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| Message from the Secretary |
 When I was first offered the position of Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, I instinctively felt apprehensive, albeit deeply honored. I am a medical doctor by profession, and although social welfare and medicine find common ground in public service, I knew that in many factors they were worlds apart. Initially, I had no other predilection but to decline the offer respectfully.
However, I kept the doors open. I informed Malacañang that they could still call me if by the end of 2005 no replacement has assumed the position. December came and the position remained unfilled. Executive Secretary Ermita’s team came knocking, and they would not flinch. They said they already needed someone at DSWD. After carefully mulling it over, I realized that this time, it was an offer I could not refuse. I gladly accepted.
To this day, I have not regretted my decision. My first month was a bit overwhelming, having dealt with four natural and man-made disasters in my first thirteen days in office (not exactly my idea of a welcome party). But to me, those weeks were also some of the most meaningful, because it allowed me to experience first-hand the synergy between great challenges and great triumphs. The great challenge was to alleviate the suffering of our people, particularly the victims and their families, during their time of grief. I witnessed the damage in Leyte first-hand, and it was truly heart wrenching.
The triumphs, on the other hand, emanated from the generous spirit of the donors, volunteers and those of our own social workers and other government employees, those who selflessly devoted their time, effort and resources, to give hope to the victims by helping them get through. These acts of kindness are so heroic, that every time I look back and remember, I feel more than grateful for being part of the DSWD. I feel so proud that I belong to a team that cares more for others than themselves.
My journey so far has been a tumultuous ride, but my positive outlook on the future of this Department keeps me going. I sincerely look forward to more meaningful encounters and life-changing experiences that demonstrate the power of resilience and teamwork. May we all work together in inspiring others and in showing them that there is hope when people care.
DR. ESPERANZA I. CABRAL
Secretary
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