Home Economics graduates, Erika Beatrice C. Juanson (BSHE 2016, MHE 2026) & Marvin B. Purugganan (BSHE 2018), continue to prove their versatility in public governance and community development. 

From Teaching to Supporting Small Businesses

Erika currently serves as Acting Section Head of the Business Resource Division at the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development and Promotions Office (QC-SBCDPO). Her career reflects resilience and adaptability through changing circumstances.

Before entering government, Erika spent five years in education as a teacher, curriculum developer, and tutor. During the pandemic, the demands of shifting to online learning prompted her to reconsider her career path.

“The sudden shift to online learning placed immense pressure on teachers,” she recalled. “The workload became overwhelming, and I realized that the classroom environment was no longer sustainable for me. I decided to leave academia and explore opportunities in government.”

Erika went on to become a Learning Delivery Specialist at the Philippine Trade Training Center, an agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry. For two years, she helped deliver training for food businesses and gained experience supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises with Food and Drug Administration requirements.

That experience led her to QC-SBCDPO, which supports entrepreneurship through three pillars: money, market, and mentorship. In the Business Resource Division, Erika has taken the lead on two initiatives. The Entrepreneurship Development Program offers practical, short-term business training, while the QCertified Roadmap Program guides processed-food and cosmetics businesses through regulatory requirements, including licenses and product registrations.

After serving as a Learning Delivery Specialist and then as a Development Management Officer I and II, Erika advanced to her current leadership role. Erika sees her Home Economics education as a foundation for versatility. She recalls a professor sharing the saying, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” For her, BSHE developed practical and professional skills that can be applied across roles such as teaching, training, coordination, project management, and business.

Her journey demonstrates how adapting to change can open new ways to support local entrepreneurs and build stronger businesses.

Building Infrastructure for Local Communities

Marvin works as a government contractor through a private company involved in projects in Antipolo. His work includes responding to government purchase requests and supporting construction-related projects that contribute to public facilities and infrastructure.

His career path has taken him through several fields, including health and wellness, multilevel marketing, and business process outsourcing. He says patience and emotional self-control helped him manage challenging customer-service calls, while difficult experiences taught him to recognize his limits and take care of his well-being.

“ I always saw the BSHE program as something that touches or perhaps encompasses your humanity. No matter how technical or professional things get, it is important to think of the human touch and emotions that should be involved,” he said. “Never give up and always find a way. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and do your best to make things right.”

Finally, “Life is not a race. Take it slow, keep trying, and remember that it’s never too late,” Marvin shared. “Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and try new things.”

Together, Erika and Marvin show how a Home Economics education can support many career paths and help graduates contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.