“Poverty is not a hindrance to success.” My name is Virnaliza Llarenas Sumampong who came from a poor family and currently residing at Purok 6 Brgy. Guindapunan Catbalogan City.
First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express great appreciation on behalf of my family and of all those luckily and financially sponsored by CHED Students Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs). You have shown your sincere kindness by lending a hand in my education and well-being. With that, you helped me understand that “Poverty is not a hindrance to success”, and made me realized that dreams do come true and that I can be what I want to be. It says in Chinese: No appreciation is enough for great kindness. But here, I still want to thank you for your kindness, which has provided us with hope and courage to live a better life. I lived in a well-rich family, rich not in terms of money but with love, care, and respect with each other. My mother is a laundry woman and my father is a casual worker, a street cleaner to be specific. It was so hard for me to pursue my study living with this kind of situation for we are six (6) siblings in the family and I’m the eldest. I experienced limiting the foods we eat because we are budgeting the money for our everyday needs and the other part is to our education. It was so hard for us divide the small amount of money that my parents have since my mother only earns 150-200 pesos in every laundries she received while my father earns 150 pesos per day. I also experienced crying so hard in front of the cashier in our school for she is telling me that I could not get my my admission slip to allow me to take the final examination if I’m not going to pay the remaining balance. Simultaneously with this situation, it was also the time of my practice teaching when I am in need of money for the expensed of my corporate attire in practicing my profession. But despite of the trials I faced, I enjoy such a difficult life with the hope you gave to me. It was such a disaster that I am too sad to speak about it. In fact, if I had not received your helped (the CHED StuFAPs) , you gave to those who are in needs, I would have lost all my confidence to continue my education. Luckily, the difficulties didn’t affect my study, but strengthened my faith to study harder and finished my degree of Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics. People always say that children from poor families take more responsibility earlier. I persisted to study hard and got excellent scores. I didn’t feel lonely and was looked after well by the leaders and teachers of our school. I sensed the great warmth form the community and continue to study even harder and will not disappoint those nice people who gave me love and hope. And I strongly believed in the prepositions, “ Ang Diyos ay hindi natutulog”, because despite of so many challenges I passed and laborious deeds I did, at the end you will harvest the fruits of your success. And one of this is, I passed the Licensure Examination for Teacher, take one! Which I must be thankful of, first with our Almighty Father who is always there for us in times of difficulties, and to my parents who work so hard just to send you to school, and to the CHED Students Financial Assistance Programs organizers who helped so many unlucky one who dream of becoming a successful person someday. Good job CHED for a job well done and the kindness that you had given to us. Your kindness means a lot to me, as great as a mountain. And the only thing I can do to reward your kindness is to study hard and earned good grades. Once again, I’m Virnaliza Llarenas Sumampong, a living evidence of the CHED Students Financial Assistance Programs grantee saying CHED StuFAPs, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Through you, God’s love reaches those children who are in difficulties and in need.