The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has traced the house of the sampaguita vendor who was caught in a viral video with a security guard at a mall in Mandaluyong City.  

Officials and personnel of the DSWD and City Social Development Office said they found the woman's home in Barangay Baesa, Quezon City.

On the wall of the family's house, children's diplomas and certificates of academic achievement are prominently displayed.

The parents of the sampaguita vendor spoke with the DSWD and clarified that the woman is no longer a minor, but is 22 years old. 

They added that the woman is a first year Medtech student at a private school in Manila. 

The have four children and the sampaguita vendor has a twin who is studying Nursing.

The sampaguita vendor was in school and the parents initially refused to present their child due to the trauma stemming from the incident. But the family said they have decided not to pursue a case against the security guard who was in the viral video.

"Nagalit kami sa ginawa ng security guard, pero inisip na lang namin na baka katulad namin siya na mahirap din," said the vendor's mother.

Viral 'sampaguita girl’ not a minor, but a scholar medtech student: police

Selling sampaguita is the family's livelihood.  The husband and wife help each other to weave sampaguita garlands to be sold by their children.

Part of what they earn is being used for their children's education. The children study in the morning then ply their wares in the evening.

"Gusto talaga nila makapagtapos sila dahil mahirap buhay namin," ayon sa ama nila. "Mayroon naman silang module. Unahin muna nila module bago magtinda, nagtitinda sila dito mga uwi naman sila mga ten," said their mother.

According to the father, they save the income to pay for their children's tuition. The partial scholarship obtained by the sampaguita vendor and her twin is a big help for them.

They reportedly earn between P500 and P1,500 a per day. Depending on the amount of sales, they save up to pay the P36,000 tuition.  

The mother of the sampaguita vendor explained why her daughter wore a uniform while selling outside the mall.

"Hindi sindikato ang anak ko, walang kaso yan... Kaya siya na uniporme dahil mas madali makabenta," the mother said.

"Kasi ang turo ko sa kanila, mag-aaral tayo mabuti. Lagpasin mo. Huwag mo gaya yun sa paligid. Pero huwag tayo gumawa ng masama. Kasi hindi tayo tinuturuan ng masama. Ang gusto ko naman nang mangyari, mag-aaral tayo mag-aaral," said the father.

The DSWD provided an initial cash assistance of P20,000 and rice to the family.

“Ite-train natin yung mga magulang bibigyan natin ng dagdag kapital para sa kanilang negosyo pero at the same time nandun na din 'yung intervention na pinauunawa natin sa mga magulang yung mga di dapat nila pinapagawa sa kanilang mga anak. Walang puwang ang pagtatrabaho sa mga bata dapat nasa school sila,” said DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has invited the security guard in the viral video to explain his side.

“By next week po, hinihintay po natin ‘yong update, but definitely, kung hindi po mag-appear itong security guard at ang ating security agency, maaari na po kaming mag-initiate ng filing na po ng administrative complaint,” said Lt. Col. Eudisan Gultiano of the Philippine National Police-Civil Security Group.

The woman has temporarily stopped selling sampaguita because she was also reportedly bashed in school. 

Gatchalian said the student will undergo psycho-social counseling.