For some, being a social worker may not be a “dream job.”
But for Rosemarie Ramos, an Angel in Red Vest at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), serving others and staying true to her sworn duty as a social worker has become her lifelong passion.
“Forty one years in service ko na, kasi love ko ‘yung work ko. Kasi kung love mo ‘yung work mo, magtatagal ka sa work mo talaga,” Rosemarie told Kwentong Angels in Red Vest (ARV), the online documentary of the DSWD’s Strategic Communications.
When she was young, Rosemarie dreamed of becoming a nurse but her mother
had a different idea for her.
Being an obedient daughter, she followed her mother’s advice to become a social worker—-same as her aunt. She graduated in 1984 with a degree in B.S. Social Work.
“As a social worker nag start po ako ng 1989. Kasi nung pagka graduate ko ng 1984, hindi agad ako nakapasok as a social worker… Noong may nakita na akong vacant ay nag-apply naman ako. Luckily, natanggap naman ako sa trabaho noong 1989 sa isang private agency,” Rosemarie narrated to Kwentong ARV.
Eventually, she joined the DSWD and took on various roles across regions and programs.
In 2015, she found a permanent post at the DSWD’s Field Office National Capital Region (NCR).
“Ni-grab ko yung permanent job as Social Welfare Officer I, doon po regular na ako at inabot po ako diyan ng almost eight years.”
For Rosemarie, the joy of social work lies in seeing the lives of individuals and families improve.
“Hindi lang bata, family sa community kasi ‘yung ibang mga services na pino-provide o programa… Marami na po akong natutulungan so masaya sa pakiramdam na hindi lang tao yung tinutulungan mo pati yung community, pati yung family mismo natutulungan,” Rosemarie shared.
One of the stories that stayed in Rosemarie’s heart was about Nathaniel Caspe, a former child at Bahay Pag-asa, a center for children in conflict with the law (CICL), where she served as center head.
“Meron akong isang bata na case na in-attend ko sa court hearing. Tahimik syang bata. ‘Yung case niya tinutukan ko. Ako mismo ‘yung social worker na nag a-attend. Noong lumaon, ‘yun nag-active siya siguro dahil narin sa mga pangaral o sa pagsasabi ko sa kanya,” Rosemarie recalled.
Nathaniel is now in his second year of tertiary education, taking up B.S. Criminology.
To her surprise, the Kwentong ARV arranged for Nathaniel to send her a message.
“Hello, Ma’am Rose kamusta po kayo. Thank you po sa lahat, ma’am. Hindi niyo po ako pinabayaan nung nasa Bahay Pag-asa po ako kahit makulit ako minsan. Babaunin ko po lahat ng payo niyo sa akin at tutuparin ko po ‘yung mga pangarap ko para maka-attend ka po sa graduation ko. Ikaw po yung the best social worker na nakilala ko. Maraming-maraming salamat po,” Nathaniel said in his video message.
When asked about her message for Nathaniel and other individuals who have the same experiences, Rosemarie said everyone deserves a second chance.
“Nagkaroon ka man ng medyo hindi magandang part sa buhay mo, huwag ka lang mawalan ng pag-asa. Sa mga katulad din ni Nathaniel, habang tayo ay nabubuhay may pag-asa,” Rosemarie said.
ARV Rosemarie also left a message for her fellow social workers: “Mag work tayo nang hindi lang dahil sa trabaho o sa ating sinasahod. Mag work tayo mula sa ating puso maglilingkod tayo sa ating kapwa…”
The Kwentong ARV is hosted by Director Lara Duran of the Traditional Media Service (TMS) airing every other Monday over the DSWD Facebook page. (YADP)