Miss Universe Vietnam 2018 H’Hen Niê went viral after people learned that before she became a beauty queen, she had been a housemaid to support her education. But H’Hen is not the only one who had the same background.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
Meriam Libongcogon became an inspiration to many people after she graduated from the PMA, known to be the school of the elite officers in the country’s uniformed force. Not everyone can pass the rigid training at the PMA as this is not just a place for physical training but also has a high standard when it comes to intelligence.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
The second of the seven children of Florida and Mario Libongcogon, Meriam lived a difficult life in Bambalan, Cebu as her family is just poor. Her father is a farmer and a carpenter while her mother stays at home to care for the family.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
At age 9, she would collect coconut shells, wood, and sand to sell to construction workers, earning Php20 a week. It was just a small amount off money but already a great help for the family. Amazingly, she still graduated as valedictorian despite the hard work she had to do.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
This earned her a scholarship at a Catholic school in Cebu City where she finished her high school education. But without a scholarship in college, she had to work as housemaid to send herself to school, taking up computer engineering.
But juggling her studies with doing a lot of housework and taking care of her employer’s children was too difficult as this took a toil on her health. So, she had to quit.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
Then, after 3 years of being a housemaid in Cebu, she found a job in Baguio City. It was her new employer, Nanay Rose, who would encourage her to join the PMA.
It was difficult for her, but she never thought of quitting.
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |
"Hindi ko naisipang mag-resign kasi sanay na po [ako] sa hirap. At saka lagi po akong nagdarasal sa Panginoon na tulungan niya po ako" Meriam Told ABS-CBN News
Today, Meriam is now an officer of the Philippine Navy – a far cry from her being a housemaid…
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| Photo credit: Meriam Libongcogon / Pinoy News Blog |