“Sa bata pa lang ko, makadumdum gyud ko permi gyud ko ka absent sa pag eskwela kay tungod sige ko kasakit (When I was young, I could still vividly remember that I used to be absent in classes as I usually got sick),” Jenebeth disclosed when asked about her elementary years. She’d say, ‘she’s not an alpha student who excels in class, but managed to get the recognitions.

Jenebeth Delasala, 24 years old, is the 6^th child of Benito Delasala Sr. and Exequila Delasala. As a student, she finished her primary schooling at Masgad Elementary School in 2011, then she graduated valedictorian at Masgad National High School in 2015.

 

“Akong taghuna-huna nga kinahanglan ko maningkamot sa akong pag eskwela tungod sa among kalisod. Sa first year ug second year high school ko, naa ra ko sa top 4 pero pag abot naku og 3^rd year dinha naku nagsugod og mas maningkamot pa sa akong pag eskwela (Since we were poor,  I always put it in mind that I needed to strive hard in my studies. In my freshmen and sophomore years, I always ranked 4^th, this is why when I reached my junior year, I started to strive even harder)”, Jenebeth said.

After High School, Jenebeth is doubtful if she can still pursue to get into college. Her father Benito is a retired CAFGU while her mother has no job at that time. Driven by sheer determination, Jenebeth asked her parents about going to college, convincing them that she would work and diligently study. “Ako gyud gihangyo sila Papa ug Mama na moeskwela ko og college kay sa walo nako ka magsoon, wala pa gyuy nakahuman og college (I tried convincing my parents to let me go to college. I wanted to be the first college graduate in the family, because all of my siblings have never graduated from college),” Jenebeth shared.

 

Fortunately, her parents agreed to send her in college. Her father does fishing in order to sustain her allowance and other miscellaneous fees. Seeing her father’s hard work, striving to support her endeavor, motivated her to really do well in school.

 

Eventually, Jenebeth, tried to apply for a scholarship through the Expanded Student’s Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA). She wasn’t able to qualify for the program at first because there were limited slots. It was only when a grantee was dropped from the program that she had the opportunity to be a scholar.  There were two of them who applied for the vacant slot. Luckily, she was chosen.

“Pagawas sa resulta di gyud nako mapugngan akong kalipay nga ako ang nadawat. Dako ang akong pasalamat sa tanang tawo nga nagpaluyo niani (Soon as the result was out, I couldn’t contain may happiness when I was informed that I got the slot. I’m so much thankful to the people behind program”, Jenebeth said.

In 2019, Jenebeth got her Bachelors of Arts Degree for Secondary Education major in English at Surigao State College of Technology – Malimono Campus – she was Cum Laude in her class. Now, she is a professional licensed teacher. Currently, Jenebeth works as local Project Development Officer under Department of Social Welfare and Development’s KALAHI CIDSS Program. She serves the communities in Malimono, Surigao del Norte with passion and commitment.

 

Jenebeth shares that passion is her drive which keeps her going – it is what fills people up with meaning, happiness, excitement, and hope. She said that passion must be maintained in a person’s life for them to keep on dreaming and going.