Inset photos via PIA
PIA | Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair Opens Doors for Young Graduates Ready to Work
For many young Filipinos, adulthood arrives early—not by choice, but by circumstance.
At just 18 years old, Ronel Dela Cruz is already carrying responsibilities that go far beyond classrooms and homework. While most peers his age are focused on school projects or graduation requirements, Ronel’s reality has been shaped by the need to help keep his family afloat.
In 2020, Ronel and his family moved from Mindanao to Negros Occidental, drawn by the hope of better opportunities. Instead, the move coincided with the height of the COVID‑19 pandemic, bringing financial hardship that forced life‑altering decisions.
“Sang pandemic to nga naga‑module, wala ko ka padayon eskwela. Na stuck ko sa grade 7 high school,” he shared.
(During the pandemic, when we were using modules, I wasn’t able to continue my studies. I got stuck in Grade 7 high school.)
With limited income and uncertainty looming, continuing formal education became impossible. Like many students during the pandemic, Ronel had to pause his schooling—not because of a lack of interest, but because survival came first.
Finding a second chance through ALS
Still determined not to give up on education, Ronel enrolled in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Manapla town three years later. The decision proved pivotal.
Through ALS, Ronel completed his junior high school level and earned his Grade 10 certification—an achievement that reopened doors he once believed were permanently closed.
“Nagsulod ko sa ALS [in] Manapla, naka‑graduate ko Grade 10. Gusto ko magpadayon paagi sa pagpangita obra para makabulig sakon pamilya kag utod nga ga eskwela pa sa elementary,” he said.
(I enrolled in ALS in Manapla and was able to graduate from Grade 10. I want to find a job so I can help my family and my younger sibling, who is still in elementary school.)
For Ronel, finishing junior high school was not the end goal—it was a stepping stone toward employment and financial stability.
Turning education into opportunity
Stories like Ronel’s inspired the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Manapla town and Silay City on March 25, an initiative aimed at helping learners transition from education to employment.
The fairs form part of a simultaneous nationwide activation following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring government services closer to communities while strengthening employment pathways for young Filipinos.
In Silay City, around 566 senior high school completers from Doña Monserrat Lopez Memorial High School took part in the job fair, hopeful that their first steps outside the classroom would lead directly to work opportunities.
Meanwhile, in Manapla town, about 145 ALS graduates joined the fair, where they were able to connect with 13 private employers actively seeking job applicants.
For Ronel, the experience was more than just handing out résumés—it was a chance to imagine a future built through effort and opportunity.
“Para saakon makabulig ini [ang fair] sa akon tabang sa dugang experience. Masulayan ang wala ko pa na sulayan o naagihan,” he said.
“Kung makakuha sang obra, ini makabulig para may obra nako kag may pinansyal ko sa kada adlaw bulig sa akon pamilya kag manghod sa adlaw‑adlaw ya nga allowance kay ga eskwela pa siya.”
(For me, this fair will help me enrich my additional job application experience, allowing me to try things I haven’t experienced yet. If I get a job, this will help me support my family and provide a daily allowance for my younger sibling, who is still in school.)
Bringing services directly to learners
According to DepEd Negros Occidental Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylaine Sales, the Serbisyo Fair is intentionally designed to focus on learners who often face barriers when entering the workforce.
“This fair is very special. This is the idea of our beloved President Bongbong Marcos to bring serbisyo to communities (community service), providing learners who are ready for work with requirements for employment—clearances, and even the opportunity to get hired,” she said.
Organized in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and local government units, the fairs also served as a one‑stop shop for first‑time job seekers. Participants were able to secure essential pre‑employment documents—often a stumbling block for young applicants—at no cost.
Bridging the gap from school to work
Through initiatives like the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, the government aims to reduce the gap between education and employment, particularly in underserved communities where young people may have limited access to job networks and application resources.
For graduates of the Alternative Learning System, the fair signals more than immediate job prospects—it represents recognition, inclusion, and a chance to compete on equal footing.
For Ronel and others like him, the opportunity is deeply personal. It is about earning a living, supporting family, and reclaiming a future once disrupted by circumstances beyond their control.
As the government continues to expand employment‑focused programs nationwide, stories like Ronel’s highlight how access to education, targeted services, and real job opportunities can help young Filipinos take their first confident steps toward a more secure tomorrow.
(via PSP/PIA Negros Occidental)
