In the confines of their small classroom, Sir Edilberto Vicedo Jr. sees an inspiration—a student who has taught him how hard work and discipline can make dreams come true.

Sir Vicedo knows that this particular 13-year-old girl is not blessed with all the luxuries in the world. He knows that she struggles with her life daily, but Daisy Peñano does not act like it is a burden, especially in achieving her dreams.

“Bilang adviser n’ya, nai-inspire talaga ako sa kanya. Disiplinado s’yang bata at nakikita mong nagsusumikap talaga s’ya lalo na sa pag-aaral n’ya. Sinasabi ko sa mga estudyante ko na gawing modelo ang ugali n’ya para malayo ang kanilang marating sa hinaharap,” shared Sir Vicedo.

Daisy, a resident of Brgy. Kaysuyo in Alfonso, Cavite Province, is a Grade 8 student in Kaysuyo National High School. Like Sir Vicedo, her other teachers praise her because of her good academic performance, active participation in most of the school activities and leadership not only in the classroom but also in the Supreme Student Government.

Her family is a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program since 2013 and according to Daisy, the program has helped her in chasing her dreams.

 

“AKO MISMO”

Her way of chasing dreams

Daisy regards education highly as she is taught early in her life that this will be her only key towards getting out of the situation they are currently in. Daisy’s father is a farmer who takes home around 3,000 pesos monthly. Her mother, on the other hand, stays at home and sometimes would just help her husband in the farm.

“Kaming mag-asawa ay hindi nakapag-aral kaya itinatatak namin sa isip nila na mag-aral nang mabuti para hindi sila maging ganito sa amin,” shared Policarpio, 44, Daisy’s father.

Daisy, as a child who values what her parents teach her, vows to change their life. For her, this is also her way of showing her love and respect for her parents.

“Sabi po ni tatay, bigyang pansin at mahalin po namin ang edukasyon dahil ito ang magiging susi namin sa pag-unlad. Kaya talagang nagsisikap po akong mag-aral nang mabuti hindi lang para sa aking sarili kundi para mapasaya ko ang pamilya ko,” shared Daisy with conviction.

As a result of her hard work, Daisy is consistently on top of her class in terms of academics. Her teachers recognize her academic performance and talents as she is always sent to various inter-school competitions such as quiz bees, journalism, slogan writing and poster making among others.

Her being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya program gave her more opportunities in her studies. Daisy shared that since being a beneficiary, she can easily participate in school activities, which help her not only earn better grades but also learn more and interact with other students.

“Isa rin sa mga napansin kong ugali ni Daisy ay hindi n’ya sinosolo ang kanyang talento. Nakikita ko s’yang tinutulungan ang mga kaklase n’ya sa mga lessons pero ‘yung pagtulong n’ya hindi ‘yung ibinibigay n’yang lahat o pinapakopya na lang sila ng sagot. Sinisiguro n’yang ang bawat isa sa kanila ay naiintindihan ang lessons. Sa ganoong paraan, hindi n’ya tinuturuang umasa sa kanya o maging tamad mag-aral ang kanyang mga kaklase,” shared Sir Vicedo.

At home, Daisy ensures that she is a good model to her two younger siblings. She teaches them on their assignments and helps them on their school projects the same way she does with her classmates.

“Alam ko pong kaya kong umunlad sa pamamagitan ng pagtitiyaga at pagtitiwala sa sarili ko. Patuloy po akong magsusumikap para pagdating ng panahon, alam kong ako mismo ang gumawa ng tulay para makamit ang pagbabagong hangad ko,” Daisy shared.

 

“KAYA KO!”

Doing her best all the time

Hangarin ko sa puso,

Makamit ang pagbabago.

Nakatatak sa isip ko,

Salitang Kaya Ko!

 

Daisy’s best interests are reading and writing, and she uses them to help her learn more.

“Mas marami po akong natutunan kapag nagsusulat dahil paulit-ulit ko pong nababasa. Dahil dito, mas tumatatak po sa isipan ko ang bawat natutunan ko. Mahilig rin po akong magbasa para mas lumawak ang kaalaman ko,” Daisy shared.

True to the Kaya Ko slogan above that she wrote a few days ago, she works hard to achieve her dreams of giving a good life to her family and finally being a teacher.

“’Yung sarili ko po ay hinahalintulad ko sa isang buto. Sa pagdaan ko sa iba’t ibang proseso katulad ng pag-aaral at pagdidilig ko rito ng pagsisikap, alam ko pong magiging mayabong ako pagdating ng araw,” shared Daisy.

 

“PARA SA KANILA”

Her inspiration, being an inspiration

Daisy is rooted with her belief that God will help her through life, no matter how many struggles she face. She can never be thankful that God gave her a supportive family, who inspires her to dream.

“Simple lang po ang pangarap ko, ‘yun ay magkaroon ng maayos na buhay kasama ang pamilya ko,” she shared.

Her mother Nelisa, 39, is grateful seeing her eldest to be optimist all the time. More than how Daisy takes responsibility of most of the chores at home and guiding her siblings especially in their studies, Nelisa is proud to have Daisy slowly yet surely aiming for her dreams.

“Inspirasyon ko po ang pamilya ko sa pag-aaral ko nang mabuti at sa paghangad ng magandang bukas. Basta sama-sama kami, masaya na po ako,” Daisy said.

At home, Daisy is clueless that her parents and siblings look up to her and even see her as an inspiration. The same is true in school. She has gained the trust of a lot of her schoolmates—all give high regard to her skills and her being a true person and being sensitive to others.

As a student leader, she ensures to listen to her members.

“Bilang isang lider po, alam ko pong hindi ako ang laging tama. Inaalam ko ang ayaw at gusto nila bago magpatupad ng kahit na anong programa. At bilang lider, una kong sinusunod ang sinasabi ko para gayahin nila ako,” she shared.

In school and in their community, Sir Vicedo is not the only one who Daisy inspires. With her shy smile and soft-spoken words, Daisy radiates an optimistic person who will work her way up in the future and make her schoolmates and neighbors proud of her.

“Malayo ang mararating ng batang ito. Sana ay patuloy s’yang maging inspirasyon sa iba,” Sir Vicedo shared proudly of Daisy.***