School dropout catches up on learning

Geraldine shares her struggle and aspirations even behind bars. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

She stopped going to school because she disliked her English class and  her father would hit her every time she got bad grades in the subject.

And since dropping out of school, her life was no longer about bad English. She got hooked on illegal drugs that eventually landed her in jail.

At 35, Jeraldine Demecillo who is detained for a non-bailable illegal drugs offense, she realized the importance of education. She now thinks that education is not just something parents force their children to finish, or even excel in, but is also a wonderful gift she can give to herself.

The native of Calumbuyan, Sogod, Cebu, only managed to finish second year high school.

She recalled that because of her dislike of the English subject and their English teacher, she cut classes.

That angered her father. But in hindsight, she now understands her father’s reaction to her poor performance in class.

“Siyempre ang paningkamot sa amahan suklian gyod na nimo pero kani laging di ta maminaw, mamayabas ta, mao na ing-ana gyod nang resulta,” she said.

(Of course, the efforts of your father should be reciprocated, but I refused to listen and rebelled. And this is now the consequence.)

But even in her walled world, opportunities still abound. Demecillo is one of the 160 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) who availed of the Alternative Learning System (ALS).

Twice a week, inmates attend classes from 9 a.m.  to 12:30 p.m.

Demecillo said while the classes may not be enough for her to learn everything she wants, she is still grateful that she was given a chance to get an education. But that isn’t enough for her as  she still aspires  to pursue higher education and be decently employed.

“Ang wa nako mahuman kaniadto, mahuman nako. Ang usa pod ka purpose para nga inkaso og makalaya ko, makasugod na ko og trabaho kay nahunong man ko pag-eskwela,” she said.

(What I failed to finish when I was free, I will accomplish now. And the other purpose of availing of this opportunity is that should I get my freedom back, I can work already.)

She recalls difficulty getting a job if one is uneducated.

In 1988, she worked as a domestic helper to Japanese expatriates. She had hard time doing her job properly as she did not understand  her employers’ instructions.

INSPIRATION
Demecillo draws inspiration from her seven children.

“Para sa akong mga anak nga makatabang sab ko sa akong ginikanan…Naluoy sab ko kay akong mga ginikanan ang nagsagupa pa,” said Demecillo.

(This is for my children. Hopefully, I can help support them in the future… I also pity my parents, who are taking care of my children.)

She accepts the reality that the father of her children cannot financially support her and her children. He stopped working after he was injured  in a construction site accident. Besides, her lover also has a legitimate family to support.

Life when she was still free was difficult. Her income as a manicurist was not enough to support herself and her children.

So she thought engaging in the illegal drug trade could augment her income. She used the ground floor of their house as a drug den.

Illegal drug users used her house for ‘pot sessions.’ Under the Dangerous Drugs Act, operating a drug den is a non-bailable offense that carries the maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

STILL HOPEFUL
Now languishing in jail for more than two years, she remains  hopeful of regaining her freedom and become a productive member of society.

She hopes that with the education she received  through the ALS, she can be decently employed and  support her children.

She regrets her past and wants to tell the public to stay away from illegal drugs.

Hardships, she now realizes does not justify getting involved in unlawful acts like engaging in illegal drugs.

“Ang angay lang buhaton maningkamot lang gyod sa insaktong paagi, pinaagi sa singot,di lang ing-ana sa dali nga kwarta… Kita ray alaot,” she said.

(What ought to be done is to work hard, and not fall to the temptation of easy money… In the end it destroys us.)

Demecillo also gave advice to students who, like her find going to school and getting an education, a worthless endeavor.

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