“It is what we do easily and what we love to do that we do well…” as the saying goes that ponders to someone who could stand on a pedestal and tell the whole world that she’s a symbol of success.

It all started with her passion to work for the program, Gina Consuegra Omillo, the Focal Person of Set 2 of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) emphasized. She has just attended the Mid-Year National Program Review and Evaluation Workshop last June 23-26, 2010 in Davao City, together with the Department of Social Welfare Development Field Office VIII Regional Director Leticia Corillo. They represented the region in presenting accomplishment reports through initial results of the program. “It made me even more confident to face a big crowd.”-she smiled as she shared her experience being in front of participants from different regions nationwide.

Unlike a few months back, she used to be at the center of a crowd of beneficiaries letting her self in to be part of their lives and together look forward to settle in a brighter future. Omillo first became inclined with the program as a Municipal Link (ML) of Zumarraga Samar in June 1, 2009. Her experience as an ML had brought her to where she stands now. Being part of the pioneering team made her become equipped with information from its different facets. ”Everything has been a learning experience”, she added. It helped her do her best and uphold people better their lives.

As an ML she apprehended how 4P’s play its crucial role among Filipino families who had been deprived of access to quality of education and improved health. She had seen right before her very eyes how the cash grantees are identified to be 4P’s beneficiaries. Scarcity had really invaded their lives. Having cooked cassava or sweet potato as meals for a day or two; young children grow up not getting the right amount of nutrition and lower educational achievements and staying along the shore inside an old nipa hut that could almost be wrecked by a strong wind yet still they call their shelter. “They really needed attention from the government. And I for one is an instrument to make a realization out of 4P’s”, Omillo reiterated.

Her passion with the whole concept of the program had grown. With the support from her mentor, Yvonne Abonales, Regional Coordinator of 4P’s, she learned how to manage her tasks or as what her job demands technically. She would have not gained the confidence not just for her job but as a person as well if not for the tasks the program offers and with the support from the people she work with. Through her confidence, she realized that she could step up to the next level and be more of an aid for the program with a wider coverage. And that’s how she applied as a Focal Person.

For her, having a room open for improvement and being open with criticisms is a key to personality growth which leads to success. Along her pursuit in making the program a realization, it made her gain more knowledge and skill on how to handle and adjust on people with different individual personalities, behavior, culture, religion and attitudes. Especially that she have not undergone training on supervision. The most unforgettable experience she had as an ML was to cross along the shore to get through her assigned area in a motorboat during typhoon which she considers as a life risking experience. Yet neither of it stopped her to enthusiastically be an instrument in making better lives. One must not be terrified to meet challenges along the way, instead let your worries be your strength in every battle you have. That’s how she views life’s challenges as person and as a single parent. She could tell then that she has been successful with her endeavor now that she has hit the mark not just with the title she has but the tasks she does and loves to do.

The wider scope of her job does not hinder her to constantly believe on the program’s goals and gains. Aside from monitoring program’s systems namely Updates, Compliance Monitoring System, and Grievance Redress System, she also schedules the over-the-counter release of cash grants covering 44,490 beneficiaries in 25 municipalities. From paper works to people management, her workload would sometimes demand more of her time. Tiresome yet, the development and overwhelming response of the program’s grantees is what drives her to keep going and reaching the brighter future lies ahead of this journey we undertook on 4P’s.

Her side of story just reflects the other side of the coin on 4P’s success. It’s not mainly for the beneficiaries of the program but to the people who willingly work for the success of the program.