Dr. Allan R. Alimajen Jr., a veterinarian, is among the successful former beneficiaries of the Special Program for Employment of Students of the Department of Labor and Employment who remain grateful for partaking in the program, as he vouched that it had helped him wade through the financial challenges during his college days. (Photo courtesy of the city government of Tacurong)
Dr. Allan R. Alimajen Jr., a dreamer and former beneficiary of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Tacurong City, demonstrated that nothing is impossible when it comes to realizing one’s dreams and aspirations.
He said that with a determined soul, he turned that simple dream into the practical reality of achievement and self-fulfillment.
Alimajen, a veterinarian fondly called Dr. Allan, lost his elder brother at an early age.
At first, he thought his dream of becoming a veterinarian seemed far-fetched, a luxury far beyond his family's means. However, his determination never wavered, not a single time.
His passion and love for animals grew day by day, prompting him to enroll in the six-year course of Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Main Campus, in the municipality of Kabacan, Cotabato Province, amidst the looming challenges of financial scarcity.
City Veterinarian Allan Alimajen Jr., (2nd from left) Tacurong City Veterinary Services Office head, led various activities, such as rabies vaccination, castration, and spay. He also encouraged people in Tacurong City to adopt a dog by initiating a "Dog Adoption Day" activity as part of Rabies Awareness Month in March last year. (File photo courtesy of Tacurong City Veterinary Services Office)
Despite the constant struggle between academic ambitions and the harsh realities of economic constraints, he tirelessly looked for ways to hunt for opportunities to help him fulfill his dreams, until he learned about the Special Program for Employment of Students from his neighbors and friends.
The SPES program aims to help students from low-income families support their education while gaining work experience during their summer vacation by providing them employment opportunities.
Alimajen started his SPES journey way back in 2007 and continued until 2009.
“With the money from SPES, I was able to purchase school supplies and use the remaining part for allowance,” he said.
As a SPES, he was assigned to the Veterinary Office of Tacurong City, where it served as his training ground to gain valuable work experience.
According to him, his experience “as a SPES beneficiary helped him develop and strengthen his skills in dealing with different people and taught him the importance of time management.”
"I love being a SPES beneficiary,” he quipped, as he shared his fond memories and gratitude for the program for giving him a ray of hope that helped him huddle through the hardships of being in college.
He recalled how being a SPES “baby” inspired him to work with the city government of Tacurong, rendering his service to the community by providing free treatment to animals from owners who didn’t have money to pay for private animal care.
As head of the Tacurong City Veterinary Services Office, Dr. Allan Alimajen (in a brown scrub shirt) is committed to educating youth on being responsible pet owners by having them immunized against rabies. The official often conducts an information education campaign to increase the awareness of the people in Tacurong City about the importance of being responsible pet owners, starting the campaign with youth and children in schools. (File photo courtesy of Tacurong City Veterinary Services Office)
Because of his perseverance and hard work, Alimajen graduated as a doctor in veterinary medicine in 2013 from the USM and passed the licensure exam in the same year.
He then started his journey in public service with the city government of Tacurong as Clerk I, working his way up to his promotion on March 1, 2021, as a full-fledged City Veterinarian.
Alimajen is just one of the many highly respected former SPES beneficiaries whose success in life came from truly humble beginnings.
His moving story inspires others to hope for the future while also unveiling the profound impact of governmental initiatives like the SPES program that have helped shape the future of the nation’s youth, changing their life narratives.
With the right support from any good Samaritan coupled with the right attitude, dreams can indeed become a reality, Alimajen articulated. (AMB - PIA Region 12)
