Education is hope

RECENTLY, I had the honor of addressing the graduating class of Miriam College Skills Development and Technical Education Center, or the MCSDTEC. It was also a privilege to have imparted a few words of wisdom and encouragement to a hardworking batch of senior high school students who included those coming from the marginalized sectors of society. Five of the graduates are also hearing-impaired. In particular, the story of the class valedictorian, Mary Rose Lasprillas, a househelp sent to school by her employers; Josephine Balasbas, an adult learner at 34 years old who was also sent by her employer to finish Senior High School; and Godofredo, a 65-year-old former soldier, who lives on a government pension and studied cookery to start a small eatery, touched me deeply.

Mary Rose shared that she had long given up her dream of finishing her studies because of poverty. She was the breadwinner of her family at the age of 16 and was blessed to have found her current employers who treat her like family. Mary Rose is the yaya of her employer's child, who was then studying at the Miriam College Child Study Center. One day, while waiting for her ward in the guardian's area, the school guard asked her to check Miriam College's adult education training center. The rest is history. Mary Rose was enrolled by her employers in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program for junior high school and then in the Senior High School program of Miriam College. Graduating top of her class, Mary Rose is inching closer to realizing her dream of becoming a teacher.