SAN CARLOS CITY—Twenty-year old Jennifer Vinoya, standing at three feet tall, will proudly walk on stage on April 2 to receive her Academic Excellence Award in Bachelor of Elementary Education from the Binalatongan Community College (BCC).

Vinoya is among the top 10 students, dubbed as mga Iskolar ng Bayan, in her course at the city government-owned institution which offers Information Technology Education courses.

Born with physical disability, Vinoya said she suffered the teasing of schoolmates as a young girl.

Her main struggle, however, has not really been her unusual short height and humped back, but her family’s poverty.

Vinoya said it was poverty that almost crippled her from pursuing her goal to get a college education.

Her mother, Rebecca, a vegetable vendor, said extreme poverty prevented her from seeking medical advice for her daughter’s condition, but despite her physical flaw, Jennifer at three years old already expressed desire to go to school.

“She is really studious and persistent,” the proud mother said.

Jennifer had to stop schooling for one year after graduating from high school as they could not afford to pay for further studies, but fortunately a benefactor came along.

ISKOLAR

At the BCC founded by the late Mayor Julian Resuello and Engr. Marcelo Casillan, students are called Iskolar ng Bayan as they pay only P1,500 each per semester for miscellaneous expenses and their tuition fee is free.

From only 45 students when the school opened in 2006, the BCC now led by Mayor Julier Resuello as its president has about 500 students and still growing.

Those who are accepted in the school come from families with the parents’ combined income not exceeding P7,000 per month.

Dr. Adonis Bautista, the school’s vice president for administration and operations, said he admires Vinoya for having the determination to finish her college education despite financial constraints.

He narrates that sometimes Vinoya and some of her classmates would stay in one corner of their classroom during lunch break where they would eat their packed meal of just steamed rice with sliced tomatoes sprinkled with salt and wrapped in banana leaves.

“Now I appreciate better her persistence to go to school although she could hardly produce money for her transportation as she comes from a remote area, about eight barangays away from the school,” Bautista said.

GIVING BACK

As part of her curriculum, Vinoya was required to attend classes for observation in Abanon Elementary School in a nearby barangay where she graduated.

Teachers there proudly introduce her to the pupils as among their “good products”.

She said this is something that boosts her morale and encourages her to aim high.

“They (teachers) said I’m small but terrible,” Vinoya said smiling.

She said faith in God makes her strong and hard work is necessary to reach one’s goal.

Vinoya has one more year to go before graduation, after which she hopes to take and pass the teachers’ board examination.

In the meantime, she spends time teaching her young neighbors and other members of the Born-again Church to which she belongs.

Vinoya said despite her physical disabilities, she finds inspiration in the Bibilical verse “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” from Philippians 4:30.—Eva Visperas

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