ILOILO CITY (PIA) — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 6 through its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) has produced professionals after benefiting from the temporary employment opportunity given by the agency.
One example is Mae Anne Tesara, a now registered psychometrician, who is among the SPES beneficiaries. She attests that SPES can encourage interest apart from providing assistance to students to achieve their dreams.
Currently, Tesara is affiliated with Devteam Outsourcing Inc. as Human Resource and Administrative Assistant.
She started as a beneficiary of the SPES during her senior high school years.
According to her, her love for the job developed when she was hired as a SPES beneficiary from 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023 as a staff in Brgy. E. Lopez, Silay City and in Silay City Public Employment Service Office (PESO).
Tesara shared how her experiences with DOLE developed her interest with human resource (HR) works.
“The clerical tasks, organizing, filing, and even assisting on a city-wide job fair gave me first hand insight of HR works. It was during that job fair that I found my deep interest in Human Resources – the opportunity to meet diverse personalities and find the right person fit for the job enticed me,” she said.
Tesara expressed her appreciation to SPES for opening her interests.
“SPES wasn’t just a summer job for me; it was an eye-opener that helped me discover the career path that I want to be in. And when I got what I want, I wanted to further my career in Human Resource and I achieved my goal to become a licensed psychometrician,” Tesara added.
SPES has helped Tesara and her family, especially by covering her educational expenses.
“SPES became my lifeline, a source of relief both financially and emotionally. It allowed me to contribute to my education and lessen my parents’ worries about school supplies and fees. SPES was a reminder of how God provides in times of need,” Tesara said.
Due to her exemplary track record, she was admitted at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University – Talisay Campus as a scholar. However, her scholarship only covered a portion of her school fees and her parents had to find ways to cover the rest.
With this, Tesara continued to be a SPES beneficiary where her salary from working during school breaks covered the rest of the expenses she needed at the beginning of the school year.
In 2023, Tesara successfully finished her degree of Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
She shared her thoughts with all dreamers like her.
“Seize every opportunity that comes your way. Opportunities don’t always come around, so when they do, take them seriously and make the most of them. Use them to grow, and never forget to appreciate the journey once you succeed.” (AAL/AGP/PIA 6 with reports from DOLE 6)
