Ananda Wisely, 17, a child-beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from Brgy. San Jose in Antipolo City, Rizal Province, uses her talent in painting to help her widowed mother support their daily needs. Having experienced living under the bridge in Quiapo, Manila, Ananda commits to use her talent and her education to improve their living condition.

Last March 2015, Ananda graduated as class valedictorian among 1,723 graduates of San Jose National High School. In the coming school year, she plans to enroll in Far Eastern University and take Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with specialization in Digital Arts from scholarship grants she received as one of the 2014 Ten Outstanding Public School Students in the Philippines and Natatanging Mag-aaral ng Antipolo City in 2015.***

 

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A ‘PICTURE ‘ OF DREAMS COMING TRUE

 

For a girl with big dreams, having to stop her schooling is a big disappointment.

Ananda Wisely, 17, a resident of Brgy. San Jose in Antipolo City, still clearly recalls how she felt life became meaningless when she had to leave school. From their small home under the bridge in Quiapo, Manila, Ananda had no other choice but accept her parents’ decision. They can no longer afford sending them to school.

What hurts her more is that her two younger siblings had to stop schooling, too despite consistently being on top of their class.

Little did she know, however, that this challenge will make her more determined to get out of this situation.

“Noong mga panahon pong ‘yon ko nasabi sa sarili kong ayaw ko nang maging ganito, nakatira sa ilalim ng tulay, wala sa eskwelahan. Ayoko nang maging mahirap at lalong lalo nang ayaw kong ipamana ang ganitong paghihirap sa mga magiging anak ko at sa susunod naming henerasyon,” Ananda shared in tears.

The glory of being in school

Since she has talent in arts, Ananda decided to use this to earn money and help herself and her two younger siblings to be back in school. She did portraits and paintings.

It was at this time in their life that their family became a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. For Ananda and the rest of her family, this is a blessing they will always be thankful for.

“Para akong nakakita ng liwanag sa gubat na madilim. Makakabalik na rin kami ng mga kapatid ko sa pag-aaral,” she shared.

The following school year, all three of them went back to school and became more determined to excel in their classes and reach their dreams. However, another challenge came to the family when her father, Harry, was shot dead in their community, which is notoriously known for various crimes.

With a widowed mother, life became harder for Ananda. Her mother, Marjorie, 38, is a reflexologist and barely earns enough to feed all of them.

“Dahil sa hirap ng buhay at para na rin sa aming seguridad, lumipat na rin kami sa Antipolo para magsimula ulit,” shared Ananda.

With a heavy heart, Ananda has to leave school again and make a new life with new people in a city she hardly knows.

They rented a cramped room, which they can barely afford from her mother’s income. However, according to Ananda, since they receive financial grants from the Pantawid Pamilya program, everything became easier as there is always a sure budget for their needs in school.

“Kasabay po ng Pantawid, hindi  kami tumitigil para masigurong hindi na ulit kami titigil sa pag-aaral. Patuloy pa rin ako sa paggawa ng mga paintings na aming binebenta para kahit papaano ay may panggastos kami,” Anada said.

Despite the challenges, Ananda’s determination always gives her direction, especially in excelling in her classes and achieving her dreams.

In 2014, Ananda was awarded as Kabayan Noli De Castro’s Ten Outstanding Public School Students (TOPS) for her academic excellence. She also graduated as valedictorian among 1,723 graduates of San Jose National High School last March 2015. She was also recognized as one of the Natatanging Mag-aaral in Antipolo City.

For Ananda, these achievements—which are brought by the opportunity of being in school—are opening a lot of good opportunities for her. Her college education is now secured as she received full scholarship grants from TOPS and the city government of Antipolo.

Painting the future

Ananda is very grateful for all the opportunities that came along her way.

“Klaro na po ang mga pangarap ko. Kahit anong mangyari, magtatapos ako sa kolehiyo. Hindi ko kinakalimutan ang sinabi ng aking ama na tulungan ko ang aking sarili sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon para bumuti ang aming buhay,” she shared.

In the coming school year, Ananda plans to enroll in Far Eastern University and take Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with specialization in Digital Arts.

Looking back at her life, Ananda understands what poverty is. She has learned to live under the bridge, which she describes as “magulo, malamok at maraming ipis at daga.” She knows how hard it is to just stare at the tall buildings from their home under the bridge, which she always compares to their life—having high dreams but having no capacity to achieve them.

With the direction she is going right now, Ananda is certain that she’ll no longer experience those again. If she can paint the future, she knows it will be as bright as she is dreaming it to be—where they’ll have a permanent and safe home, a happy family and a successful career as an artist.***