save some extra money that she later used to enroll in a community college.

The mother of two narrated that her enrollment in college was not totally planned although she had always dreamed of going back to school.

“I was accompanying my younger sister Maeziel to enroll at MCC when I happened to ask Ms. Rowena Batasin, teacher/cashier if married women like me are allowed to enroll, when she answered yes, I informed my husband about it,” Aileen shared with a big smile.

Abner, who works at St. Peters as a sales agent did not hesitate to support her wife’s dream.

“Her dream is also my dream and I support her because finishing her studies will also bring pride to our family and hopefully a better future for our children,” said Abner.

When Aileen had exams, the couple agreed that Abner will do all the house chores so that Aileen can focus on her studies. In return of his husband’s sacrifices Aileen studied hard, which eventually resulted in graduating on top of her class.

Aileen, also shared that her being a Parent Leader of Pantawid Pamilya has helped her build her confidence.

“During Family Development Session(one of the three Pantawid Pamilya conditionalities), different topics are being thought like How to become a good leader, citizen, Responsible Parenting, Family Planning and Disaster Preparedness, these topics have greatly helped me and my family as we were also survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013,” she added.

The Desamparado’s house was among the thousands of damaged properties in Bantayan Island, where the said typhoon made its second landfall.

Moreover, Aileen disclosed that she is saddened when she hears criticism about Pantawid Pamilya as the program has helped so many families in their community.

“When the typhoon badly hit us most of us lost our farms and shattered our small income but because we are beneficiaries of the program we were able to somehow survived and continued sending our kids to school,” she recalled.

“I hope the program will be sustained because there are other struggling families who need it,” Aileen stressed.

Aileen is currently enrolled in a vocational course as an addition to her credentials while waiting for the February 2016 teachers ranking. She hopes to teach in a public school someday.

She is slated to take her oath as a licensed teacher this December 30.

The Desamparado’s are among the 250,431 active partner-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Central Visayas. (Phoebe Jen Indino, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer)