In the island municipalities of MIMAROPA, where communities are separated by vast seas and reaching the most remote barangays often requires hours of travel by boat, public service demands more than technical expertise. It calls for resilience, compassion, and the ability to genuinely connect with people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

For Dareen Jay Yap Condes, Administrative Officer IV and Municipal Financial Analyst of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) KALAHI-CIDSS assigned in San Andres, Romblon, these qualities were not learned solely through years of government service. They were shaped by personal experiences that strengthened both character and commitment to serving others.

Since joining DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS in 2017, Dareen has worked in several island municipalities and geographically isolated communities across MIMAROPA. Beginning as a Community Facilitator and later assuming the role of Municipal Financial Analyst, the responsibilities may have evolved—from facilitating community assemblies to overseeing financial management—but the purpose has remained the same: ensuring that every community member feels heard, respected, and empowered.

“My lived experiences as an LGBTQIA+ individual helped me become more compassionate, patient, and inclusive in serving communities,” Dareen shared.

“I personally understand what it feels like to navigate spaces where acceptance, understanding, and respect are not always guaranteed. That made me more sensitive to the emotions and experiences of vulnerable and marginalized groups.”

Beyond government service, Dareen is also a professional makeup artist, a pageant queen, and a long-time advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights whose community involvement began as early as 2014. Rather than seeing these roles as separate identities, Dareen considers them complementary, each contributing to a deeper understanding of leadership, communication, and community engagement.

“Balancing professionalism, creativity through makeup artistry, and public confidence as a pageant queen taught me how to connect with people authentically while remaining approachable and relatable,” Dareen explained.

“These experiences allowed me to communicate effectively not only with local officials and partner agencies, but most especially with ordinary community members whose voices are often unheard.”

This authentic approach to public service has earned Dareen significant recognition within the organization. In 2024, Dareen was named Community-Driven Development (CDD) Ambassador of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS MIMAROPA, recognizing outstanding commitment to community empowerment and participatory development. The same year, Dareen also received the Best Technical Staff (Municipal Financial Analyst) award, a distinction once again conferred in 2026.

For Dareen, these recognitions are not merely personal achievements but affirmations that diversity and authenticity have a meaningful place in public service.

At the heart of DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS is the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, which recognizes communities as active partners in identifying their needs, planning solutions, and implementing projects that directly improve their lives. It is a principle that strongly resonates with Dareen’s own advocacy for inclusion and equal participation.

“CDD is more than a development strategy,” Dareen emphasized.

“It is a platform that amplifies voices that are often unheard. It fosters respect, shared ownership, and equal opportunity, allowing diverse groups—including the LGBTQIA+ community—to become visible contributors in building resilient, empowered, and united communities.”

Throughout years of working in the field, Dareen witnessed how community assemblies, consultations, and volunteerism naturally create spaces where differences become strengths rather than barriers. By seeing LGBTQIA+ individuals facilitate meetings, manage public funds responsibly, and help implement development projects, communities gradually embrace a broader understanding of leadership founded on competence, integrity, and compassion.

“People do not only need intelligent and skilled leaders,” Dareen reflected.

“They need compassionate people who understand struggle, diversity, and inclusion. Our experiences as LGBTQIA+ individuals give us a unique ability to connect deeply, listen sincerely, and serve wholeheartedly.”

Dareen’s advocacy extends beyond the workplace. In 2022, Dareen served as Guest Speaker during the inaugural Pride Month Celebration of the Province of Romblon and has since become an active municipal convenor of the annual Romblon Pride. These initiatives reflect the same commitment that guides everyday work in DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS—to create spaces where every individual, regardless of identity, is treated with dignity, respect, and equal opportunity.

“Pride Month, for me, is more than a celebration of identity,” Dareen said.

“It is a reminder that visibility, inclusivity, and equality should continue beyond June and become part of everyday governance and community development.”

Looking ahead, Dareen envisions rural communities where LGBTQIA+ representation is no longer viewed as an exception but recognized as an essential part of nation-building. A future where more LGBTQIA+ leaders actively participate in grassroots governance, community organizing, and local development, especially in geographically isolated municipalities where representation continues to inspire acceptance and hope.

To fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community who aspire to serve, Dareen offers a message grounded in both experience and purpose:

“Lead with Pride and Serve with Purpose. Your identity is not a limitation—it is a strength that can inspire empathy, resilience, creativity, and genuine connection with the people you serve. Representation matters. Every time you stand confidently in your truth, you open doors for those who are still afraid to be seen.”

Through dedicated public service and unwavering authenticity, Dareen Jay Yap Condes continues to demonstrate that inclusive leadership is not defined by identity alone, but by the ability to inspire trust, empower communities, and create meaningful change—one community at a time through DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS.