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A New Horizon (In the Good Hands of Metrobank)
Response delivered during the 8th Graduates’ Forum by: Mark Gil M. Mamac, MBFI Class 2006 Scholar BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude Ateneo de Davao University
Never did I think in my life then that I would be admitted into one of the country’s top performing schools – the Ateneo de Davao University. Never did I think that I would have such a wonderful life ahead – thinking of the fact that my father was and still is financially distressed.
  Life, for me, had been such a misery. My father is just a lowly peasant who dived himself into countless low-earning jobs, earning barely enough for us to survive a day’s struggle. He had been a carpenter, a part time seller of langka salad, a part time matadero and lechoner, and a part time sewage worker. Everything he had to do, he allowed us to. My mother is not only a housewife and a caring mother to the four of us. She even helped our father to augment our basic needs. She had been a labandera and raised hogs to supplement our money for enrollment fees way back in elementary and high school.
Not only had these realities been a fact for me. What was already worse became even worst for us.
Not only was my father out of work, worst… we were evicted from the house of our grandfather. Humiliated by my mother’s brother, we found ourselves cleaning the vacant area of a dumpsite which we patiently worked on just for us to build what we could call our “own 5-by-5 square meter house.”
Our family must have been cursed. The humiliation we experienced was not isolated. It happened thrice. The second one was with my mother’s sister and the last one was with my father’s boss. All with the same reasons – loaning cash for our survival. They lent us some, but we could only pay a few… worse yet, we could hardly pay that very few…
But it must be admitted that we did not become dependent on them nor to any of my parents’ job. As I could remember some of the days when, in search for food, I looked for wild vegetables and worse yet…I even begged for it in our neighbor’s garden. Not only did I experience hunting food in the wild. I even had to dive in the river in search for it. I could even remember the days when my mother was washing the clothes of her clients…I was on her side… diving in the tenderly rushing waters of the river…patiently holding my breath underwater, looking for small freshwater shells. As soon as my mother finishes her washing, I would have a few of the shells… happy enough to go home… thinking that we could then have a soup of fresh “river-food.”
At a very young age, I already understood the kind of life that I was having. I even found myself thinking of how I was supposed to get out of the track I was running through. I found myself thinking how unlucky I was to have such a miserable life. Even at that very young age, I could already reflect on the fate I had…
Worse became worst, for I was in a dilemma on how I was supposed to get into college. I was so determined to study then for I already inculcated into my mind that only through education will I be uplifted from the misery I was having. Life had been a misery for me… but it did not become a hindrance… rather it had been my foundation into building my greatest desire. And I thought then that only education will be my sole key towards achieving it.
Since then, I studied hard and held on to my motivation towards achieving the greatest excellence. I made it in my high school days when I finished second highest in the class. Right after graduation, I found myself idolizing our guest speaker, an alumnus of my high school alma mater (a valedictorian) in his time and a scholar of the Metrobank Foundation (graduated cum laude), who delivered an inspirational message. Deeply touched by what he said, I found myself repeating this line: “when I get into college, I will be like him if not to surpass him.”
Although I had the greatest passion deep inside me that I would do the same in college, I was in a dilemma where to study in college because my family did not have the capacity to send me to college. Until one call marked my way up to success…
I could say that it was already a success, because I thought I was already in the good hands of Metrobank. That call already insured my seat in the 2006 commencement exercises.
When I received that call, I was not the only one who was so happy then. My mother who actually received the call was more than happy. She even cried out loud because she could already foresee that she will prepare a lechon after four years.
That call, gave me hope. I promised then that I will surely not lose such a great opportunity. That call did not only change my life, but it also changed my whole being, as I foresaw it then, there would be countless opportunities waiting ahead of me.
Going into college had never been easy. It meant sleeping on the table with accounting books on top of my head, left hand on top of the calculator and right hand flat on the table with a pencil beside it. But I have never had any regrets. Instead, I am grateful for I experienced all these trials. Now, I can be proud to call myself: Mark Gil Mamac, graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with a minor in Philosophy… Cum Laude!
Going into college had never been easy. It meant sleeping on the table with accounting books on top of my head, left hand on top of the calculator and right hand flat on the table with a pencil beside it. But I have never had any regrets. Instead, I am grateful for I experienced all these trials. Now, I can be proud to call myself: Mark Gil Mamac, graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with a minor in Philosophy… Cum Laude!
It is in this juncture that I would like to express, in behalf of the recipient of the scholarship of the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. Class 2006, my sincerest and heartfelt gratitude to the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. To the Chairman of the Foundation, Dr. George S.K. Ty, I extend my highest regard. I would like to acknowledge also, in behalf of the scholars, the members of the panel who interviewed us, scholars, way back in our first year. Without them, we would not have been here, so privileged enough to have this momentous occasion of our lives. To the officers and staff of the Foundation, Mr. Nicanor Torres, Jr., Assistant Executive Director, Ms Jackie Jalocon, the program assistant, and Mr. Bong Villamor, the program manager, who must really have had a hard time trying to contact us, scholars. I also would like to thank God for all the blessings that He has given all of us and for touching the hearts of all the people involved in this Foundation. May He continue to shower the Foundation with bountiful blessings and that this Foundation may continue to exist and continue to give privilege to those under-privileged.
I am very thankful that I have been a part of this institution.
The privileged that had been granted to me by the Foundation have changed my life. It did not only change my fate in college but it also changed my life ahead – it changed the whole of my being. As I was savoring the moments of being a scholar, my soul swiftly rose ahead from turmoil. I could not have experienced it without such a privilege. I have grown so much with it. It even let me see the whole point of my existence.
But the growth did not only end when my college days end. Now, I am continuing the Goodwill that this Foundation brings. As I put it into my mind, I sincerely would like to be along-side with the Foundation – An Agent of Change. And I am hoping to the best that I can be so that I will also change the life of those others who had been ill-fatedly born underprivileged.
To the scholars, I hope that you will not pay the Foundation…rather you will pay it forward. I hope that you will also be along-side its vision to serve those who are in dire need. I hope that with the experiences that each of you had, you will also bring the Goodwill of this Foundation and become, together with it, an Agent of Change…
Once again, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. In your good hands, I have a new horizon.
The Metrobank Foundation is the corporate social responsibly arm of the Metrobank Group of Companies. Over the last 28 years, it has promoted a culture of excellence among Filipinos through its various programs notably the Search for Outstanding Teachers, the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, The Outstanding Philippine Soldier, Country's Outstanding Policemen in Service, the Metrobank Math Challenge, and College Scholarship Program. The Foundation also has a grants program that assists NGOs and government in the fields of education, healthcare, and the arts. Metrobank Foundation celebrates Filipino excellence and presents wellsprings of hope in the future of our nation. |
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