Against All Odds

“College education is not for poor people like us. I’m sorry son, you know I cannot send you to college,”  she tearfully said while hugging me tightly. I sobbed like a child!  I still remember everything she told me that night of my high school graduation. Mother was simply resigned to the idea of her only son pursuing education post high school. ” You are better off than all of your cousins.  None of them have been to high school, and you did very well!  You made me very proud when I pinned that silver medal on you and even prouder when you received the leadership award.  Anak, don’t despair– someday you will go to college,”  she said forcing a smile, trying to console me. “For the meantime you will help in the rice farm…….and you can also work for your brother-in-law in his construction projects.  He said you’re very good in grinding marble floors.” 

Apparently, those are the only options I had after graduating salutatorian from high school.

But somehow deep in my heart I was hoping for some kind of miracle that would turn the tide.  With God nothing is impossible,  I heard many times as a young boy.  I know the Lord will make a way for me,  went my favorite Sunday school hymn.  I believed those words….with all my heart.  And so I prayed for a miracle.  I knew it would happen…  As to how, I was clueless.

I worked as a houseboy during my senior year in high school.  A benevolent couple took me to their folds so that I could work during the day and continue high school at night.  A few weeks after graduating high school, I was completing my house chores and taking out the trash.  Sitting at the top of the trash bin was an old issue of the national newspaper. My eyes caught the front page news and it took my breath away.  The article read:  Study Now Pay Later, now available to top 25% of high school grads.  I smoothed the crumpled paper and devoured the details of the news.  This is it!  Now I can go to college!  I gasped.

The student loan program was available only to students pursuing a degree in the field of agricultural  science. And so that’s when I decided… an agricultural engineer. That’s what I will be!

As I pondered my future plans, apprehensions and doubts began formulating in my mind.

Central Luzon State University is known for its agricultural programs. This is where I will venture… but there are problems.  The semester is already one month underway; it might be too late. Will they still let me in?  I still don’t have the student loan approval and  I do not have money for the registration deposit. If ever I get admitted where will I stay?  Is there still a room for me in the dorms?

There was a huge mountain in front of me!  I had every reason to be discouraged, to cower and back out.

But I didn’t.

Brushing away all possible hindrances, I traveled to CLSU.   There’s no harm in trying.  This is your only chance. Go for it…bahala na ….I psyched myself. All I cared about at this point was to be admitted . And so I gathered all my registration documents: high school diploma, NCEE  (National College Entrance Examination)score, my silver medal for graduating as salutatorian, my gold medal leadership award, and of course the newspaper clipping announcing the government student loan program. Without the knowledge of anyone in my family, I set out for an adventure on my own.  Riding a Baliwag Transit bound to Munoz Nueva Ecija, where Central Luzon State University is located, I mentally prepared all the reasons why I was registering late, and why they should accept me anyway.

The receptionist at the Registrar’s office gave me a wondering look when I asked for a registration form. She did not give me a form “because enrollment already closed”  and she “thinks that all freshmen classes were already filled”.

“Can I please talk to the registrar?”  I asked.

“You have to make an appointment.  He’s attending a meeting right now and when he comes back he will only attend to his appointments…” said the receptionist, pointing to a log book in front of her.  “You may come back tomorrow, he has an opening at 10 AM.”

I almost cried after hearing these words.  I prayed and in my mind I sang.  Alam kong may magagawa ang Diyos.  (I know the Lord will have His way for me.)

Come back tomorrow?, I thought. If she only knew… The only money I have is just enough for my two-way bus ticket.  I do not even have extra money for lunch.  And if I stay the night, where? I do not know anyone in Munoz.  No! I need to talk to Registrar TODAY! 

I seated myself in the waiting lounge just outside the Registrar’s office just as they opened their doors for the day. Clutching a manila envelope containing all my documents, I nervously waited with the rest of the people who had appointments hoping to have at least a two-minute chance of talking to the registrar. My mind rehearsed a short dialogue.  Sir, my name is Gil Valenzuela.  I graduated salutatorian at Philippine Wesleyan College.  I have a very high score in NCEE and I am a recipient of Student Leadership award. (Show transcript,  medals, diploma and certificates).  My family is very poor and cannot afford to send me to college but I will be applying for the new student loan program “Study Now Pay Later”. (Show the newspaper clip).  Please let me register. I promise to be a good student here at CLSU.

Mr. Fermin was a stately gentleman.  There was a stern look about him but he had a beaming smile that was welcoming.  One by one, Mr. Fermin attended to his appointments. I patiently watched each appointment end, still clutching tightly to my envelope of credentials and awards. Every so often, I would peek my head into Mr. Fermin’s office, and each time he would briefly glance my way but he never acknowledged my presence. Towards the end of the day, he began ignoring my existence altogether. Before I knew it, I saw Mr. Fermin stand up and take his brief case, ready to go home.  The clock behind him read 5 PM.  The work day was over.  I quickly got up from my seat and rushed into his office uninvited.  “Sir please just give me two minutes of your time,” I begged.  He relented.  He put down his brief case and sat back down in
his chair, motioning me to sit down also.  I began my rehearsed dialogue while showing him my documents, but in the middle I started to choke up and tears rolled down my face.  I just couldn’t help it. ButI still managed to deliver my piece.  

He perused my documents and shook his head.

“Bata, may problema tayo.” (Young man, we have a problem.)

” Oo nga magaling kang estudyante, pero masyado ka nang late, mahihirapan kang humabol.”  (Yes, you might be a good student, but you are too late, you will have hard time catching up.)  

“At saka hindi ito ang kailangan ko, diyaryo ito eh.  Ang kailangan ko ay yung approval ng student loan mo galing sa Department of  Education.” (And this is not what I need, this is just a newspaper  (waving the news clip). What I need is the  approval of your student loan from the Department of Education and Culture.)

“At saka puno na ang mga klase ng freshmen.” (And also, all freshmen classes are all filled up.)

I couldn’t help but begin weeping when I heard Mr. Fermin enumerating all these problems.  He took a tissue from his desk and handed it to me. I wiped my tears and cleared my nose and started begging like a child.

“Sir, sige na po payagan ninyo na akong mag-enroll.  Ayaw ko pong matali sa bukid at magtrabho sa construction.  Gusto ko pong makapag-aral at maiahon ang Inang at mga kapatid ko sa kahirapan.”  (Sir, please allow me to register. I don’t want to get stuck in the rice field or work in the construction.  I want to get educated and raise my mother and siblings from poverty.)  

“E nasan bang mga magulang mo?” (Where are your parents?)  

“Ulila na po ako sa ama at ang Inang ko naman ay naglalabada para po kami makaraos.”  (I’m already fatherless and my mother is busy washing clothes for other people so we can survive.)  “Kaya sige na po papasukin ninyo na ako kahit saling pusa lang.”  (And so please let me in even as an observer.)

To which he laughed and chuckled saying: E ano ba ito?  Kindergarten? (And what do you think of this?  Kindergarten?)

I realized what I just said and I laugh with him too.

He looked at me and paused and finally said: “O sige papayagan kitang mag-enroll pero conditional lang.”  (Okey, I will let you register but only conditional.)

I couldn’t believe what I just heard. And I cried again. Now shedding more tears, but this time they were tears of joy!  I got up from my chair and rushed to him and gave him a hug saying, “Maraming salamat po sir.”  (Thank you very much sir.)

“Saan ka nga pala titira?” (And by the way, where will you live?), Mr. Fermin asked.  I ignored his question simply because I didn’t have an answer for it.  In my mind, that was not a big deal. God already removed a mountain.  Why would I worry about a small bump on the road.  All I knew is that God will provide.

I was conditionally enrolled pending the approval of my student loan.

I made it!

I got in!

I am now a college student!

I want to jump! I want to cartwheel!  I want to shout! I want to dance!  God answered my prayers!  He just performed a miracle! Praise the Lord!!!

As I left the Registrar’s office I felt my face beam smile from ear to ear. What just happened called for a celebration.  I counted my money from my pocket to check if I had some extra for a cold drink. Across the street from the registrar’s office was the student cafeteria.  I celebrated the event drinking  Mountain Dew!