It is never too late to go back to school

Is it too late to return to school at my age and fulfill my dream?

This is the question that Loreta Daylusan Escaner repeatedly asked herself as she thought about her children and her future while working as a domestic helper in Hong Kong.

I learned about Loreta while browsing through the Facebook posts of former University of Antique (UA) president Noy Crespo during the recently concluded UA commencement exercises.

So I talked to her to learn her story.

Like many Filipinos, Loreta didn’t complete her education because of poverty and early marriage.

She narrates, “Lumaki po kaming mahirap, at naging hamon sa akin ang pagtataguyod sa aking pamilya. Ako po ay biniyayaan ng limang anak. Bilang isang ina, itinaguyod ko silang mag-isa hanggang sila’y lumaki, nakapagtapos ng kani-kanilang mga responsibilidad, nagkaroon ng sariling pamilya at namuhay nang maayos.” (I grew up poor, and it was challenging to raise a family. I had five children and as a single parent, I raised them until they grew up, finished their education and had their own families.)

She left for Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper, hoping to give her children a better future. She worked as a DH for six years and spent seven months in Taiwan as an OFW. Life as an OFW was not easy, Loreta added, but she endured the exhausting work, loneliness and other challenges for her children.

She went back to the Philippines for good in 2005 and continued working as a domestic helper in Manila. With her support, all her children finished school and started their own families. Her eldest convinced her to return to Antique and stay home.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, her longstanding dream of studying was reignited. It now appeared achievable thanks to the passage of the Free Higher Education law and the efforts of UA president Crespo to boost enrolment, especially for disadvantaged families. Crespo, who rose from poverty to become university president, exemplifies this journey. Under Crespo’s presidency, UA experienced rapid growth, driven by significant upgrades to its facilities and programs.

As the world battled the pandemic, she faced her own worry: now that her children had graduated, could she also pursue her goals?

Loreta was among the many working mothers, fathers, single parents and working students who benefited from UA’s flexible learning system. Understanding the needs of adult learners, the university offered special weekend classes and online weekday classes after 5 p.m., allowing students to balance work, family and education.

Aside from providing flexible learning opportunities, UA also extended meaningful support by facilitating her inclusion in CHED’s Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), easing the financial burden of pursuing a college degree.

At an age when senior citizens are concerned with receiving their pension on time or meeting the 10,000 daily steps required for their fitness, Loreta Escaner enrolled in the BS Entrepreneurship program at the UA Sibalom campus.

Her children supported and encouraged her to return to school, but the journey was challenging. She recounted, “Habang ako ay nag-aaral, marami akong naranasang pangungutya at paghamak mula sa ilang tao. Madalas nilang sabihin na hindi ko raw matatapos ang aking pag-aaral dahil sa aking edad. Sa halip na panghinaan ng loob, ginawa ko itong inspirasyon upang lalo pang magsikap. Hindi ko pinansin ang kanilang mga sinabi at buong tiyaga kong ipinagpatuloy ang aking pag-aaral.” (While I was studying, I faced criticism and mockery from some people. They often said I wouldn’t finish my education because of my age. Instead of losing hope, I used their words as motivation to work even harder. I ignored their comments and persisted in my studies.)

Giving up was not in her DNA. She was returning to school to realize her dreams, complete her studies and change her future. Perseverance, discipline, determination and prayers were her new DNA.

Her two children – Jinky Pearl and Evergel – were particularly supportive of her journey through personal and financial assistance.

His dreams were now achievable. She continued, “Ngayon, sa edad na animnapu’t limang (65) taong gulang, buong pagmamalaki kong masasabi na natupad ko ang aking pangarap na makapagtapos ng kolehiyo. Ang aking kuwento ay nagpapatunay na walang edad ang pag-aaral at walang imposible sa taong may tiyaga, determinasyon at pananampalataya. Nawa’y magsilbi itong inspirasyon sa iba na huwag sumuko sa kanilang mga pangarap, gaano man kahirap ang buhay o gaano man sila katanda.” (I am proud to declare that at age 65, I have achieved my dream of finishing college. My story proves that there is no age limit to continuing one’s education, and nothing is impossible with perseverance, determination and prayers. I hope my journey serves as an inspiration to others never to give up their dreams, no matter how difficult life may be or how old they may be.)

Her story illustrates that with free higher education and public universities that take equity seriously by developing specialized programs for those on the margins, nothing is impossible.

She is Loreta Daylusan Escaner from Salvacion, Belison, Antique, 65 years old. Graduated from the BS-Entrepreneurship Special Class at the UA Sibalom campus. Proud to be an alumna and to have achieved her greatest dream.

Indeed, it is never too late to go back to school. Anyone who stops learning is old. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.