At 21, former nanny graduates magna cum laude

MANILA,Philippines - As a young girl who grew up in an impoverished family, Jomalyn Lucena of Barangay Imba, Caluya in Antique province had taken the responsibility of helping her parents at an early age.  

Nevertheless, the harsh circumstances did not change the fact that her thirst for education was beyond unquenchable and no austerity in life will stop her from getting the education she wants for herself and for her family.

On March 30, Jomalyn, 21, finally brought her dreams into fruition as she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) degree at West Visayas State University (WVSU) Calinog campus in Iloilo province.

Being the eldest daughter among the eight siblings, Jomalyn decided to put her studies behind and work as a stay-in nanny in exchange for P 2,500 monthly.  She continued this routine for two years until finally, their family was included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) where she got the chance to avail of the Students Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA).

Since Caluya is 13 hours away from her university, Jomalyn had to endure nights without her parents and siblings on her side. She seldom went home and instead spent her time reading and studying her lessons inside her small rented room while her mother was employed as barangay utility worker while her father has been working as a laborer.

In the end, Jomalyn harvested the fruit of her labor, as she earned the top spot among 92 graduates of BSA. She belongs to the first batch of the ESGP-PA with 207 scholars who graduated from different state universities in the region.