Maribel is a proud daughter of a farmer who resides in the beautiful province of Bicol. Living in a simple life she would recall that her dream was to become a teacher, “I can still remember the days when I am playing with my childhood friends back in the province where I take the role of a teacher and they will be my students”, she recalled while laughing.

            Her family was really proud of her for her dedication in her studies wherein she became a consistent honor student, a Valedictorian in Elementary and became a Salutatorian in High School and was given a scholarship to continue her College at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture with a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics.

            “To make ends meet for my family and for me to pay may fees in school without troubling my parents I worked as a private tutor for elementary students and as a street vendor of grilled products”, she added. And when she finished her studies she felt like she needed to do something more to help her family from poverty, thus going to Manila became her only option.

            Like any promdi, she became anxious and afraid of what was going to be her life in the city. But her family became her inspiration to move forward, “I worked hard in the city and worked as a cashier, private teacher, pharmacy assistant and Refrigeration and Air-Condtioning (RAC) Company Secretary so that I can send money for my family in the province”, she said.

            In 2017, she took the Licensure Examination for Teacher (LET) and passed it. Her dream of becoming a certified teacher was at her reach but for some reason she lost her confidence and the will to teach because the thought of teaching in a school made her scared of not being able to become a good teacher.

            Because of the lack of confidence in teaching her sister recommended her to upgrade her skills and find a new career thru a skills training at TESDA Women’s Center (TWC). “In my eagerness to find a stable job I enrolled in TWC and took up Barista NC II because there are a lot of Cafe here in Manila and i am confident that i will find job after my training”. During the course of her training and the additional life-long skills being provided by TWC, Maribel eventually regain her confidence and purpose in life. Her trainer saw her improvement and her dedication and asked her to take Trainers Methodology and become a Trainer.

            After graduating in TWC, she first worked at Seattle’s Best Coffee and after a while she took the suggestion of her mentor to be a certified trainer in Barista and begun her trainer’s methodology while working as an Assistant Trainer at TWC. Because of her diligence and persistence she is now currently the Trainer of Barista NC II at TWC.

            In closing, Maribel shared her life lesson saying, “Do not settle for less, be a dreamer and as long as you are alive there is still a chance for a better life. Our future is in our hands don’t waste it instead utilize it!”