Field of Dreams: The Scholars of Cama Juan

On her 16th birthday, Camille Basilio had one fervent wish. 

 

“Sana makapag-aral po ako ng college. Makatapos po ako ng pag-aaral at makatulong sa aking mga magulang.”

 

Four years later, this aspiration of hers came true.

 

Camille is part of the five students Sandra Aguinaldo and her "I-Witness" team featured four years ago. Back then, Camille and her friends, Arlene Ramos, Jerick Martin, Merry Camarota and Jessica Duran, were just about to graduate from Zacarias Aquilizan High School in Barangay Cama Juan, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. They were called by their teachers as the “kubling yaman” (hidden treasures) of Cama Juan as they were the smartest in their class.

 

The scholars of Cama Juan

 

Camille graduated high school as the Valedictorian. Both her parents didn’t finish high school. Her father, the barrio’s photographer, is suffering from diabetes. Part of her goal to finish schooling is to be able to help his dad get proper health care. 

 

Being the consistent top student in her school, Camille knows that she had every right to dream, as well as the rest of her friends who also were all honor students.

 

To finance their daughter’s college education, Camille’s parents have already decided to look for buyers for the small piece of land where their house stood. Camille too did not take a passive approach. To earn allowance, she tutored little kids on the side.

 

However, things looked dismal for her friends. 

 

Arlene had to survive on their father’s meager earnings as a farmer, who sometimes had to catch frogs at dawn just to make ends meet. Jerick, too, had to manage expectations as he would only rely on his father who works as a tricycle driver and a farmer.

 

Merry and Jessica, meanwhile, decided to just work and no longer go to college because their families couldn’t support them. 

 

Yet, in the face of great odds, these five friends made a wish.

 

“Sana makapagtapos tayo ng pag-aaral at makatungtong sa college. Lahat ng dreams natin matupad.” 

 

What they didn’t know, their own stories would change their lives forever.

 

The kindness of viewers

 

Days after the “I-Witness’” documentary on the scholars of Cama Juan aired, help came pouring in. 

 

An anonymous donor offered full support for Camille and Arlene’s tuition and allowance until they graduate. Araullo University also offered full scholarship to Camille and Jessica.

 

Another anonymous donor chipped in for Jerick’s tuition fee and allowance for four years.  

 

A senator too offered support for Merry’s tuition and school needs throughout her stay in college. “Ito ‘yung pagkakataon na makakatulong ako sa magulang ko, maahon ko na sila sa kahirapan,” shares Merry.

 

Some sponsors even went as far as going to Nueva Ecija to visit the scholars. Overseas Filipino workers from all over the world also helped.

 

“Isa po akong OFW sa Bermuda Island, working as a waiter. Hindi man po ganoon kalaki ang kinikita ko, nais ko lang po sanang makatulong,” said one donor.

 

While a Filipino nurse from Las Vegas, Nevada wrote, “Gusto ko siyang tulungan. Sayang ang mga ganitong bata! I have seen her determination to finish school and someday help her family back.”

 

With so many sponsors wanting to help, some of the donations were even diverted to another deserving scholar from the same high school, who was not even featured in the documentary.

 

From dreams to reality

 

Last April 12, Camille, Jessica, and Marie finally fulfilled their dream---to become the first college graduates in their family. They graduated with a degree on BS Education and Tourism Management at Araullo University. 

 

Jessica, as a matter of fact, plans on paying the good deeds that came her way forward by becoming a teacher.

 

“Sisikapin ko pong makatulong din sa ibang tao. Gusto ko pong makapag-inspire at maka-encourage ng bata. Gusto ko pong makita nila ang kahalagahan ng edukasyon, “ she shares.

 

Arlene also graduated a few days later, followed by Merry and Jerick by October this year. They took up BS Education at the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology

 

Now that their wish came true, the hidden treasures of Cama Juan couldn’t be more thankful to those helped them achieve it.

 

“Sa mga taong tumulong po sa akin, hindi ko alam kung paano ko masusuklian ang mga ibinigay n’yo dahil kulang po ang salitang ‘salamat’  para sa mga kabutihan n’yo,” says Camille.---BMS

 

Andrea S. Pineda was the researcher of the I-Witness’ “Kubling Yaman ng Cama Juan” episode which first aired in 2011. She also served as special projects coordinator for I-Witness and as segment producer for GMA Kapuso Foundation. She now works as a volunteer teacher for a non-governmental organization.