A walk in my shoes

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard
work- Colin Powell.

At this generation, Education is an opportunity who will lead you to a better future that
has to not to be squandered, for not everyone has the chance to have this opportunity. It is sad
to think that many students are taking advantage of this and tempted to go sideways. Many
students nowadays have all the things they need but still they do not indulge themselves to
study and aim high, instead, they are neglecting their academic matters for having nonsense
and wasting time doing nothing. Isn’t unfair? They are many students out there who strive and
walk even a mile just to attend class? How about them?

Can you imagine walking a thousand miles with hill steep, muddy road every morning
and afternoon just to learn from school?

Every face in the world lay a different story, each one of them. Nevertheless, there is
one of my classmates always touches my heart thinking of how determined they are just to
have their diploma. She is Marivic Abejar, 18 years old and currently studying at Paku National
High School. An independent woman who undergone poverty, it marked different scars on her
bare experience.

As the sunlight wakes the dark sky, accompanied with her siblings they will start
walking down from their house to school. They’ll walk a mile or two with a very steep and
muddy road. They possessed a strong face and legs to fight the gravity because of how steep
the way is. They will strongly clutch the handle of their bags and also their shoes or sleepers
where they will take their shoes off so that it’ll not get dirty. And if they are lucky, sometimes,
the road is dried up and they can walk faster with no hassle but still very exhausting. Well, I can
tell you exactly how exhausting it were going up and down in a mountain because we climb
there once, and doing it every day? It must’ve been very hard but they do it well.

Despite of how far their house was, they still pursue to go to high school, another
challenge and another hundreds of meters to conquer and walk through everyday but you can’t
see any track of hardships in their faces. Their smiles and laughs are just ordinary that you can’t
identify if their story is just typical to a normal person.

Behind those circumstances lurking on her, behind those cheerful yells are the
deafening cries that murmur for help but eluding these matters will never distort her life to be
pliant. That is why, all the sacrifices she made in life paves everything what she had right now:
her education, friends, and family. Even though life prepared a rough and uneven road, literally
for her, the burning dedication of her within, continue striving of what she wants to achieve in
her life.

I had watched her from the Grade 1 to Grade 11, how she manages to stand up in a very
difficult situation and how she believes in herself that she can triumph through hard work and
faith on things which are necessary for her.

Now, she will be graduating high school next year, so do I. There are many uncertainties
in life, this experience of her mold her to a better person who is determined to strive whatever
the challenges ahead. She might don’t know what impact she has given me but I will surely
carry her story forever. If you are encountering the same situation like her, don’t be afraid to be
bold and raise your head in optimism. Think and act bold like you have what it takes to conquer
the mountain of challenges. If she can, then we can. Remember that all the things not
impossible with our determination, hard work and faith above. How we draw our future is in
our hands.
 Welcome… New Teachers!

Another year of tremendous growth of achievements for Paku National High School, we
receive blissful blessings and step up accomplishments through the diligent care of the PNHS
Family. In meeting the challenges, we are grateful to welcome our new 7 teachers added to
PNHS family, who will furnish the pride of our school to a higher triumph.

We warmly welcome this woman who believes in this line, “It doesn’t matter how slow
you do things as long as you never stop”. She graduated with a degree of Bachelor in Secondary
Education in English at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, Marikina City. She’s also a former
Instructor of SLSU (Main Campus).

She is a 30-year old faculty member came from Caaga, Malitbog, Southern Leyte. She is
a food lover with a well-disposed personality. An inspiring teacher with many relatable
experiences to the millennials, she is no other than Miss Maricel L. Garces.

We warmly welcome Miss Cherry Ann A. Namang, a 28 years old humoristic young lady.
She finished her Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in Biological Sciences at Southern Leyte
State University, Tomas Oppus. She is a resident of Laray, Macrohon, Southern Leyte.

This woman passionately believes in this line, “The life and love we created is the life
and love we live”.

We warmly welcome Miss Lovelyn C. Salas, a 26 years of breathing. She graduated with
a degree of Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in English at Southern Leyte State
University, Tomas Oppus. She resides at Sampongon, Bontoc, Southern Leyte and first walk in
our school last July 29, 2016.

Based from her name, a lovely lady with a strong personality believes in this quote,
“Always be brave. They may oppose your claims, they may doubt your motives but nobody can
question your courage”.

We warmly welcome Mrs. Herma Flor G. Gabriel graduated with a degree of Bachelor of
Science in Industrial Education Major in Technology and Livelihood Education at Southern Leyte State
University, Sogod. She is a part time Instructor of SLSU Sogod for 3 semesters.

She is a 25 years old faculty member and happily married to Mr. Mark Jason S. Gabriel. They are
now living at Paku, Bontoc, Southern Leyte and she believes in this line, “You will reach your destination
when you stop and throw stories at every dog that barks”.
 We warmly welcome Mr. Marjun B. Mendez, a 24 years of joyful living, finished his Bachelor in
Secondary Education Major in Social Science at Southern Leyte State University, Tomas Oppus.

He likes to sing and first walk in our school last June 13, 2016.he is a newly installed
Senior High teacher with a well-rounded personality. He is a resident of Hilaan, Bontoc,
Southern Leyte. This winsome man believes in this line, “If there’s a will, there’s away. If there’s
no way, God will make away”.

We warmly welcome Mr. Noel D. Vallinas, a 37 years old faculty member, graduated
with a degree of AB Math/ DBET Math at _______ and also post graduate in Master of Arts in
Teaching Math PhD- Technology Management.

He is happily married to ______ with ___ children that reside at Esperanza, Bontoc,
Southern Leyte with 10 years of teaching experience in ___ Elementary School. He first walks in
our school last June 13, 2016.

We warmly welcome Mr. Gilbert P. Quilicot, a 24 years old, he came from San Ramon,
Bontoc, Southern Leyte. He finished his Bachelor in Secondary Education Major in English at
Southern Leyte State University, Tomas Oppus. His first day in our school was last July 29, 2016.

This man believes in this line, “The only thing can beat the power of the mind is the
courage of the heart”.
 Pizon, Datuin attended GSP Training

Rogelyn Pizon together with Marianne Nicole Datuin, senior students of Paku National High
School attended the GSP 3-day Training initiated by Provincial Social Welfare and Development Services
Office (PSWDO) held last _____ at GSP Council, Asuncion, Maasin City.

The said event trained the young Girl Scouts the real essence of a Girl Scout, how to be a good
leader and advocate them to be more aware of HIV/AIDS.

The scouters went home with a smile on their faces because they found new friends and learn
many things especially on how to deal with their self.