From job order employee to teacher: 30-year-old Yunos Marato achieves his dream

Perseverance and love of work. These were the characteristic traits driving 30-year-old Maguindanawon Yunos Marato as he pursued his dream to become teacher in spite of the many hardships he encountered in life.

 

For Marato, achieving success was a very long journey. But despite the difficulties he encountered while working as a job order employee of the local government unit in Mlang, North Cotabato, he exerted all means to balance his works and studies. He was 22 years old at the time of his hiring, back in 2005.

 

Marato was given janitorial tasks at the town plaza, and at the same time, handled the cleaning of the public comfort rooms at the town’s public market and municipal hall offices.

 

“It was a very tiring job for me at that time. But I don’t lose hope that someday I will realize my dream to become teacher,” Marato told this writer in vernacular.

 

In 2007, when he was 24, Marato courageously decided to pursue a Bachelor in Elementary Education at Southern Baptist College (SBC), which he paid for with his P180-a-day wages.

 

“I am thankful to my direct superior and the leadership of our town for allowing me to go to school while working as job order employee,” Marato narrated with teary eyes.

 

It took six years for Marato to complete his college degree, but on March 2012, Marato moved a big step closer to his dream upon receiving his college diploma. He then took the Licensure Examination for Teacher (LET) in Davao City in August 2012. Luckily, he was among the thousands of successful passers.

 

“Allah is really good to me,” Marato said.

 

Marlyn Porras, the Human Resource Management Officer (HRMO) in Cotabato, lauded the perseverance of Marato in realizing his dream of becoming a teacher—a profession regarded as one among nation building careers.

 

Though pressured by both his job and his studies, Marato never abandoned his work in all his eight years at his job.
 

“He (Marato) was really good and very cooperative in all LGU led activities,” Porras said.

 

Marato is the first job order employee to finish a degree course in the 62 years since the local government unit was established, Porras said.

 

The Mlang local government on Saturday honoured Marato during the simple oath-taking rites of all elected local officials held in Barangay Nuevabida village.

 

Marato received a certificate of recognition from the local chief executive and was invited to teach as "Magtutudlo sa Barangay" in Dungguan, his own village.

 

Mlang's LGU opened Banawa Elementary School in Barangay Dungguan following the restoration of the peace and order in the area. The school now accommodates at least 200 pupils.

 

“May Sir Marato serve as example to other job order employee of our town to also pursue their dreams,” Mayor Joselito Pinol said. — VC, GMA News