As I started recalling the past, it seems like It just happened yesterday. During my childhood years particularly when I am still studying in grade school, I walked everyday a couple of kilometers away enjoying the heat of the sun before reaching the school I go to. After long hours of walking, I would arrive to school late. I cannot forget the embarrassment when my classmates tease me during recess time since I cannot afford to buy something to eat. I do not have a enough allowance and they were teasing me for that. Yet, I managed to understand my family's situation since I have lots of siblings especially my father was jobless because of his illness. My mother took on the responsibility of earning a living for us to survive. Before my graduation in my grade school the saddest part of life came because my father passed away unexpectedly on 26th of October, year 2002. During my high school years, I still had the same problems walking everyday to school with regarding the heat of the sun. Another sacrifice is to eat only twice a day and sometimes we just eat rice porridge with a little salt. This situation made me realize that I should finish my studies in order for me to help my family get out from poverty.

In addition to, I left my home town to go to Davao City having heard that one of my mother's relative will financially support me with my studies. When I arrived in Davao, they only accepted me as their helper. They took advantage of my Ignorance by not sending me to school. It prompted me to look for another job. I finally got a tutorial job that requires me to teach English to Koreans but they took advantage of me. I still thank God for opening the door for me to find the Minority Care International (MCI). I learned about MCI through one of my friend, May. She invited me to join MCI study forum. I met he president of MCI with whom I opened up my story to him. After some time, he let me become of one of MCI scholars. Life is not that easy yet it is worth living if a person never stops believing In himself or herself. The road to success isn't easy but one should never give up and should stand up to fight hardships to realize dreams and success.

Thank you MCI for believing in me.

Joy

I am Sarah Grace Ruiz Andaya. I was born in Butuan City 16 years ago. We are five in the family. I am the eldest. I have two sisters and one brother. Joanna Mae is 14 years old and will be studying her third year high school in Agusan del Sur National High school, Jotham, he is 6 years old and will in Grade II and Naomi Shayne, 4 months old. My father, Balvino "Bhen" S. He is a full blooded tribe in Agusan del Sur. My Mother is Ma. Theresa R. Andaya.. My father is a Manobo-Banowaon Tribe. My mother is a Cebuana. I love to read books like mystery and general fiction. I am a wide reader and I like to discover things. I don't limit myself on learning new skills. I know how to play instruments like guitar and keyboard.

My family lives in Agusan del Sur but I am now staying with my grandmother in Times Beach, Matina, Davao City. My family is always transferring We lived for almost fifteen years in Zamboanga del. Last May 2009, we transferred in Agusan del sur where my father is also a tribe there. In the Manobo tribe, they are just contented of the things that happened to them. Some are being married at a very young age because they have nothing else to do. It's just a cycle. They married, have children and live. Their religion is animism. They worship big stones, little insects, monkeys, trees and etch. . Still they hope to leave this world of poverty, sickness, hunger and death.

I am very fortunate to have this scholarship because I really want to go to college and finish the course I really desire. I want to pursue in college because I want to help my relatives in the mountains where education is very poor. In the mountains, you have to travel 50 kilometers so that you can go to high school because the high school there is 50 kilometers away and only those students who really wanted to go to school will take the risks of 2 days travel in the jungle by foot because the fare is very expensive and they cannot afford it.. I am very fortunate to have this scholarship because my family cannot support fully in my college because it is expensive and I also have other brother and sister who goes to school. I also wanted to finish my course because I wanted to help the tribes in the mountain. I wanted to finish a course that will truly help me and my family. I could see the hardships the tribe has in terms of health condition. They have to travel miles just to see a doctor. It is very hard for those who cannot afford to go to hospitals and sometimes, patients die on there way due to lack of transportation. They also feel discrimination because they are IP's and some of the doctors do not entertain them. That's why I have the burden to help them. If I cannot finish my study, who else can help them? They are my relatives and I am a tribe. I wanted to be a doctor someday, a Pediatrician. Through this, I can help the tribes especially the children who cannot go to clinics and have a good medical check up. I also wanted to set as an example to my tribal relatives that even though you are a tribe, you can be successful and you can achieve your dreams if you have the determination, the desire, and the perseverance to finish what you want.

I am very much privileged to have the MCI Scholarship . I am very excited as well as a little bit nervous .

If I am going to write a story of my life, it will take time for me to share it. My life has a disastrous start despite of everything that happened I always fight just to survive. When I was younger up until now, I send myself to school before I became a MCI scholar. My parents don't regard education as a high priority. Despite of this, I don't have any grudges to my family.

I belong to a big family of 12 children. We don't own a house. The other members of my family moved to Mati and in Pantukan.. After high school graduation, I decided to pursue my study and enrolled at the University Of Mindanao (UM), Davao and took up BS Accountancy only to stop my studies after two weeks due to financial constraint. Even though I was granted 50% discount as a scholar having graduated as 2nd honorable mention in high school. I exerted efforts in job hunting but ended up empty-handed. I went home hoping to save money by working there for a year. For my survival, I accept research and encoding jobs from my classmates as a means of income for my food and rent. I sacrificed to go to internet café just to odd jobs for a living. I was dead-set to pay my remaining balance with UM. If MCI would not help me paying my outstanding balance, I would stop going to school again and return home much to my dismay. Sir Aland came to my province and saw my family condition. The road going home isn't accessible. We live in a far area of the province. There are times when food can not reach our place. When it is raining my family has to wait until it stops due to a leaking roof. If given a chance I could be a model to the youth who like to be useful and productive citizen of this city. It is in my heart's intention to repay kindness the way MCI helped me. I can pay it forward like MCI which invests on a needy person. My story could be documented and be shared to everyone in the future .I wanted to prove that "poverty is not an obstacle to success" As of now I'm fully committed to my study and to the Minority Care International (MCI). Thank you so much for having me. I will owe this to you in my entire life.
Oscar