The word mother itself is associated with countless reasons why we adore them so much. Many would ask, how does a working mother manage to perform multiple roles such as being a mother, a friend, a wife, an office mate and among others? Is there a certain formula one can use to compute the effort and love a working mother can give to her children and work? Area Coordinator Aileen Remendado-Salsinha defied the laws of mathematics as she proved that love for work and her family is unquantifiable.
Every staff of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program would agree that Ms. Aileen is an icon who is an epitome of a good work-life manager. Even how tough the work is, she is an active advocate of breastfeeding which shows her selfless image of a mother of two lovely daughters, Asianna Sofia (11 years old) and Annia Grace (3 years old). Area Coordinator Aileen sees parenting and supervision as roles which have to be morally fulfilled.
“A woman working outside her home should be able to juggle all the tasks inside the house,” said Ms. Aileen. The word “tough” will probably best describe parenting from our supermom’s perspective because although there is division of household chores at home, she still has to make her presence felt especially by her children. She always makes it to a point that she is there to inculcate values to them and remind them that apart from academic excellence, they have to learn to demonstrate respect on the differences of people and strive to always love and prioritize themselves and their family.
Things, however were tougher as our Supermom’s partner, Secundinho is working abroad. However, this situation of being in a long distance relationship is not seen by our supermom as a kryptonite but rather a Lasso of Truth that binds her family. Despite the temporary absence of her partner, she ensures that she properly guides her children. The distance, on our supermom’s point of view, is merely about the physical non-attendance but never about absence of the thing far stronger than sadness—love.
This year marks Ms. Aileen’s 10th year in the Program. For the past 10 years of service, she values the importance of morality in performing tasks at work. She still vividly remembered how she started in the Program as a City Link who enjoyed facilitation of Family Development Sessions (FDS) and enjoyed the company of the Pantawid Pamilya members. Ms. Aileen shared that she even bought all the products of her monitored grantees so that they will not incur absences during FDS sessions due to selling of their products. As part of Pantawid Pamilya’s early days of implementation, she remembered how she had to do things alone which included updating of data and monitoring compliance because there were no focal persons before but despite those challenges, she proved that her passion and love for serving communities can overpower limitations.
In 2018, Ms. Aileen was recognized as one of the Best Pantawid Pamilya supervisors. She inspired the Pantawid staff when she delivered her appreciation speech. She said that there are many women leaders in the Program and she encouraged them to be brave in taking risks at work and at home while guided by moral principles. She also pointed that toward the path of being an effective supervisor, a leader shall see the individual differences of staff and help them deliver and give their best through recognizing their efforts. She wants to inculcate the beauty in helping people even how little and simple it is.
As of the moment, other than the fulfillment of roles as a superb mother and supervisor, our heroine manages a direct selling business which she described as her stress buster to help her divert to another world of opportunity. She sees her business as a medium of giving people hope.
A superb mother, supervisor and entrepreneur—all played well by our central character. Since life is tough, Ms. Aileen is firm in saying that we have to be tougher by being equipped with the right attitude and by being unaffected with what other people think and tell about us for it is our story that we make and not theirs.
Ms. Aileen shared that sometimes, we will really feel down but what is important is that we know people who keep us strong – our family and friends.
Truly, heroes need not to wear capes and fly nor possess magical weapons for they only need to keep their genuine heart, selflessness and understanding as they prove to the world that no magical power is greater than what they are already giving—themselves. ###