Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
Poverty is difficult to overcome, but it is not impossible. A fisherman’s daughter from the island of Biliran certainly never let hunger be a hindrance to her dreams.
A mere .20 percentage points separated the board topnotcher from second-placer Iah Bantang Seraspi of Romblon State University. This was during the September 2015 LET (Licensure Exams for Teachers) for the secondary level.
Recently, a post shared by the Biliran Island Facebook page—showing a tarpaulin of a toga-wearing Seraspi posted on the side of a small hut—has gone viral, resulting in an outpouring of congratulatory messages and testimonials of being inspired and touched by the young lass’s experiences.
With her father being a fisherman and her mother a housewife, Seraspi had to tutor children to supplement her family’s meager income. For her, a typical meal would be rice and anything that could give it flavor, such as salt, coffee, sugar or chips. A bowl of instant noodles, she considered a luxury.
But “Di man nila makikita ang laman ng tiyan ko (They won’t ever see the contents of my stomach), but they will definitely see the capacity of my brains,” Seraspi stated in her speech during a testimonial dinner.
“I came from a poor family.” Seraspi related. “I’m not telling you this to humiliate my family nor to get your sympathy. I just want you to realize how blessed you are if you were able to live a life better than mine.”
She encouraged others to make the most out of what they have to “improve your education… commit yourself and be ready to sacrifice. Have a strong motivation.”
Debbie Esquejo Garcia, a US-based registered nurse who financed Seraspi’s college education and who posted about Seraspi’s inspiring story, explained “…I posted it para mainspire din ung mga students na same situation sa kanya.. (I posted it to inspire students facing a situation similar to hers). poverty is not a hindrance to success..”
