“Dili na sya dapat masecond kay sa public raman na sya nagkinder (She should not be the second honor because she only had her kindergarten at a public school.)” At a young age, Gemma Tac-an already knows what discrimination is. Although she did not harbor any ill feelings or grudges, that particular line reminds her how socio-economic status could affect someone’s life.

Growing up, she had been proving how wrong people were when they mostly believed that being rich equated to being smart. For her, wealth does not measure one’s intellect.

She remembered one of her classmates before introducing her with something along the lines of, “Nibright ni siya og samot kadtung nagka-cellphone na (She became bright when she already had a cellphone).” She only smiled in response.

She admitted that acquiring a mobile phone was a luxury item during high school—a necessity for research and other school projects. She got her first mobile phone in ninth grade, and the changes it brought to her academic performance might be so evident that one of her classmates said such a thing.

She believed that intelligence is both nature and nurture, and although wealth can give one the resources one needs if one does not know how to utilize them, it can be futile because most things that are not properly used lose their worth. Nevertheless, she would not deny that having the means and resources could be of great help in her studies.

Growing up with four (4) other siblings, she had this irrational thought that when her mother bore another child, obtaining an education would be an impossible feat.

Gemma’s father, Judix Tac-an, works as a habal-habal driver, but his income could not suffice to support a family of seven, and she remembered her father having multiple jobs at a time. Her father also worked as a street sweeper, or a person who cleaned the provincial road, and a coconut wine harvester, whose job was to extract coconut essence for wine.

Her mother, Melita Tac-an, is a housewife and served as a barangay councilor. After her term of service, Melita decided to work for the Municipal Government of Jagna in Bohol and then in a hospital as a utility worker. She is now promoted to nursing attendant.

Judix and Melita also tried farming and had been actively serving in their community.  However, the lack of money and resources did not stop Gemma from achieving her life goals. She had her parents, whose support and love never faltered, and relatives who still willingly helped when her parents could hardly manage the demands of finances.

“I have a village that supported me to reach my dreams, including my parents, aunts, cousins, and friends. I would not be here without them, so whatever I achieve, I share it with them,” Gemma emphasized with gratitude and determination.

Gemma shared that her parents never fail to support her in her academic quest, but what she does not want to experience again is to pretend she is asleep while listening to how her parents are conversing about financial difficulties, debts, and risking things to support them all.

4Ps beneficiary

The Tac-an family recently became one of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) under Set 12, a poverty alleviation program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The family still has one (1) college student and two (2) high school students.

Remembering how tough it is to be lacking in resources, Gemma admitted that she is glad that her two siblings in high school will be receiving educational grants and will be having a better life as students. Aside from the educational grant, her family will also be receiving a health grant and rice subsidy.

Diligent students

One of Tac-an’s children was not able to attend school because he is a person with a disability (PWD), and schooling is a tough environment for him. It would be hard to adjust to school life and cope with different challenges.

Gemma, as the second eldest child, made a promise that she would achieve her dreams to alleviate life for her parents, including supporting her elder brother. She is still on her journey to making that dream a reality.

Her efforts did not become futile, as she graduated as third honorable mention and valedictorian in elementary and secondary schools, respectively.

As she entered college and passed the entrance examination at the Bohol Island State University (BISU), a state college in Bohol province, she knew this would be a tough fight.

“But the more one is tested, the more one will fight. Honestly, sometimes I do feel ashamed about asking my parents for money both for allowances and school payments because I know I have siblings that need it too and they have to divide it for all of us. I see those who have scholarships as lucky because if I had one, it would be a burden lifted on my parents’ shoulders because they are carrying much even with their strong facade. I said to myself, ‘Why not look for a part-time job?’ but my parents want me to focus on my studies and just enjoy my college life,” she shared.

She held onto her faith in God and prayed for guidance and grace, and fortunately, she graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in English, and received the highest honor, Summa Cum Laude. She also served as the Associate Editor-In-Chief of The Senior Craftsmen’s Voice (The SCV), the official publication of BISU’s main campus.

On September 24, 2023, she will take the Licensure Examination for Teachers and hopefully pass it so that she can land a job as a professional teacher. Her dream is now slowly turning into reality.

“To all the dreamers who have been doubted, questioned, and tested by life, your dreams are bigger than the people’s chatter and cacophony. Never be afraid to dream big, free yourself, and let your success muffle the noise of the crowd. Look back to the people who have been with you, keep your feet steady on the ground, and aim for development by being the best that you can be,” she shared with young dreamers. ###

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