Judy Ann Capilos, 17, wakes up at 5 a.m. each day, not to enjoy the sunrise, but to sell vegetables in her neighborhood and help her widowed mother put food on the table.
In the afternoon, she takes out her notebook and does her assignments before attending night classes at the Inayawan Night High School from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
She lacks rest, but she knows her efforts will pay off in the end. It did.
Judy Ann graduated valedictorian of her class. She also received the Don Sergio Osmeña Academic Excellence Awards for her exemplary academic performance.
“Ang akong naabot himoon ko ni nga inspirasyon [para sa uban]. Dili man para mapakita nga mas labaw ko, pero para mapakita nga kaya ni nako (I want to inspire others with my achievements. It’s not that I want to show that I’m better, but I want to prove that I could do this),” she said.
Judy Ann said she did not expect to become a valedictorian. She focused on simply graduating from high school.
“Lisod kontrahon akong kaatbang nga running for valedictorian kay SSG (Supreme Student Government) president ug maayo kayo ug chess as in, always siya champion. Unsa ra man akong naapilan? Ako nalang gi-condition akong self nga kung unsa ang ihatag sa Ginoo, maoy akong dawaton,” she shared.
(It was hard to compete with the one aiming for valedictorian, who was also the SSG president and a chess champion. I conditioned myself to accept whatever is provided by the Lord.)
Most of Judy Ann’s waking moment is spent working to help provide for her family. She is the third of six children. When she gets home from school around 10 p.m., she said she still couldn’t go to bed because she has to help her mother, Leticia, prepare the vegetables that they will sell early the next morning.
Her father died of cardiac arrest in March 2011.
“Ni-promise siya nako: ‘Karong graduation nimo, paningkamot ha? Kay ako ang magtaod sa imong medal.’ Wala nako damha nga kutob ra to sa istorya (He promised to pin my medal. I didn’t realize that was all just talk),” said a teary-eyed Judy Ann.
With her father’s death, her family suffered even more. Her father had worked as carpenter, taho vendor and pedicab driver to make ends meet.
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“Wala jud mi tarong nga pang-kinabuhian, lisod jud nga lisod (We have no means of livelihood. It was really hard),” she said. They were swamped with debts, but she said they eventually managed to pay off everything.
Despite the hardships, Judy Ann maintains a positive outlook in life. Hard work, trust in oneself, and faith in God are the keys to success, she said.
“Basta maningkamot lang jud ka, salig sa imong kaugalingon, salig sa Ginoo, ug ayaw kalimti ang imong pag-simba kay wala kay lain kaduolan kundi Siya ra (As long as we work hard, trust in yourself and trust in God, we should achieve success. Don’t forget to go to church),” she said.
Judy Ann wants to serve her community as a teacher.
“Wala ju’y mahimo nga professional kung wala’y teacher (No one would become a professional if there are no teachers),” she said.
Her message to her fellow youth? Go for what you want with all your heart.
“Kung unsa’y gusto sa imong kasing-kasing, unsa man imong pangandoy sa kinabuhi, ayaw ug hunong sa pagpangandoy kay libre ra biya. Kana imong kasakit karon, mao na imong rason para makab-ot ang imong mga pangandoy (Do what your heart desires. Don’t stop dreaming. The difficulties that you encounter will help you achieve your dreams),” she said./ Pearl Therese S. Aton, Siliman Intern
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