SPES helps Palawan student launch seafaring career

ILOILO CITY — A young man from Palawan who worked as a student aide for four years under a Department of Labor and Employment program has begun his maritime career after completing his degree in Iloilo City.

“Being a SPES beneficiary taught me that success is not achieved overnight. It requires hard work, discipline, patience, and perseverance,” said Jeomar L. Jaranilla Jr.

A native of Roxas, Palawan, Jaranilla lost his father when he was 10 years old.

Growing up, he learned early to help his mother while finding ways to support his education.

In 2022, Jaranilla left his family in Palawan and moved to Iloilo City to pursue his goal of becoming a seafarer.

He enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation program at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo.

As a self-supporting student, Jaranilla looked for opportunities to earn while completing his studies.

Beginning in his freshman year, he worked as a student aide and became a beneficiary of DOLE’s Special Program for Employment of Students, or SPES, for four consecutive years.

The program provided him temporary employment that helped cover his allowance and other school-related expenses.

His work assignments also gave him practical experience and an early introduction to the workplace.

Assigned to the university’s SAS/Guidance Office, Jaranilla handled administrative and clerical duties that included filing documents, encoding information, assisting students and visitors, and preparing office materials.

Balancing his studies and work taught him to manage his time and responsibilities while developing patience, resilience, and perseverance.

For Jaranilla, SPES became more than a source of financial assistance as it helped connect his education with actual workplace experience.

SPES is DOLE’s youth employment-bridging program for qualified students, out-of-school youth, and dependents of displaced or would-be displaced workers who need income to help continue their education.

The program covers qualified applicants ages 15 to 30 and may provide short-term employment during school breaks or at other times of the year under the amended SPES law.

DOLE reported that 31,646 beneficiaries had received short-term employment opportunities through SPES in 2026, underscoring the program’s continuing role in helping young Filipinos earn while pursuing their education.

Jaranilla earned his college degree in 2025 after years of balancing academic requirements with part-time work.

Soon after graduation, he received a scholarship from a shipping company that allowed him to begin his shipboard career.

He is now working as a deck cadet, taking the first steps toward the maritime career he had pursued since leaving Palawan for Iloilo.

Looking back, Jaranilla said the jobs, challenges, and opportunities he encountered helped shape his outlook on work and education.

To young people facing financial difficulties while pursuing their goals, he offered this advice: “Believe in yourself, work hard, and never give up on your dreams. Stay focused on your goals, learn from your mistakes, and always respect others. Your choices today will shape your future.”

Jaranilla also continues to draw inspiration from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

He said the verse became a source of strength as he dealt with the challenges of studying away from his family while supporting himself.

His experience illustrates how temporary employment programs such as SPES can provide students not only additional income but also workplace exposure, practical skills, and work habits before graduation.

“Thank you so much, DOLE, for providing students like me with such a great opportunity to work and earn while studying. SPES helped me support my education, and I gained valuable lessons and work experiences that helped shape me into who I am today. I hope you continue helping more students like me finish their education and achieve their dreams through this program,” Jaranilla said.

From working as a student aide to beginning his career at sea, Jaranilla’s path shows how access to employment while studying can help financially challenged students stay in school, build experience, and move closer to their chosen careers.