The famous zookeeper and conservationist Steve Irwin once said, “I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.”

This message best captures the passion for education of a dedicated young adult pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Special Needs Education at the main campus of Cebu Technological University. With a specialized focus on teaching Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing learners, she is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of their students and advancing inclusive education.

The story of Vincent “Miss Vickie” J. Velasco, a proud member of the LGBT+ community and an active church servant, who is one of over 1,200 tutors for the 2025 implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is a story of passion and determination, a commitment to serving learners in a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area, despite being the only assigned college student without a Youth Development Worker (YDW) in tandem.

Miss Vickie reports to her assigned school, the Mangabon Elementary School, located in Barangay Lusaran, a quiet and remote mountain village in Cebu City.

She comes from Barangay Kaluangan in the Municipality of Asturias, another mountainous village connected by barangay and provincial roads that pass through various areas of the municipalities of Balamban and the cities of Cebu, Talisay, and Toledo.

Barangay Kaluangan has more than 10 kilometers of road that connects to Mangabon Elementary School through Barangay Lusaran, Cebu City.

“I wake up very early at 5 a.m., and travel from my home then mo-travel ko for around 30 minutes to go to Lusaran and motabok ko og six (6) ka sapa nya magbaha pa gyud siya usahay taga-hawak pero if dili ma-agian ang sapa, mosubay mi sa kilid nga gitawag namo og ‘pamaybay’. Nya after nako ma-abot sa Lusaran,  mo-ride na pud ko og motorcycle from Lusaran to Mangabon Elementary School so bukid siya, sa bungtod. Magplete ko og Php 100.00 ngadto paingon dayun back-and-forth Php 200.00 walay labot sa kaon (I wake up very early at 5 a.m. and travel from my home. I travel around 30 minutes to Lusaran and cross six rivers, sometimes the water rises to my waist. If we can’t cross the river, we take a trail called ‘pamaybay.’ After arriving in Lusaran, I ride a motorcycle to Mangabon Elementary School, it’s on a hill. The fare is Php 100.00 one way and Php 200.00 roundtrip, not including food.),” Miss Vickie describes.

This strenuous travel through habal-habal (motorcycle), as the only accessible and practical mode of transportation, led to hesitation from other college students, resulting in no YDW being assigned to Mangabon Elementary School.

“Dedicated man jud ko nga moadto bahala og kapoy ug layo, ako jud adtoon ang mga bata. Ganahan ko nga bisan sa gamay lang gyud nga paagi naay silay mahibaw-an kay ang learning baya dako siya nga process (I’m really dedicated to going there, no matter how tiring and far it is. I want the children to learn something, even just a little, because learning is such an important process),” she said.

The Nanay-Tatay Teacher Session is being covered by Tara, Basa! Community Coordinator Rejie Rondina.

Miss Vickie added that “At first nagduha-duha gyud ko kay nag-expect ko nga duha mi ngadto, ang akoa lang kay kung naa koy kauban willing ra ko mo stay-in unya wala man gyuy ni sanong didto, walay nidawat sa responsibilidad, akong gikuha ang challenge. 100% nga naa jud koy courage nga dili gyud ko mobalidad kay kung naa na ta sa teaching field, dili man gyud ta kabuot kung asa ta ma-assign, teaching is a mission gyud (At first, I was hesitant because I expected to be assigned with a partner. I was willing to stay in the area if someone else had accepted the assignment—but no one did. I accepted the challenge. I have the courage to keep going because, in the teaching field, we don’t get to choose where we’re assigned. Teaching is truly a mission).”

Despite being alone, Miss Vickie chooses to go home daily, spending Php 200.00 on transportation every day.

Challenges as a First-Time Tara, Basa! Tutor

As a future Special Needs educator, Miss Vickie found it challenging to handle regular students despite having experience teaching children with autism and other special needs.

“Very challenging gyud siya, I’ve been handling special needs education, and last nako experience is kindergarten nga naay autism any karon kay regular class, mga incoming grade 2. Honestly, makaingon gyud ko nga naglisud ko og handle karon compared sa katong nagtudlo ko og special education nga students (It’s really challenging. I’ve been handling Special Needs Education, and my last experience was teaching kindergarten students with autism. Now, I’m handling a regular class—Grade 2 students. Honestly, I find it more difficult compared to teaching students with special needs),” Miss Vickie expressed.

She puts her best effort into providing the learners with the attention and strategies they need, recognizing that each child comes from a different background and has varying abilities.

“Lahi-lahi sila og background, lahi sila og status sa kinabuhi, tanan sila lahi-lahi og abilidad so need pud lahi-lahi ang pamaagi para gyud makuha nato ang suitable nga learning strategy nga mahatag nato sa bata. Ato jud sila i-check kung unsa ilang kinahanglan para makuha nato ang akong goal para nila kay ang mga bata didto challenged pud gyud sa pagbasa kay naa pa gyud puy mga bata nga dili pa kaila og letra ug dili pa maka-acknowledge sa sound (They all have different backgrounds and life situations. Their abilities vary, so I need to use different approaches to find suitable learning strategies for each child. We really have to assess what they need so I can reach my goals for them. Many of them are still struggling with reading—some don’t recognize letters or know sounds).”

After conducting her pre-assessment, she said nothing would make her happier than seeing her learners recognize letters by the end of the 20-day session. She does not expect them to become great readers right away but wants them to learn something meaningful from her.

Miss Vickie shared that she has already seen improvements in her students’ reading abilities and their eagerness to come to class. She established a daily routine and instilled values, such as greeting visitors and helping with classroom chores.

She also emphasized the importance of teacher-parent relationships in supporting students in reading progress. She holds regular meetings with parents to update them on their children’s development and encourages continued learning at home.

First Tranche Payout

On June 3, 2025, tutors and YDWs in Cebu City received their initial payout for completing ten sessions.

This initiative ensures the provision of compensation to those YDWs assigned to geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities, particularly given the high transportation costs.

Miss Vickie said she had no strong preference for how the payment was released—full or partial. Her focus remained on showing up and finding ways to get to class.

However, she expressed her gratitude for receiving the Php 5,010.00 partial subsidy, which would greatly help cover her daily transportation.

“Ang akoa lang ang pamilite lang gyud, wala ra ko nagmind kung pila nalang ang masobra sa akoa basta nalipay ra pud ko. Pero kung gibulto mangita ra pud gyud ko og pamaagi (For me, I just really needed fare money. I didn’t mind how much was left for me afterward—I’m still happy. But if it had been a lump sum, I’d just look for ways to manage it),” she said.

Miss Vickie is one of many dedicated and passionate tutors and YDWs across Central Visayas who said yes to the challenge of teaching in far-flung areas. Her story is one of grit, heart, and unwavering commitment to the mission of education. In the face of daily physical and logistical challenges, he remains focused on his students’ growth and learning.

Choosing to serve where she is most needed, Miss Vickie proves that education is not only about knowledge but also about courage, sacrifice, and love.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program is more than just an initiative; it is a living testament to the power of compassion, unity, and the enduring spirit of nation-building. It weaves together the hopes of tutors, learners, and families, creating ripples of change that extend far beyond the classroom.

The Tara, Basa! Tutoring program nurtures a dynamic learning ecosystem, one that empowers not just a single beneficiary. It envisions a future where communities can flourish independently, uplifted by the seeds of knowledge and kindness planted today.

Guided by the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., and brought to life through the unwavering support of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Innovations Group Undersecretary Eduardo M. Punay, the program continues to light the paths of possibility. It not only offers aid but also dignity, resilience, and a lasting skillset that beneficiaries carry in their hearts from a government that believes in their potential.

In every lesson taught, in every smile shared, Tara, Basa! is a quiet revolution of hope that promises to echo through generations. ###