Student's Stories
Czarenah is currently a Grade 12 student. She has six siblings and five of them are studying on modular setup. Their life is good; the neighbors are good and they are happy to be where they live now. Sometimes when it rains they are afraid because they live in a flood-prone area. Her father works as a construction worker for a company. Her mother is a housewife, watching over her siblings. Her mother also takes care of their meals. She also helps her siblings to reduce her mother’s work. Her siblings and her parents are in good health. In today’s time they really need gadgets, especially that the education has it new normal setup. The importance of the gadget for her is that she can search for words or information that they want to know. She can also catch up on news because of the gadget. She can do activities and also participate in school contests, and most especially she can attend classes. She also using it by helping her siblings by answering their module, researching questions that they are not familiar with. And when they also have an online class, Czarenah allow them use the cellphone that she borrowed so they don’t get late in class. And for Czarenah no matter what the pandemic brought us, she believes that “Education is the key to success.”
My family does not have the means to buy me a cellphone so I am thankful for the opportunity to use the cellphone from dotAsia. I also lent this phone to my younger sibling to be able to attend online class and answer her module as a Grade 6 student from a public school. As a class president of the Grade 12 class, I was also able to use the cellphone to pay forward, to help my classmates who needed to be reminded about schedules, information, and assignments. I help some of them who have academic difficulty or are shy to ask the teacher in understanding the subject matter or instructions better. I reach out to students who I believe need my assistance in the form of information or reminders. Sometimes I make the first move and chat with a classmate if they lack some task or information. I not only assist my classmates with their academic requirements but also assist my friends and neighbors. In helping others, I do not ask for anytime in return. It is sufficient that I am able to assist them and that they will be able to finish their tasks during this challenging online class. I hope that in the future, they will also be able to help others in any small way, to pay forward. I hope that dotAsia, dotPh and CPF will be able to help more students so that they can succeed in studies and in life. Again, thank you!
Ashely is currently in 10th grade. She has one sibling. Their life is not that good because they are having hard time in their daily needs and bills. It’s hard for them to struggle everyday where they can find a food. But they strong enough to face their everyday problem and they always survive it. Her parents are just separated a past few days. Both of her parents don’t have work but her mother is doing sidelines like haircutting, manicure and pedicure to provide for their needs. Her situation and feelings according to her, she’s fighting for anxiety lately. Because of their low income they can’t afford to buy phone for her studies. But she is glad because she is one of the students who are able to borrowed gadget from dotAsia. She really need it for her studies to finish the school year and she also uses the gadget when she does school works like researching and other task that she need to finish. She can also help her sister to do her school works. And for Ashley whatever they are going through in life, there’s always a hope for a student to rise.
Ashley’s family does not have the means to buy her a cellphone so she is very thankful for the opportunity to use the cellphone from dotAsia. To pay forward, Ashley helps her family in household chores like watering plants, sweeping their backyard, washing the dishes and sometimes cooking. She is also the one who help her cousin in answering her modules. In helping her cousin, she does not ask for anytime in return but what is more important, she was able to assist her cousin in answering module to pass in this challenging online class and helping her mother in household chores. As I interviewed Ashley, she is always thankful and grateful for the opportunity that dotAsia is given to her. With the use of the cellphone Ashley passed for this school year and moved up from Grade 10 last May 21, 2022.
ASHLEY NICOLE CASIMIRO Grade 10 student
ANA NICOLE TABANILLA
Grade 8 student
Ana Nicole is currently a grade 8 student. They are in a good health and they always pray to God that guide them, protect them in their daily lives. In this time of pandemic Ana and his family encountered lots of hindrances but they never forget to smile. Due to pandemic, her father’s work got affected but they managed to survive their daily living. According to her, he feels happy the she can continue now her studies by the use of the gadget that she borrowed from dotAsia. She has no cellphone that she can use to continue her study because of the new modality of learning. As of now, she uses the gadget in attending class and passing her activities on time. Ana believes that we experienced hardships in terms of studying and learning but at the end we will see the good outcome of it.
Ana Nicole Tabanilla is an eighth-grader. Ana’s parents forbid her from going outside due of the pandemic, so she exclusively assists her mother with household tasks. She is the one who washes and folds their clothes and cleans their house. Ana believes that the best way she can pay forward at home is to help her parents on the things that she can already do and it begins with tiny acts of kindness.
Christina is currently a grade 10 student. Their life before is good and she lived together with her parents. But last October, her mother died. Even though life tested them because of the problem that they encountered, they managed to be strong, move on with life and accept what happened. As of now her father provides for their needs and with the help also of their relatives. Sometimes she misses her mother but she believes that everything happens for a reason. Her father work as a garbage collector in MRF – Barangay and her father also took care of her. In terms of studying, she had hard time in answering Math subject and making Arts because she remembers that her mother is the one who help her in making arts and drawing. She uses the gadget that she borrowed from dotAsia for her school works. Christina believes that “Grade is just a number” because for her the most important is the learning and enjoyment that she experienced while studying. For her also it’s okay to have low grades as long as she tries her best.
Christina Patalud, a grade 10 student, was given the opportunity to use a gadget from dotAsia. As I interviewed Christina, since her mother died, she was the one who take the responsibility of cleaning their house and some household chores. Her aunt was the one who took care of her and as a returned sometimes she took care of her aunt’s daughter. Cleaning their environment also is one of her ways of giving back. She was aware that living in a polluted environment might lead to a variety of diseases for everyone, most especially in teenagers like her and for her nephews who are particularly vulnerable to Dengue fever. She used to sweep their surroundings every day, not only for her family but also for their neighbors. Christina took care of not just their family and neighbors, but also our Mother Earth, by simply cleaning and sweeping in front of their house. Christina passed this school year and moved up from Grade 10 last May 21, 2022.
MA. CHRISTINA PATALUD Grade 10 student
GHIRO ROSELLE DE CASTRO Grade 7 student
Ghiro is currently a grade 7 student, she has two siblings. Their life is so simple, they eat three times a day and it’s a blessing. Her family is happy despite all the problems that they encountered every day. Her father works as a driver and her mother is a housewife. They are healthy and none of them are getting sick. She applied to become one of the beneficiaries of dotAsia’s project because she wants to finish her studies and be an achiever. She uses the gadget in attending online classes and submitting her task on time. Ghiro believes that you have to believe in yourself, endure all the hardship that you may encounter and you will reach the pinnacle of your success.
This is Ghiro De Castro, a grade 7 student one of our recipients of gadget. One way she can do to give back is to teach younger kids for them to be able to learn. Ghiro said “I think this picture shows how I help young kid, it’s good for her to be taught especially kids don’t have the face-to-face classes so it’s going to be hard to teach them and even if I’m struggling teaching her because they’re not as good at writing and reading as I am. I teach children because my dream is to become a teacher.” Ghiro receives an award as With Honors in Recognition Day last May 20, 2022 of Grade 7 students at our school.
Hanna is currently a grade 7 student. She has two siblings, they are all fine and healthy as well as her parents. Her father’s income is enough for their daily needs. Her mother is a housewife who took care of them and Hanna help her mother too in taking care of her two younger siblings. Her father’s income is enough for their daily needs that’s why they couldn’t prioritize to buy gadget that they really need in online class. Luckily, because of dotAsia Hanna borrowed a gadget that will help her in studying as well as her siblings in answering their modules. Hanna is also a merit awardee in the past 1st quarter period in school. Hanna believes that everyone suffers in their life. There are many sad days but rather than sad days, they hope to have better days. That’s what makes us live. That’s what makes us dream.
This is Hanna Janelle Puricallan, a grade 7 student. Because of the pandemic, Hanna’s parents limit her to go outside that why she only helps her mother in household chores. She is the one who hand and fold their clothes, she also the one who clean their house if her parents are not at home. Aside from that Hanna is a member of young choir in their church. As I interviewed Hanna, since some of her choir members are younger than her, she helped them to wear their clothes and Hanna were the one who guide them. In that small way Hanna believe that helping other people starts in small ways. Ghiro receives an award as Merit Awardee in Recognition Day last May 20, 2022 of Grade 7 students at our school.
HANNA JANELLE PURICALLAN Grade 7 student
JAMES ERICK GONZALES
Grade 11 student
James is currently a grade 11 student. He has five siblings and three of them are studying. Their life is simple but in this time of pandemic just like in other people they got more affected by the pandemic. His father’s work become unusual because his work is an epoxy company worker. The small income from his father somehow provides their daily needs. Her mother is the one who took care of them. According to James, aside from being a student he works also to have an extra income that will help their family. But on the other hand, because of his work some of his activity are not yet done before the given deadline. One of the hindrances also for James is the internet connection wherein he uses mobile data and sometimes load is not included in their budget for their daily needs. But for him, still he’s glad because he is one of the beneficiaries of dotAsia project. He uses the gadget to attend online classes, submitting activities even if sometimes it’s already late and also the gadget helps their siblings in answering their modules. James believes in the saying “Education is the key to open golden door.”
This is James Gonzales a grade 11 student one of our recipients of gadget. Looking back there’s a lot of things, he can remember in helping other people. One of which is when his friend become a victim of fire, he donated some of his clothes and goods for his friend and its family. He also helps his grandmother too went to barangay hall to get some medicine that she needs. Since James’s mother died, he was the one who took care of his youngest sibling. To protect his youngest sibling, he cleaned a canal in the back of their house for the safety of his siblings and for their neighbor also which is their relative.
Lorraine is currently a Grade 7 student. Their life here is simple. Her father is the one who supported them and her mother is the one who is taking care of them. As of now, they are blessed that they are safe and no one from her family are getting sick with the help of the Lord by means of praying and praising Him. Lorraine needs a gadget to attend online classes and to submit her activities on time. She had her cellphone back then but unfortunately the screen crack that’s why she was very glad when the school allowed her to borrowed a cellphone that she can use during her online class. Aside from Lorraine, the gadget helps her siblings too in terms of group chat and searching for different topics that they are not familiar. Lorraine believes that as a student she needs to study hard and be industrious at all-time because one of this days she will have a good future and will be able reach her dreams.
This is Lorraine Palabay a grade 7 student and had an opportunity to use the cellphone from dotAsia. Just like Ghiro one way she can do to give back is to help young learners in answering their modules. With the use of her gadget if there’s a lesson or activity that they will not able to answer she will use her gadget to look for a guide to help them understand the lesson or the activity. In that small way, Lorraine is happy that every young learner she helped are saying “thank you” to her and she feels grateful about it. Lorraine receives an award as With Honors in Recognition Day last May 20, 2022 of Grade 7 students at our school.
LORRAINE PALABAY
Grade 7 student
DON MIGUEL SALCEDA
Grade 7 student
Don Miguel is currently a grade 7 student. As an only child, Miguel wants to give his best to fulfill his parents dream for him. As of now Miguel considered their life is good, they can eat 3-times a day. They live in a flood-prone area that’s why he is afraid that rainy season is coming because their house is not that concrete in materials. Her father works as a vendor of dried fish like “tuyo” “daing” and “dilis”. Her mother lost her job because of the pandemic and she is just in their house watching over him and took care of the household chores. In today’s time Miguel really need gadget, especially that the education has it new normal setup. The gadget that Miguel has cannot install the platform where the school allowed them to pass their activities that’s why her mother applied for the project of dotAsia wherein students can borrow gadget that will help them to catch up in online class and pass his activities on time. And for Miguel he believes that Education is the key to success and the key to reach your dreams.
Don Miguel Salceda, a seventh-grader, was offered the opportunity to use a dotAsia gadget. Miguel assisted her father in packing dried fish such as “tuyo,” “daing” dried squid, and many others as I questioned him. Miguel’s father has been packing and selling dried fish to supplement their income since then. Instead of going outside to play, Miguel always assists her father. He notices how his father requires assistance with everything from packing to selling it and walks throughout San Mateo to meet their demands. Miguel’s family does not have the financial resources to purchase a cellphone that he can use to study in an online class due of their financial situation, which is why he is appreciative for the chances that have been provided to him by dotAsia.
Anezka is currently a grade 8 student. She has one sibling who is also a student. They are all fine and healthy as well as her parents. Her father works as a delivery rider while her mother works as a cashier and took care of them also. Her parents’ income is enough for their daily needs that’s why they couldn’t prioritize to buy gadget that they really need in online class especially Anezka and her sibling really need it. Luckily, because of dotAsia Anezka borrowed a gadget that will help her in studying as well as her sibling in attending classes and answering their activities. Anezka is also an academic achiever when she was in grade 7 up until now as a grade 8 student. Anezka believes that don’t aim for high grades, aim for learnings, knowledge and wisdom that will help them in real life situations.
This is Anezka Dionne Pascual, a grade 8 student. As I interviewed her, she told me that she has this cousin who always went to their house every time that her cousin’s parents are at work. She helps her cousin with his module and she teaches it also to read some words that is difficult for him. Since Anezka’s sister is already a high school student she loves to help her cousin with his module as she misses the days when she also helped her sister in school works. Anezka receives an award as With Honors in Recognition Day last May 19, 2022 of Grade 8 students at our school.
ANEZKA DIONNE PASCUAL Grade 8 student
PRINCESS MAE RODRIGUEZ, Grade 10 student
Princess is currently in 10th grade. As an only child and in a higher level as well Princess wants to help her parents in their daily needs. She became a tutor of her neighbor’s child who is in elementary. And Princess saves her income to buy cellphone that she can use in online class and uses also to buy load that she needed. Their life is good, her father works in a courier company and her mother is a housewife who took care of them. It’s hard for her to use her gadget in online class because sometimes while in her class her cellphone keeps on shutting down and because of that Princess gets interrupted and just ending up with no learning at all. But she always asked her classmates what the lesson is all about. Because of their low income and it’s just enough for their daily needs they can’t afford to buy phone for her studies. But she is glad because she is one of the students who are able to borrowed gadget from dotAsia. She really need it for her studies to finish the school year as a Junior High School completer and she also uses the gadget when she does school works like researching and other task that she need to finish especially in online class. Princess is an academic achiever since grade 7 until now as a grade 10 student. And for Princess whatever you may experience it may be hard today but it’s probably worth it at the end.
This is Princess Mae Rodriguez, a grade 10 student who had a moving up last May 21, 2022 with flying colors and had an opportunity to use the cellphone from dotAsia. Princess takes the opportunity to teach her sibling and sometimes her cousin as she practices for her future profession which is as a teacher. With the use of gadget from dotAsia, if there is a lesson or activity that difficult for them, they search it online and look for guide to answer the given module. As she is the older in her family relative, she thinks that it is her responsibility to look for her younger sibling and cousin in to help them in studying.
Princess Nicole is a Grade 7 student who is also an achiever. Every end of the quarter Nicole is always part of with Merit Awardee. As I interviewed Nicole, she was so thankful that even though life is hard and life becomes more harder because of this pandemic still she was so thankful because they are complete and healthy. Nicole is an only child and her mother is a Barangay Staff while her father is a company driver. The income of her parents is enough for their daily needs and to provide for her studies. As of now, Nicole continued to study hard to achieve not just a Merit Awardee but as an Honor Awardee. She also strives hard in studying to reach her dreams for herself and especially for her parents. Nicole wanted to have a gadget that will become a big help as she continues to study hard. She promised that she will use it to attend online classes as well as to submit her task on time. Nicole believes that education is our passport to a better future.
This is Nicole Ambus a grade 7 student and had an opportunity to use the cellphone from dotAsia. One of her ways to give back is to clean their surroundings. As I interviewed Nicole, she was aware that there’s a lot of disease we can get from having a dirty environment especially as a teen which they are prone in Dengue cases. She used to sweep everyday to clean their surroundings, not just for their family but also for their neighbors. In simply cleaning and sweeping in front of their house Nicole took care not just their family and neighbors but also our Mother Earth. Nicole receives an award as With Honors in Recognition Day last May 20, 2022 of Grade 7 students at our school.
PRINCESS NICOLE AMBUS, Grade 7 student
GABRIEL RIVERA,
Grade 9 student
Gabriel is currently an incoming Grade 10 student. He was the third of five siblings. Gab wants to give his best to fulfill his parents dream for him. As of now Gabriel considered their life as surviving in the middle of this pandemic. They can eat 3-times a day. Just like his other schoolmates Gab lives also in a flood-prone area that’s why he is afraid when rainy days is coming. Her father works as an on-call driver while her mother is a sari-sari store owner. Their only income is on their sari-sari store and because his mother took care of it, Gab was the one who is taking care of his younger siblings. In that small way, Gab believes that he can help his parents. The reason why Gab and his mother took the chance to applied in borrowing cellphone from dotAsia is because they really need a gadget, especially that the education has its new normal setup. Way back in Grade 8, Gab borrows the cellphone of her mother to attend online classes and sometimes he was not able to attend the class because the cellphone he was using is on her mother in their sari-sari store. When I interviewed Gab, he told me that he will use the cellphone for his online studies and for communication also. He will also use it to help his younger siblings on their modules. Gab believes that no matter how hard the situation he is facing together with his family as long as they are together, they will survive.
Gabriel Rivera, a ninth-grade student, had the opportunity to utilize a gadget from dotAsia. One way he can give back, like others of his co-recipients, is to assist young learners in answering their modules, particularly his younger sister. If there is a lesson or activity that they will not be able to answer using his device, he will use his it to look for a guide to help them grasp the lesson or activity. He’s also grateful to dotAsia for lending him a device that came in handy.
Olivia Morada is a Grade 7 student who graduated from the Donya Pepeng Elementary School. She was raised by her grandmother, Adela Morado, for the past three years. Adela is a volunteer barangay (smallest local governement unit) worker in Barangay Banaba. Adela’s son, Aris, is Olivia’s father; he is a trader. Olivia and her family has no communication with her mother for the past three years.
Olivia’s favorite subject is Math. Because of the family’s economic situation, Olivia does not have her own cellphone. She only borrowed the cellphone of her grandmother. With the cellphone support from the program, Olivia was able to attend online classes and submit her activities on time.
Olivia’s family does not have the financial resources to get her a smartphone, so she is grateful for the opportunity to use a phone from dotAsia for her studies. Olivia repays her family by assisting them with home tasks such as watering plants, sweeping their lawn, washing dishes, and occasionally cooking. Olivia lives with her grandmother since her mother left her and her father had its another family. As I interviewed Olivia, she expressed her gratitude for the opportunity offered to her by dotAsia and it helps a lot for her to finish this school year.
Olivia Morado,
Grade 7 student
Shaina Mae Donggo,
Grade 10 student
Shaina Donggo, a grade 10 student, was given the opportunity to use a gadget from dotAsia. As I interviewed Shaina, she helps her mother in making splint because it is so called “pakyawan” the salary is depending on how many splints you will make. Since her mother schedule for work is one day a month, she gave her time to it to make more splint with her help. Since the pandemic, Shaina’s mother becomes on-call for her job and they do not know how they will handle their daily needs. That’s why Shaina is very thankful and grateful that dotAsia lent her a gadget which had a big help in her studies. Currently, while in summer vacation instead of going out with her friends she always at the side of her mother for some help.