Stephanie’s journey

Little did Ruperto Jr. knew that when his wife Leonida got pregnant, he would have to make a life changing decision.

Joy and thanksgiving were overflowing when Ruperto Jr. or simply JR, an OFW and Leonida (a public school teacher) both natives of Calaguiman, Samal, Bataan learned that they were expecting their first child, but this was momentary for soon they were in a dilemma. Prior to her pregnancy, Leonida had been undergoing chemotherapy sessions for a life threatening ailment, Melanoma and continuing said sessions not only would adversely affect the pregnancy but ultimately terminate it. The couple decided to terminate the sessions and by God’s grace, Leonida gave birth to a baby girl whom they named Maria Stephanie.

Joy was short-lived for barely 6 months after giving birth, Leonida succumbed to her ailment and left JR and Steph. Incidentally, JR has never remarried.

Steph’s growing up years were marked by longing for her parents, JR being an OFW, and being showered with love, care, protection and belongingness by her aunts, uncles and cousins both from her mother and father sides. Her relatives made sure that she was and is always part of all family activities, from the simplest to the grandest. She never felt left out.

Her frail physique prompted her overprotective Nanay Ida to restrict her from playing outdoors and lured her into the wonderful and magical world of letters – books and fairytales, to the point that she believed in fairytales.

Looking back, she says she had a happy and fulfilling childhood yet, there are times until now when she still asks herself, how is it really to have your mother by your side?

When she was old enough to understand why her mother had to go to heaven way too early compared to other mothers, it was then that she learned the values of faith, decision making, and sacrifice; and that sacrifice is actually an offering. Her mother practically sacrificed, offered her life for her, and for this she would forever be grateful.

Steph describes her grade school years at the Calaguiman Elementary School as full of discoveries and challenges. Teacher Jocelyn, her preschool teacher introduced her to the value of eating vegetables as well as discovered her singing talent and honed her reading skills. There is a saying that your first grade teacher is your best teacher and this is true with Mrs. Liwanag Lat. Mrs. Lat’s belief in Steph’s leadership ability tremendously helped Steph to believe in herself too. Her 2^ndgrade teacher, Mrs. Gloria Datu picked up where Mrs. Lat left. She exposed Steph in different academic competitions especially in English, while Mrs. Rowena Capuli fielded her in Mathematics competitions. All the efforts of all her grade school mentors contributed in her early formative years as a student.

It was during her high school days at the St. Catherine of Siena Academy that she discovered her artistic talents and the different school activities provided her the much needed opportunities to develop these further, which made her high school memories fun and fulfilling

All throughout the interview, Steph proved to be articulate, cheerful, witty, sincere, thankful, down-to earth, yet at times teary eyed, especially when asked why she took up Bachelor in Elementary Education, major in Special Education. She said, she wanted to continue what her mother started. She learned from her relatives that her mother was one of the two public school teachers who were chosen, nationwide, to undergo training for the Special Education Program of the DepEd. She even added, taking up Special Ed is not choice but a calling.

At the Far Eastern University, as her horizons broadened, challenges showed up and doors of opportunities also opened and she blossomed into a woman who now knows what she wants in life and how to get there.

Her first challenge was how to convince her father to send her to FEU, considering the high cost of education, FEU being a private tertiary institution. But why FEU? It’s her dream university. As a little girl, coming from Bataan, going to the NAIA to send her father off or to fetch her father from the airport, they would always pass by that huge structure and it has always been her dream to study there. So to convince her father to send her there, she promised her father that she will do her best to get an academic scholarship and all her father would spend for her would be for her allowance and board and lodging. This she fulfilled.

Apart from being a consistent academic scholar from the get go, Steph managed to balance her time and efforts between her studies and her extra curricular activities. In fact, she was elected not just once, but twice as president of the student council unopposed. Not only did she graduate Magna cum Laude, she also got the most coveted Nicanor Reyes Leadership Award.

Among her numerous notable achievements both academically and as a student leader, the most meaningful to her so far is the Balay Dunong Program that she founded together with her fellow students.

As a volunteer SPED teacher in charitable centers in Manila during her rest days, she was exposed to the sad realities in life brought about by poverty. One time, a SPED school was facing closure due to financial constraints. Steph and her fellow volunteers organized a fund raising campaign and to date, the school is still operating.

This inspired her to put up the Balay Dunong Program. From a 0.0 initial funds, the Balay now has P15,000.00 and is still growing. The Balay, situated in Lerma St in Manila caters to children, out of school youths, persons with disabilities and their parents. Programs include sports clinic, tie up with ALS (DepEd), sessions on financial literacy, livelihood programs and others.

It is during this time that Steph realized the value of negotiation and collaboration with other organizations and agencies to succeed. Balay is now on its 2^nd year of operation and has extended its program to the Hospicio de San Jose to cater to persons with disabilities.

Being one of the Ayala Young Leaders, Steph painstakingly lobbied for financial support from the Ayala Foundation and last November 26, 2014, just in time for her 22^nd birthday, she got her best birthday gift ever. FEU on the other hand is in the process of institutionalizing the Balay Dunong Program.

Last April 27, after passing the Regional search for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP), she made it to the Nationals. Last July 30, together with fellow outstanding students from the 17 regions nationwide, Maria Stephanie A. Gaña, a true blue Bataeño, a Samaleño from Calaguiman made it to the top 10.

Not new to garnering awards, during the interview, Steph was still in that state of disbelief with her latest achievement. In fact she said that when her name was called at the Malacañang Palace during the awards night, her first reaction was “Ako ba yun?” Since many of the female nominees’ names start with a Maria, she waited to hear Gaña before she stood up.

If there is one more person that she wants to acknowledge, it is Sir Joven Castro, the Student Development Coordinator of FEU. Sir Joven played a crucial role in strengthening her self confidence especially during her ordeal in the Search for TOSP.

Right now, Steph is again balancing her time reviewing for the Licensure Exams for Teachers, the Balay Dunong Program, taking Filipino Sign Laguage lessons, and the Asian Institute of Management’s 25 future bridging leaders program, promoting children’s rights.

At 22, Steph has achieved a lot and learned a lot, and she has these lessons to share: “I need to believe in myself because there are people who believe in me. So during the Search, whenever I came for an interview, I always made it a point to do my best because of the people who helped me and believed in me”.

“When I made it to the TOSP, I realized that said award will lend me more credibility, it will widen my network and therefore it would help me in furthering my advocacy for children with special needs.”

“I realized that I should first equip myself before I could be of help to others, and that is what I am going to do.”

“I always do my best not for recognition, but for inspiration.”

“During the Search, we were required to submit a bid book. Mine was thin compared to those of the other finalists. But my mentor said, it’s not the quantity or the thickness of the bid book that matters, but the impact of its content to the lives of other people” and I held on to it”.

“I intend to pursue a master’s degree and God willing even a doctoral degree on Special Education. I know, I will encounter a lot of challenges but I have always been inspired by the saying “It’s all HIM possible”.

Lastly, she says she always brings with her the 4Ms : Mangarap, Maniwala, Magtiwala, Manalig.

Steph, on behalf of the Provincial Government of Bataan, your fellow Bataeños, and the staff of 1Bataan, our congratulations and our earnest prayer that you do well in your advocacy. Thank you for giving us the chance to get a glimpse of your exemplary life. Keep on inspiring us.

Allow me to answer your question during the awards night at the Malacañang Palace: Oo, ikaw nga, wala nang iba!

To God be the glory!