LPU Davao Featured Employee of the Month: Ms. Maricar A. Hernandez
“No matter what twists and turns your life offers you, your ability to be adaptable and flexible will help you to stay open to all of the hidden gifts that difficulty may offer.” – Maricar A. Hernondez
Ms. M was born in San Pablo City Laguna, and raised in San Andres, Alaminos, Laguna by her beloved parents Norma Hernandez and Ricardo Hernandez. Her late mother was a private company employee for 35 years while her father used to be a security guard in the company where her mom and dad met, when her father resigned, he became a jeepney operator and eventually turned into a businessman. Growing up, Ms. M was more attached to her grandmother because her parents are both working at that time. Fermina Hernandez, her grandmother also guided her along the way of my childhood days.
Ms. M came from a typical Filipino family. Her parents’ dream was for them, their children, to finish their studies so that as they always say before “we don’t become like them, not professionals, and need to thrive hard just to give us a comfortable life”. Her parents did everything for them to send them to a good school. She the middle child of three siblings. There eldest is Erik Norman Hernandez and the youngest is Karla Maris Hernandez. His brother got married to Wenalyn Hernandez at a very young age, at 19 and now has 3 children, while her sister got married at 29 to Edmar Pescasio and has 1 daughter. I was the last one to get married at the age of 33 to Edgie Giangan. She is now raising a baby boy named Marco Jay Giangan who just turned 1-year-old. They say that Ms. M was a late bloomer. Some even said that “oh she will not get married because she’s a tomboy!”. She is not really into marriage. When she divulges to her parents that she was pregnant and she has no plans of getting married, they supported her decision. Her mom planned for her retirement and promised me that her mom will help her raise Ms’ M’s child so her mom put up a small business so they can handle their own schedule. But in May 2021, another twist in Ms. M’s life happened. Months before she gave birth, her mom died all their plans vanished in just a single snap, but no matter what life brings, it must go on as per Ms. M.
She finished her basic education at St. Paul Learning School in Alaminos, Laguna in 2001 and she completed her secondary education at St. Thomas Academy in Sto. Tomas Batangas then eventually enrolled in college at Polytechnic University of the Philippines Batangas Campus where she finished her bachelor’s degree in BS Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Way back in her elementary days, she was an achiever. She always participated in school competitions mostly in quiz bees and she was able to bag awards. She knew that she always made her Inay and Tatay proud back then. But when she entered high school, everything changed before she enrolled in high school, she requested her parents to send her to a public high school because she knew that the fees at St. Thomas Academy are quite expensive, and her friends and other relatives are going to enroll in that public school. And besides, she knew no one in St. Thomas Academy except her brother and sister. During her first year in high school, she was bullied by one of her male classmates but then she realized no one will and can stop him but herself.
One day during her vacant time he started bullying Ms. M again, me being not able to control her temper, she bumped his head onto the armed chair. From that moment Ms. M never experience bullying again. C Being guarded by nuns, she felt that her rights as a youth and as a student were deprived. She did cut classes, and even jumped over the fence just to escape from her boring classes afraid of not being included in the graduating class, so she changed her behavior when she started her senior year.
Thankfully, she was able to graduate. In her college days, since she enrolled in a state university, she learned how to be a street smart. BS Accountancy was her first-choice program but the only program that was open at that time were BS Entrepreneurial Management and BS Industrial and Organizational Psychology she chose the latter.
She was just a typical average student her goal was just to pass her courses and graduate on time. After five years of working in LPU Laguna, with the push from Dr. FGB, she enrolled in Master of Business Administration in LPU Batangas, but she was not able to finish it. When she was in her mid-20s, studying again was not her priority. She loves hanging out with friends and doing recreational activities which now she regrets, she should have balanced her life well when she was younger. But she believed it is not yet the end of learning, if we are living, we can always improve ourselves, so this year she’s planning to continue her masteral. Hopefully, she can finish it before her son start schooling.
After graduation, she decided not to find a job for the last six months until she realized that she is tired of washing the dishes. After a series of job hunts, she was able to land in one of the manufacturing companies in Calamba, Laguna as a quality assurance staff. On her first day, after 2 hours of working, she got bored, and she left. In September 2019, she got hired by a multinational company in First Philippine Industrial Park in Sto. Tomas, Batangas as HR Coordinator. Being her first official and serious job, she strived hard but gained a lot of experience. In December 2019, the company terminated her contract due to the global recession. She felt bad and became demotivated. In January 2020, LPU Laguna opened their doors for Ms. M. In the same month, her former employer called her saying that they are going to rehire her, but she refused, and she chose LPU. At first, she was hesitant if she’s going to push through with her job in the institution, first couple of months, she felt bored again, at the back of her mind “hmm, after the 3r&month evaluation, she will resign”. Before she reached her month in LPU Laguna she was bombarded by work. Enrolment, accreditation, day-to-day coordination, and she totally forgot to resign. She enjoyed being with the students. She became their “ate” sometimes confidante, some students treat her as their mom, and some see her as a friend. She received four Outstanding Administrative Awards when she was in LPU Laguna. The management also recognized her efforts, they offered her positions which she refused because during that time, she believed she was not yet ready. Then in 2017, the management talked to her again and offered her a position at LPU Davao. She got excited but she’s afraid that her parents will not agree on her decision. In the beginning, her mother was really against it but eventually accepted that she needs to grow on her own and leave her comfort zone.
Ms. M worked with diversified personalities, and she realized throughout that what makes her happiest at work is feeling personally participated in the goals she’s trying to accomplish. She genuinely care about the work that she do because she want to be able to make a positive impact at LPU Davao in which is her second home.
Her message to students is that “We’re not going to be able to do things perfectly. All that we can do is, every day, focus on doing the best we can”.