FROM FAST FOOD TO FINANCE: A SPES BENEFICIARY’S JOURNEY TO GAINING FULL EMPLOYMENT

For 23-year-old bank employee, Darielle Dae Dee D. Panlaqui, reaching her career path is not a walk in the park but a story that began not in a corporate office but behind the counter of a fast-food restaurant. 

As Darielle recalled, her journey as a college student was filled with financial hardships. To help this, Darielle sought a way to support her family and her education. 

"I applied as a beneficiary of the Special Program for the Employment of Student (SPES) program because of the financial difficulties my family and I were facing," she shared. 

The SPES not only paved the way for her to earn money, but for Darielle, it served as an opportunity to gain work experience even at a young age.

She found out about the program through the local PESO Manager, Mr. Wifredo Creag, Public Employment Service Office (PESO), whom she thanked for giving her the chance to be a part of it.

The prospect of gaining "valuable work experience while helping support my education" served as the primary reason she joined the program. 

Her stint as a beneficiary deployed at the partner employer, McDonald's, proved to be a transformative experience. 

Darielle described her time as a service crew as both challenging and rewarding. According to her, she learned the importance of teamwork, time management, and excellent customer service. Moreover, the experience built her confidence, improved her communication skills, and instilled in her the value of hard work.

The SPES program, for Darielle, was a life-changing experience that went beyond the practical skills she acquired. It gave her hands-on experience in a real work environment, where she learned to handle responsibilities and work efficiently under pressure. 

Darielle shared that the income she earned helped ease her family's financial burdens and supported her education and daily needs.

While her SPES internship was in the hospitality industry, the skills she gained were still highly relevant to any industry she aspires to work in. 

This was proven when she landed a job as an Administrative Assistant at BDO Unibank, where she now works in the Back Office/Operations. With this milestone, Darielle credits the SPES program for her success. 

"The SPES program helped me get this job by providing me with valuable work experience, which strengthened my resume and made me more confident during the application process," she explained. 

Full-Fledged Banker. Darielle now works as an Administrative Assistant at a multi-national bank. (Photo by D. Panlaqui)

From a fast-food counter to a bank, Darielle's story is a reminder of the impact of programs like SPES. It shows that with the government support and a determined attitude, a temporary job can become a powerful stepping stone to a lasting and successful career.

APRIL ROSE N. MAGPANTAY

LEO III