Mom learns to balance police work and family

This mother of two children chose a life of a policewoman over being a teacher. PO2 Sanchez Aparicio-Fegarido, 32, however, had not regretted her decision to join the police service 10 years ago. She has since also adjusted to giving quality time to her two daughters Chezed, 6 and Summer Eze, 4 and to her husband, PO2 Marvin Fegarido.

Fegarido, who hails from Tuburan town in northern Cebu, said she has learned to manage her time between her family and her hectic work schedule at the Investigation and Detection Management Branch (IDMB) of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).

She said there are times when she would have to cancel a family outing because her work schedule sometimes would be unpredictable.

She cited the Moalboal family outing today, which she canceled after the Mandaue City Police Office placed the police station on heightened alert because of today’s fiesta celebration.

“Lisod kaayo ko bahin sa akong time pero akoa man gipaningkamotan maka spend ko time nila kay para ila mani tanan akoa gitrabahoan,” said Fegarido.

To make up for her shortcomings and despite being tired from work, she would play with her children when they’re awake when she would arrive home from work.

Sometimes, she would bring them to the office when her work permits it.

And she would make it a point to take the children to the mall even for just window shopping or just eat at a food shop there.

She recalls how it was really difficult to start her family especially since she hadn’t had training or preparation on how to raise children.

She said it wasn’t easy maintaining a career and raising a family.

“Akoa luha ug sip-on mag-abot jud, kay ako paman mu atiman sa akong anak. Bisan kapoy na kaayo ang akoang lawas pero dili ko pwede mupahulay,” she said.

Like any family, she said they also faced financial problems but she and her husband had managed to solve them.

Fegarido graduated from college with a Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) degree in 2001 from the Cebu Technological University (CTU).

In August 2001, she took the licensure examination for teachers and passed. Months later she also took the National Police Commission examination for police and also passed.

She said her final interviews for both professions were scheduled on the same day. She preferred to be a policewoman after realizing its benefits and also the interview for the police job was in Cebu City.

Another factor was that she came from a family who had served in the police service. His father was a member of the Philippine Constabulary, which is now known as the Philippine National Police and her brother is also a policeman, SPO3 Socrates Aparicio, who is now assigned in Toledo City.