BOARD exam topnotchers recently shared their success stories despite the hardships they faced in life, with one of them being physically challenged.
At the nonpartisan Pandesal Forum brunch with the media held at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, Abdulaziz Hajimin Dapilin, the first blind Muslim teachers’ board exam topnotcher from Mindanao, recalled his difficulties in school because he was given no such education tailored for people with disabilities or special needs like him.
He said he lost his total eyesight at age 9 and had to struggle to cope with his academic studies.
His ability to surpass any obstacle in his many years of learning was put to test during the teachers’ board exam when the examiners took away his talking calculator, which a blind student like him needed.
Because of this, there was no way for Dapilin to accurately figure out some complex math questions during the board exam, but he still came out as a topnotcher.
Nurse board exam topnotcher Maria Cecilia Campos from Lorma College in La Union is another inspiring student who emerged the best among her contemporaries despite her economic status.
Because her parents Maximino Campos (carpenter) and mother Ernalin Campos (housewife) couldn’t afford to send her to school, she said her aunt Victoria Duculan, helped pay for her education.
In return, she persevered and studied hard as she took inspiration from her impoverished family, their love and support for her. Campos hopes for a brighter future for her family and a better Philippine economy in 2018.
Disclosing his future plan, Dapilin said he declined good job offers in Metro Manila, as he wants to fly back to his native hometown in Lamitan, Basilan province.
Such decision, he said, will fulfill his dream to work there in order to help improve education for special children or disabled kids.
When pressed on his view about the current situation in Mindanao after the Marawi siege, Dapilin said the extension of martial law is alright, as long as there are no abuses and better security is ensured in their region.
He appealed to the media to present a more balanced picture of Mindanao by reporting not only about wars and conflicts in the region but also the many beautiful and peaceful sites like his place of birth. Dapilin was joined in the forum by other Mindanao-born teacher board topnotchers. namely Darlene Z. Mula, Anielyn D. Ladica and Gerald Ryan O. Reburcio—all from General Santos City.
They were accompanied by their review school’s owner and Quezon City Chamber of Commerce and Industry past president Dr. Carl Balita, who said these talented and idealistic young people are worth emulating because they managed to overcome poverty and other hardships to attain their goals.