By Jovit D. Caballero

As Carla stands in the bright lights during the NLEX Corporation’s Employee Appreciation Day, she can feel her heart pounding. Everything around her suddenly goes quiet, and it’s like time itself has slowed down. Then, I, as the host, announce Carla’s Division name and she takes a step forward. The online viewers erupt into cheers, and she can hardly believe it — she won the title of Ms. NLEX Ambassador 2022! In that split second, Carla realizes that this is not just a win, but a nod to every sacrifice she made, every doubt she battled, and every dawn she faced. 

Carla Marcelo, our 27-year-old Toll Plaza Operations Associate from Pulilan, Bulacan, has always been aware of her family’s financial struggles and the challenges life would present. Her father balanced roles as both a tricycle driver and a fisherman, while her mother sold the catch from her father’s fishing trips. Growing up, Carla and some of her other nine siblings often accompanied their mother to sell seafoods in neighboring barangays after school and on weekends. The family fought with the harsh realities of poverty, resorting to home remedies whenever illness struck a family member. Carla couldn’t shake the thought that this might have contributed to the premature deaths of four of her siblings. 

As the youngest in the family, these experiences fueled Carla’s willpower to strive in life and see everything in the eyes of appreciation. However, upon entering high school, she encountered more unforeseen heartbreaking challenges. Due to several complications, her father endured three incidents of stroke, ultimately succumbing to death. To add to that, during her high school years, her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, an incurable condition that progressively worsens over time.  

This prompted Carla to leverage on her beauty and talent, while still pursuing her studies. She began participating as a majorette in a band, frequently performing at festivals across various parts of Bulacan and nearby provinces. She was also frequently invited to compete as muse in several basketball leagues. While Carla enjoyed these sideline jobs, she emphasized that her primary goal was to earn extra income to assist her mother in covering the costs of her medications. 

With sheer determination, Carla successfully gained admission to college, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Pulilan Campus. Determined to finance her academic necessities, she diligently explored various avenues and was fortunate to secure two scholarships sponsored by the Pulilan Mayor and the Bulacan Governor. It was during this time that she was introduced to the world of pageantry, when her classmates selected her as their representative for the Ms. PUP 2016 competition. Initially hesitant due to concerns on associated expenses, Carla’s classmates rallied together and raised funds to cover the costs of her costume and attire. Following her victory in the pageant, opportunities expanded for Carla, leading her to participate in the Binibining Pulilan pageant the following year, where she clinched the 2nd runner-up title along with cash prizes. 

On an ordinary evening during her graduating year, Carla and her mother were enjoying her mother’s favorite show, Wowowin, an announcement caught their attention – the program was seeking pretty majorettes to participate in the game show. Carla’s mother jokingly expressed her desire to visit the studio before she passes away. This remark struck a chord in Carla’s heart, prompting her to swiftly attend the auditions. Fortunately, she was selected to appear on the live shows and advance to the jackpot round. While she may not have won any major prizes, what mattered most to her was fulfilling one of her mother’s dreams. (https://youtu.be/3M6ph4BfUoM?si=D4gArF5a-gPkGY0Q) 

After graduating from college and rendering a 6-month service as an e-bike sales agent, Carla seized an opportunity to apply for a toll teller position at NLEX Corporation. Thankfully, she secured a regular post that brought her great joy, as the compensation and benefits surpassed her expectations, providing for her and her family. However, during her third year with the company, a significant turn of events unfolded as her mother’s health declined, eventually leading to her passing. Despite grappling with immense grief, Carla chose to channel her energy towards other things and cherished the happy memories she shared with her mother. 

At present, Carla navigates her daily life with guidance from the Lord and a heart filled with gratitude. She considers that her parents grant her everyday blessings through NLEX Corporation. She also expresses sincere appreciation for her leaders, whom she now regards as parental figures, and her colleagues, whom she treats as family. Carla is satisfied with her work, especially with opportunities where she can showcase her talents at company events as a member of the Operations Dance Group and participate in beauty pageants, such as the Ms. OOTD 2019 during the company summer outing. Following years of dedication to her parents, Carla has finally found love, encountering her first boyfriend at work. This newfound relationship inspires her to maintain her innate blend of being a soft-hearted yet strong-willed woman that she has always been. 

As the interview drew to a close, Carla burst into tears as she recalled the talent portion of Ms. NLEX Ambassador pageant. She remembered a moment captured in the video that had gone unnoticed during the filming of her talent clip — a butterfly landing delicately on her baton. This unexpected encounter stirred deep emotions within her, bringing back memories of her mother, and reminding her that she is always there throughout all her battles, not just in pageants, but in every step of life in general. 

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