Marilyn…up close and personal

“Wala na siguro akong mahihiling pa kasi, yung mga blessings na natatanggap ko, higit pa sa mga hiningi ko”. This was the opening statement of this empowered lady with beauty and brains when we sat down for this exclusive interview.

After finishing her elementary and secondary education at the Calaguiman Elementary School and Jose Rizal Institute in Orani, she pursued her Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree at the Philippine Christian University and subsequently passed the board exam in 1978. Coming from a closely knit, evangelical family, when asked why she took up that course, she said, “obedience to the advice of family elders”, but she has no regrets, she was quick to add.

In 1983, she tied the knot, not only once, but twice with Rolando Tigas, one of the eligible bachelors at the DPWH who later on served as Mayor of Samal for two consecutive terms and currently sits as a Board Member (District 1) at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. They are blessed with four wonderful children, Rolghie, Jackie, Grace and Aica who are all charting their own careers.

Her first stint as a registered social worker was with the World Vision Philippines in Hermosa in 1978. After ten years of dedicated “public service in the private sector”, she joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and was assigned at the branch office, in Balanga. With the implementation of the 1987 Local Government Code, the social welfare department was one of the agencies that were devolved to the local government and so from 1988 up to 2001, she was designated as Municipal Social Welfare Officer in her beloved hometown of Samal. These were also the golden years of her career in public service, when she started reaping numerous awards from prestigious award giving bodies for her meritorious service in community work. In 2002, she was promoted as Assistant Provincial Social Welfare Officer of Bataan and in 2006, she was appointed as Officer-in-Charge of the same office.

Marilyn paused and got teary eyed when asked as to when she got her present position. She said that on January 9, 2007, the late Governor Tet Garcia gave her the best gift ever, for it was during her 50^th birthday celebration that the good governor announced that her being OIC has finally ended for she is now being appointed as the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer of the province. It may seem like the culmination of all her years of hard work, dedication and perseverance but no, for it turned out to be the beginning of more challenging, fruitful and fulfilling years ahead.

As a “boss” people may find her strict yet those who know her well will say otherwise, for she is “pusong mamon”, so to speak. As to her dreams and plans for her office, this multiawarded social worker said, “sana bago ako magretire, maging regular employees na silang lahat. At sana mas mapaganda pa naming lalo ang aming mga programa at serbisyo para sa mga tao. Dahil ang paniniwala ko, pagdating sa pagsisilbi sa publiko, one should not settle for anything less. Always do your best, for it is only in doing so that one can honestly say at the end of the day, sulit ang bawat sentimo na ibinayad sa akin ng gobyerno”.

“Hindi madaling humanap ng mga social work graduates dito sa Bataan sa ngayon, at hindi lahat, makikitahan mo ng dedikasyon at malasakit para sa kanyang mga kababayan. Kaya kahit hindi gaanong outstanding ang katalinuhan ng aplikante pero maganda ang attitude, hina hire ko, dahil katwiran ko, basta maganda ang ugali, ma ti train yan. Yan naman ang isa sa mga roles ko, ang  magturo at magtrain ng mga tauhan ko.”

One may wonder, how did this “pusong mamon” earn that strict first impression from people? A true blue Samaleña, Marilyn Rubiano Calara is the unica hija and the second child in a brood of seven. As such, she a led a sheltered life under the over protective care of her parents, Danilo and Lolita who did their best to shield her from all forms of pains and disappointments. But soon after, Marilyn woke up to the one of the realities of life, that despite all the love and care being showered to her, she will not be spared from pain. This pain taught her a very important lesson in life, that “what doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger”.

How does Marilyn define fulfillment in her job? Her eyes lighted up and said “yun bang me masasalubong ako sa palengke na hindi ko naman kilala, pero tatapikin ako sa balikat at sasabihing “Mrs. Tigas, maraming salamat, ang laking tulong po sa pamilya namin ang nagawa ng opisina nyo”.

On retirement plans….This sexagenarian who looks forward to being a fulltime GG (gorgeous grandma) says that, “based on our province’s vision-mission, the parameters in measuring the human development index are income, education and life expectancy. Ok na ko sa income, check na rin sa education, kaya life expectancy na lang – long quality life ang I wo work out namin ni Bokal. Basta ang priority namin has always been in this order: God, Family, Career, for when we got married on May 7, 1983 (for the second time) we agreed that no amount of career success can compensate for failure in the family”.

On weekends, you will find this lady in her favorite corner in their modest abode at the Our Lady of Lourdes Subdivision in Balanga City – at the kitchen! Aside from cooking for her growing family, with three granddaughters in tow, what else could this lady be doing in her spare time? In a heartbeat, Bokal Rolly will answer, SHOPPING!. But wait, would you believe that she can shop even when she is just at home? How? Well, that is something for you to discover.