By: IRON G. MORALES – ESGP-PA grantee
Magna Cum Laude Graduate

VALLADOLID, Negros Occidental – I was born in the cold dawn, when even time seemed to stand still, in my native town in Hacienda Estrella, Barangay Sicaba, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. I am the seventh child among the eight siblings of my big humble family. My father was a fisherman and my mother was a dressmaker.

On other days, my older siblings helped my parents in harvesting and sewing “nipa” to be sold in the neighboring market. They also made some brooms from “buri” commonly known as “paypay” as an extra income. However, these sources of living weren’t enough to support the whole family especially that some of my siblings are already in high school.

These things were just told by my parents and my older sibling since I do not remember much of my early childhood in that place. I was only two years old when my family decided to move to another town hoping for a better living. It was in the coastal barangay of Tabao, Valladolid, Negros Occidental where my family transferred. Since it was near the sea, my father was still a fisherman in our new place. My uncle lent us his pump boat and it helped a lot to have a good catch. My mother continued her dressmaking job at our house. All of my siblings continued their studies and I also started mine.
Though we’re still struggling due to an unstable source of living, my parents instilled in our minds the importance of education. They tried their best to send us to school.

There were days which we do not have enough rice for the family so they cook it with more water than usual. They would rather do it in order to make it enough for us. Though we are always struggling to have enough food, my mother never allowed us to go to school with an empty stomach.

According to her, breakfast is very important for a student.
When I was in grade four, I started helping our eldest brother in his business as a vendor in public markets. On the last subject every Friday afternoon, I would ask permission from my subject teacher to go home early so I could take the last trip of the bus. It took me almost an hour to arrive at my brother’s place, where we do his business and I’d stay there for the entire weekend.

At an early age, I was already helping my brother as an ambulant vendor selling dry goods such as shoes, slippers, bags and many more in different places. My brother had seen my effort just to have money at that time so in return, he was the one who gave me my allowance for school. Then, I’d go home early Monday morning. That was my routine every weekend, as well as during summer break until I graduated in high school.

When I was about to graduate in high school, knowing the financial instability that we were in, I tried to apply for a scholarship program in my brother’s hometown, but I was rejected. Because of this, my parents asked me to stop schooling for a year, to give way for my older brother who was already graduating in college at that time.

Due to my eagerness to go to college, I secretly took an entrance exam at the school that I wanted to enroll. When I passed the admission process, that was the only time that I told my parents about it so they just let me continue my college. I took up an associate course at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC). Although my older sister supported me for my studies at that time, it wasn’t enough for my daily expenses.

In order to lessen the burden of my parents and my sister, I engaged myself in many “side-lines” so I could continue my studies. I worked as a working student in the library and I also accepted some laundry services from my dorm mates for my extra income. My dorm mates would even call me “Chef Boy Logro” for I was the cook in the dormitory. Being the cook was a blessing for me because I was able to eat for free. Right there and then, I learned how to manage my time in the library, my studies and some other “side-lines” for two years. Though life in CHMSC was quite tough, I could still consider it as one the most memorable times of my life for I became stronger in dealing with difficulties.

Few days before I graduated in my associate course, my teacher told me that I had the potential of being a teacher and advised me to get an education degree. I considered his advice and decided to go to Iloilo at my sister’s place. However, my sister was already struggling with managing her finances since she had already her own family. It was never my choice to stop schooling. I had to stop for a year to save money so I could take my education course.

For several months, I worked as a kitchen crew in Jollibee. After my contract, I processed for admission in my chosen school- Western Visayas College of Science and Technology, presently known as Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT – U) from the money that I saved and with the help of my sister, I was able to finally continue my studies as an education student.

The life of my new university was really fun. I was an active student leader until I graduated. I was still a working student in our university library. When I was in my second year, I heard about the scholarship program for the indigents, so I applied and was granted to be an Extended Student Grant-in-Aid for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) grantee.

It was really a blessing for me because I don’t need to ask for money from my parents and older sister. At that point in time, I never experienced many financial difficulties. The scholarship gave me free tuition with a monthly allowance. In return, I studied well and gave my best in every school work and activities.

As a result, I graduated as a Magna Cum Laude and awarded as Philippine Association for Teacher Education (PAFTE) awardee having the highest weighted average among my fellow graduates in my course. I also received some leadership awards as a student leader. I owe these achievements from the Lord who never fails and guides me always, from my family that inspires me and from other people and institutions like DSWD and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which I also considered as my family, who supported me in my years in college.

After graduation, I immediately reviewed for the board exam. Another blessing came because I was able to have my review for free since I was a Magna Cum Laude graduate. The review center also gave some allowances for my food since I was one of the highest scorers during the exam in the center. I was very nervous when the result of the board exam came but this feeling was turned into happiness when I saw my name in the passer’s list. I was so thankful because I considered my license as a powerful weapon to deal with the upcoming battles as a professional teacher.

At present, I am a teacher in one of the Chinese schools in Iloilo City. I am now sharing my knowledge as well as my experience in life with my students. I’m also taking up my Master’s Degree in the same university where I graduated.

Those bitter-sweet experiences made me realize that, though life is full of challenges you can still overcome it with the Lord’s guidance, and the people behind your back pushing you to surpass everything. At the end of the day, you will still be thankful for it made you stronger and gave you a lot of lessons.

As Helen Keller says, “The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings. It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike. It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming” Thus, we should be thankful for whatever we are experiencing, may it be worst or best. Everyone has their humble beginning which can surely be improved. We cannot change the processes of life but we can always change our ways to achieve a positive outcome at the end of each journey.//dswd/mgc (Submitted by Alfa Grace Yocarize, ML Valladolid, Negros POO2)

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