More than 600 job seekers registered for Marikina's Independence Day Job Fair with 12 of them hired on-the-spot in just two hours, the city's First District Congresswoman Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro said on Wednesday, June 12.

Teodoro said the first five who were hired were given P2,000 each as a support fund for their work requirements.

“In the first two hours of our Araw ng Kalayaan Job Fair, a total of 12 job seekers were hired on the spot. Alam niyo, naging tradisyon ko na ‘to, na ang mga hired on the spot bibigyan ko ng kaunting baon para sa inyong first day siguro o pang-asikaso ng inyong mga requirements (You know, it has become my tradition to give those hired on the spot a little pocket money for their first day or for their work requirements),” she said.

She said she understands the struggle of new hires who need a startup allowance for their job requirements since they will start a new life as productive members of society.

A total of 47 companies participated in the job fair, five of which are overseas recruitment agencies.

“Maraming kalahok na kumpanya ngayon sa job fair, 47 na companies, private and public companies na kasama natin ngayon. Kaya talagang ang bawat booth ay may dalang pag-asa at posibilidad ng isang magandang kinabukasan (There are many participating companies in the job fair today, 47 private and public companies. So for sure, every booth carries prospects of hope and the possibility of a good future),” Teodoro said.

Teodoro stated that the city's initiative to conduct a job fair in collaboration with SM City Marikina during the celebration of the country’s Independence Day seeks to liberate Marikina residents from the chains of poverty by providing them with jobs.

“Lahat tayo ay may kalayaan na paunlarin ang sarili at bumuo ng kinabukasan sa marangal na paraan, sa mga trabaho na magpapalaya sa atin mula sa ano mang pagsubok sa buhay. Nararapat lang na mabigyan lahat ng oportunidad na magkaroon ng trabaho lalo na ang mga fresh graduates natin na simula pa lang na sasabak sa job market (We all have the freedom to develop ourselves and build a future in a dignified way, through jobs that will free us from the chains of poverty. Everyone deserves to be given an opportunity to have a job, especially our fresh graduates who are just starting to enter the job market),” the congresswoman said.

“Marahil may halong kaba, ang iba sa inyo iniisip na sapat na ba ang resume o qualified na ba akong magtrabaho, pero we have to start somewhere. Ang pinakamahalaga ay nagkusa kayong dumalo ngayong araw na ito. Pinagsikapang mag-apply sa trabaho. Dito pa lang pinakita na ninyo sa mga participating companies natin na kayo ay viable candidates (Maybe some of you are nervous, some of you are wondering if your resume is enough or if you are qualified to work, but we have to start somewhere. The most important thing is that you took the initiative to attend today. You tried applying for a job. You have already shown our participating companies that you are viable candidates),” she said.

“Higit na matimbang ang pagpapakita ng magandang karakter at kagustuhang matuto. Ito ang pinakamahalagang job requirement sa kahit anong trabaho (Showing good character and willingness to learn is more important, and that is the most valuable requirement in any job),” she added.

Marikina’s Independence Day Job Fair featured a diverse range of companies, including business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, banks, hotels, transportation companies, food chains, grocery chains, telecommunications companies, construction firms, health facilities, and recruitment agencies, among others.