The provincial government recognized 74 of its scholars who completed their college degrees, among them a 22-year-old civil engineer who placed 10th in the May 2014 board examination.
A recent graduate of the Cebu Technological University – Main Campus (CTU), Dovann Arrabis was motivated to perform well in the civil engineering board examination so he can help his family who are still reeling from the impact of supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
The only one to finish college courtesy of a scholarship from the Capitol, Arrabis witnessed how his family of seven suffered when Yolanda, the strongest storm in recorded history to hit land, made landfall in Daanbantayan town in northern Cebu on Nov. 8, 2014.
After the storm hit, Arrabis who was then a senior civil engineering student at CTU rushed to his hometown to help his family rebuild their house which had been destroyed by Yolanda’s powerful winds.
He recalled seeing his family helpless, living in a temporary shelter, lacking food and potable drinking water and without the basic amenities like electricity and sanitation.
His father does farming and carpentry for a living, while his mother tends their home. He has four siblings, two did not finish college and are now working as security guards, while two are still in school.
He admitted getting depressed seeing their situation after Yolanda. But guided by his principle of ‘mind over feelings,’ he set aside his worries and worked hard on his studies and set the goal to be a board placer. That way, he thought, he can be readily employed.
Arrabis who was active in extracurricular activities, representing CTU in competitions did not need to worry on where to get the money for his board exam review. Their school offers free board exam review to students who added prestige to their institution.
In the last months of his senior year, he attended classes in the morning and attended board exam review sessions in the evening. He graduated in April and was confident enough to take the board exam in May.
Arrabis, who depended on the P2,000 monthly allowance he receives as a Capitol scholar gave honor to CTU and inched closer to his dream of helping his family when he landed at the no. 10 spot in the May 2014 civil engineering board exam.
“Nindot kaayo ang feeling, once naa kay masugatan nga estudyante, dunay sila’y respect nimo,” said Arrabis who is now working as a technical empowerment facilitator at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
(It feels so nice. When students meet you, they show their respects to you.)
The young engineer receives a monthly salary of P29,000.
Now that he has a good job, Arrabis has taken over the responsibility of providing for his siblings’ education and contributing to home expenses.
Last Friday, Gov. Hilario Davide III honored him along with 73 other scholars who finished their studies. He received a certificate of recognition for graduating and a medal for topping the board exam.