- 36-year-old Catherine Fabro, one of the 37 nursing board passers from Marikina City, expressed gratitude to Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro for helping them while they were still studying
- Fabro took up nursing at the city-run Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina and is now working at the St. Luke’s Medical Center
- She went emotional during the oathtaking ceremony in Marikina City on Wednesday, January 22
Filled with happiness and gratitude, 36-year-old Catherine Fabro, one of the 37 nursing board passers from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar) , thanked Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro for giving full support to her and her batchmates.
“Sobrang thankful po talaga kami sa inyo, Mayor Marcy, na nakarating po kami sa puntong ito, kaya wala po kaming masasabi kung hindi sobrang pasasalamat po. At dahil nakapasa po kami, gusto naming ibalik ang naibigay po sa amin para ma-share din po namin sa iba kung ano ang nangyari sa amin para maging inspirasyon dito sa Marikina,” Fabro said after the oath taking ceremony for the PLMar’s 2019 Nursing Licensure Examination (NLE) passers led by Mayor Teodoro on Wednesday, January 22.
According to Local Government of Marikina City, Fabro was on her way to becoming a teacher when she learned that PLMar offers scholarship for nursing students. Following her heart, she enrolled and began a new journey — and it was worth it.
Now, she is serving her countrymen as a full-time nurse at the St. Luke’s Medical Center.
“Kahit anong hirap man, basta may tutulong at tutulong sa iyo. Kaya maraming salamat po talaga sa iyo, Mayor Marcy,” Fabron expressed, trying to withhold her tears.
Teodoro, a former educator who taught Philosophy at the University of the Philippines and has always been supportive to students, told the passers to share their stories to others and become inspirations, saying such is the best way to pay it forward.
“Ako, iniisip ko lang ito, ha. The best thing you could do is to pay it forward. When you pay it forward, it doesn’t mean na you have something in terms of economic value, hindi naman ganoon. You can simply pay it forward by telling your stories to others–sa iba–na nasa i-struggle para kahit paano you can serve as an inspiration. Maging inspirasyon tayo, maging pag-asa tayo,” the head of the city said.
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa Pamantasan, ang ating paaralan maaring hindi perpekto–kulang, pero patuloy siyang nagbibigay pag-asa sa marami,” he added. “So iyan siguro, first is to tell your stories to others, sa kakilala o sa mga hindi ninyo kakilala. Also, do your best in your chosen career, tulungan niyo nang maigi ang pasyenteng inaalagaan ninyo.”
In 2019, the Marikina City Government has increased its budget for free college education, making it P200 million from the P130 million in 2018.
