Here’s how a girl from Mindoro inspired Kara David to create Project Malasakit scholarship program

Award-winning journalist Kara David has revealed that she started her scholarship program Project Malasakit after she encountered a girl from Mindoro.

According to the veteran reporter, she made an “I-Witness” documentary titled “Gamu-gamo Sa Dilim” in 2002 about a small community in Mindoro Oriental that had no electricity.

“May nakilala akong isang bata roon. Ang pangalan niya Myra Demillo and I fell in love with this girl kasi ang tali-talino noong bata, ang sipag-sipag noong bata pero walang opportunity,” Kara said.

A week after she left Mindoro, Kara said she received a call from Myra, who told her that she went all the way to Manila to become just like the journalist.

“Sumakay daw siya roon sa jeep na nagkakarga ng saging. Tapos sabi ko, ‘bakit?’ Sabi niya, ‘kasi gusto ko pong maging katulad ninyo kaya pumunta po ako sa Maynila. Makikipagsapalaran po ako sa Maynila,’” said Kara.

Kara said she panicked and decided to fetch Myra at the pier out of fear that something bad might happen to her.

“I told her na ‘kailangan mong umuwi.’ Sabi niya, ‘wala po akong makukuhang pangarap ’pag nag-stay po ako sa Mindoro.’ ‘Hindi totoo ’yan,’ sabi ko sa kanya,” said the journalist.

“‘Hindi totoo ’yan. Pag-aaralin kita.’ As in talaga sinabi ko na lang ‘pag-aaralin kita’ pero hindi ko pa alam kung saan ako kukuha ng pera noon. Pero sabi ko, ‘pag-aaralin kita. Tutulungan kita basta you stay in Mindoro, you finish college in Mindoro. I will prove to you na magtatagumpay ka. Magkakatrabaho ka basta sa Mindoro ko lang. Pag-aaralin kita.’”

She then sent Myra back home and thought of how she could fulfill her promise.

“So pinag-aral ko siya tapos noong time na ’yun, sabi ko, Diyos ko. Hindi naman malaki pa ’yung suweldo ko noong time na ’yun tapos magpapaaral pa ako ng bata,” Kara said.

Looking for ways to support Myra, Kara asked her friends to chip in. Years later, they were able to put Myra through college.

“And mula noon sabi ko, pwede pala ’to,” Kara said. “So pagkatapos ni Myra, kumuha na ako ng iba pang mga scholar kasi sabi ko, hindi naman pala mahirap magpaaral ng bata.”

After Myra, Kara started taking in more scholars and Project Malasakit was born. When her scholarship program grew, she had it registered and put up its own social media accounts.

“Kaya nabuo na,” Kara said. “I’m just so amazed na ang dami ng scholars ng Project Malasakit. Right now, I think we have 25 scholars tapos may mga napa-graduate na kami ng college, mayroon ng professionals ngayon. As in mayroon akong isang scholar na nagtapos sa UP ng accounting.”

Like Myra, most of the scholars at Project Malasakit came from the people she interacted with for “I-Witness.”

“So if the children succeed in Project Malasakit, that’s the only time I’ll say that the documentary we did was successful.” – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News