Kwento ng “palaboy” na naging “executive” – iFINANCIALS by SE-ITpreneur

“Good morning!”, shouted the host

“Naku! eto nanaman.”, whispered Meriann. “Hapon na at lahat, good morning pa din. Alam ko na saan ito papunta”.

This was moments before she even realized that what she’s about hear will change her life forever.

But who can blame her. She’s been to so many events that started off with this way.

Susunod na ang video kung gaano kalaki ang pwede kitain sa kumpanya.

Memorize na niya ang mga presentation ng mga network marketing companies.

Ang daming promises pero iilan lamang ang talagang kumikita tapos ang dami mo pang dapat bilhin sa simula pa lang.

Ika nga niya. “Naluto na siya sa networking”.

“Networking daw pero NOT working naman pala”.

So how did she end up sitting in another presentation?

To understand that, we need to see where she came from…

BROKEN FAMILY. PALABOY. ABUSE.

Growing up from Bicol, she endured a harsh childhood.

Iniwan sila ng tatay and nag-asawa muli ang nanay niya. Si Lolo’t lola ang nagpalaki sa kanila.

Nang magkaanak ang nanay niya sa pangalawang pamilya, kinuha siya upang alagaan ang bagong silang.

Doon na nagsimula ang abuse. Sinasaktan at minomolestiya siya ng stepfather niya.

Hindi niya ito masikmura at naglayas siya. Naging palaboy.

Naawa ang kanyang kapitbahay at tinulungan siyang makapasok bilang kasambahay at dun ay pinayagan siyang makapagaral at magtapos ng high school.

Sa awa ng Diyos, nakapasa siya bilang scholar ng Meralco. (Dalawa lamang sila nakapasa sa buong bansa).

Ngunit sa halip na ituloy ang pag-aaral, pinili niyang mamasukan sa isang kumpanya upang tulungan ang 2 pa niyang nakababatang kapatid.

Guminhawa naman ang buhay ni Meriann.

Nag-asawa at nagkaanak.

Tuluy-tuloy na ang pag-asenso sa buhay nang mangyari ang isang insidente na magbabago sa buhay niya.

Ang araw na nawala ang kanyang anak…

Halos mabaliw si Meriann.

Pinagbilin niya ang 12-year old na babaeng anak, isang special child, sa kanyang kapatid. Naiwan mag-isa panandali ang anak niya nang ihatid ng kapatid niya ang sarili niyang anak sa school.

Dun nangyayari ang pandurukot.

Hindi niya lubos maisip kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari sa anak niya. Bilang isang biktima ng abuse naisip na niya ang lahat — pananakit, rape, at iba pa.

Malipas ang ilang oras ay nahanap ang kanyang anak na safe and sound.

Nakahinga na siya ng malalim.

Alam niyang, hindi na niya kayang iwan ang kanyang anak ng ganun.

Something has to change.

She had to stay home and quit her job.

But there’s just one problem.

Baon siya sa utang dahil sa isang failed business na sinimulan niya at nagkasakit pa ang kanyang asawa.

Saan siya kukuha ng pera pangtustos sa pangangailangan nila at pambayad ng utang.

Ang bigat pa sa kalooban dahil tanging siya lang ang nakakalam ng sitwasyon at wala siyang mapagsabihan.

At nakakahiya man aminin, pumasok na rin sa isip niya ang magsuicide.

She was hopeless.

Desperate for a someone to give her a lifeline.

And it came from the unlikeliest of places.

Dating Gawi. Bagong Buhay.

Now we find ourselves back sitting in a seminar.

Knowing her financial troubles, her friend invited her for the 100th time to attend the IMG financial literacy seminar. Ayaw pa ni Meriann umattend nuon kasi nga feeling niya network marketing ito.

But her back was against the wall so she gave it a go.

And noticed that aside from the “Good Morning” introduction, everything was totally different.

She realized how wrongly she was handling her money. And how her children can not only eat at Jollibee but also OWN the company at a very early age via the stock market.

It made her say “More people should learn this”.

She was also surprised to learn that IMG doesn’t earn from recruitment or membership. They earn from products that people invest in after they have been properly given financial education.

But what really got her over the edge was listening to the success stories of Malvin Leano who, like her, is a high school graduate and went on to become a CEO in the company after finding himself jobless after being laid off by his previous employer.

As well as Christy Canete who herself has a special child of her own but is thriving in the business with her husband.

She can see that more than a business these people are on a mission.

A mission to educate Filipinos on proper financial handling.

Something she herself wished she knew about sooner.

Mariann can see herself in them.

So she started the mission.

And in less than 3 years, with the perseverance she developed from a very young age, achieved the much coveted Executive Marketing Director position.

A feat very few has achieved in that span of time.

She’s turned herself from a debtor to an investor.

From the brink of a broken family to adding another child to their happy home.

From suicidal to inspirational.

But here’s the funny thing.