Model Mom World 2021

 Heart for the homeless

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Marietta Clenista-Nacional is the president of the People's Consultative Council, an umbrella group of over 300 organizations, founded in 1999, with the aim to uplift the plight of the displaced urban poor. 

She was once married to a military personnel and experienced living in their family home in Fort Bonifacio, But she also saw how the government took it back from them. But the worst was yet to come. In 2007, while living with his eight children in Batasan Hills, their home was demolished - leaving them easy prey to looters and robbers, who found easy access to their home after their roof and walls collapsed.

It was these harrowing experiences that encouraged Marietta to fight for homeless Filipinos because she knew how it felt like to be displaced. Thus, the Welfare for the Common Foundation was established to help informal settlers own the lot they have been occupying. Republic Act 7279 stipulates that those who have been living in a squatted land for ten years or more may now be allowed to own the same after  committing to an indemnification contract of paying a monthly rate of Php 500 for 25 years.

As a fighter for the rights of the homeless and informal settlers, she lobbied for Republic Act 9207, a law enacted in 2003 that converted 444 hectares of public and private domain to be converted into the National Government Center that gave shelter to homeless families, aside from affording mixed-use spaces for the government's proprietarial concerns. The 444-hectare domain straddles the barangays of Holy Spirit, Commonwealth, Payatas, and Batasan Hills. Lease contracts for use in this area are handled by the National Housing Authority through submitted bids.

So it came as no surprise that she was nominated as one of three persons who will represent the Apart Dapat party in the coming national elections. Apart Dapat has, as it's mantra, 'Asenso Taong Bayan.' Under the party's initiatives are campaigns for the betterment of the agriculture sector (which is the A in the acronym); P stands for Pangkabuhayan, where endorsed recipients receive a sari-sari store package or a cart business; the other A stands for the Abot-Kayang Pabahay program; and T stands for Tuklas Talento, wherein several competitions for the youth such as dancing for groups, singing contests, pageant searches for all sectors (including Queen of the North and Top Model), as well as art  competitions. Finalists to all these searches are weeded out through online applications and screening processes.

From human rights fighter to advocate, Best Magazine has appointed her as one of its Model Mom queen crusaders. As Model Mom World 2021, Marietta continues to roll out her charitable causes for home and shelter programs. She also continues to organize groups in slum areas in order to achieve Apart Dapat's aim of "walang squatter sa darling bayan."

"There should be no demolition if there's no clear relocation site!" she emphasized.

After writing legal drafts and lobbying for related causes, Marietta's nomination to the Apat Dapat party is a natural progression. A single mother, she is so proud to have all her children finish their college degrees. And now, she focuses her energies on the "displaced children of the state."