January 10 ------ For veteran broadcast journalist Karen Davila, the challenging financial situation of her family in the past is part of the reason she became hardworking. Appearing in the vlog of financial consultant Chinkee Tan, the "TV Patrol" anchor opened up about experiencing financial hardship growing up, which motivated her to succeed in life.
"When I was a teenager, doon ko naranasan 'yung pagiging gipit ng pamilya sa pera... I witnessed my parents na nangungutang, nagsisimula ng maliliit na negosyo. Talagang 'pag Pasko, 'yung nanay ko bibili sa second-hand stores. All those values nakita ko 'yon as a teenager and I think 'yung pagkagipit sa pera ng mga magulang ko noon is part of the reason I became so hardworking in my life," she said. "Kasi alam mo hindi naman kami sobrang 'yaman pero hindi rin kami sobrang hirap. So ngayon na journalist ako, siyempre, mulat ako sa tunay na kahirapan ng Pilipino... So ayaw ko sabihin na sobrang hirap kami. So I always use the word, 'We were broke. We experienced financial hardship,'" added the broadcast journalist, saying she is still lucky because she got the chance to study in good schools.
Recalling her "personal turning point," Davila said: "I remember papunta sa UP (University of the Philippines) kasi nagka-carpool kami or sumasakay ako ng bus. Nakatayo ako sa bus noon and ang sikip-sikip ng bus. Sinabi ko, 'Lord, ayoko maging mahirap.'" "I remember I was maybe 18 or 19. And that something in me just--not snapped, but it was an aha moment for me that I knew I just have to succeed," she went on. "I have to help my family. I have to lift them up. Dapat tumulong ako sa pamilya ko. Dapat hindi ako maging pabigat."
Davila said she likes sharing her story to convey to people that poverty can be overcome through inherent strengths. "So the reason I share this story when I can in universities is because I always want people to know na unang-una, ang kahirapan ay lilipas din, panandalian 'yon," she said. "Kasi may angking-yaman ka na--ang edukasyon ay angking-yaman, ang kaalaman mo as you say, is angking-yaman. 'Yung talento na binigay ni Lord, angking-yaman. And I knew that I have those. And ambition, ang pagiging ambisyoso ay angking-yaman."
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
Comments