Rochille Rose Romualdo pose for a souvenir photo with her mother Flodeliz after her graduation. /Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – At a very young age, Rochille Rose Romualdo is already determined to finished her studies and land a high paying job that will help her support her family’s needs.
“Gusto ko motabang sa ako pamilya. Mao maningkamot gyud ko og eskwela para makahuman (I want to help my family. That’s why I will do my best to finish my studies) ,” Romualdo said.
Romualdo said that the meager income that her father Ruen earns as a construction worker is not enough to feed her and her six other siblings and send them to school.
Their mother Flodeliz never had the opportunity to work because of the need to take care of her children.
“Usahay kung walay trabaho si papa, wala sad mi kwarta para palit pagkaon (In instances that my father is unable to work, we will not have money to pay for our meals),” a teary-eyed Romualdo told CDN Digital.
Romualdo is the 6th of seven siblings.
She was the 11 -year-old girl who sought help from Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Qusuimbing for the P200 rental of the toga that she used during he graduation on Friday, April 5.
Read More: Girl writes Mandaue Mayor to ask help for her toga rental
The Romualdo family lives in a shanty that is built on a government lot in the interior of Barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.
She walks to school everyday to attend her classes at the Guizo Elementary School that is located in the next barangay or about a kilometer away from her home.
But despite the difficulties that she experienced while attending school, Romualdo never gave up. On Friday, April 5, she graduated in Grade six with honors.
Romualdo said that when she learned of city officials visit in their barangay early morning of April 3 to campaign, she made up her mind to seek the help of Mayor Quisumbing “para makabayad ko sa graduation fee og maka graduate ko (so I that I will have money to pay for may graduation fee and so that I will be able to join our graduation).”
She immediately prepared a letter for Mayor Quisumbing which she wrote on a piece of school paper.
Romualdo said is grateful that the mayor took notice of her plea for help.
The 11-year-old girl said that she intends to continue her studies in the coming school year and even do better in school. She continues to hang on to her dream of building a home for her family when she starts to earn her keep./dcb