It was cold Monday morning April 29, 1985, in a small barangay Ogao, located at Nabunturan Compostela Valley Province a place far from the town and cities. An extraordinary day for a simple family welcoming a new member of the family her parents gave her a wonderful name “ANNA” which means grace in honor also of her grandmother favorite saint. She is supposed to be the third daughter of her parents but since her eldest sister died at early age due to congenital heart disease she is considered as the second one..
Her father Esperidion, is a carpenter and a laborer in their place who works for their family to provide all their needs. Her mother is Eleonor, a housewife who always takes good care of them. She was also blessed with two siblings, Agnes and Argie.
Their life in the province is simple and they were nurtured with fear to God. Although they don't have a wealthy living, her parents worked hard in order for them to be educated. Anna learned to write at early age and very eager to go to school. As a child she grew up in the church since her grandmother is a catechist she even dreamed and imagined herself wearing habit, living in a very solemn place, serving God for the rest of her life, to be a nun is her childhood dream.
June 1992, she formally started to go to school, she is very interested and don’t want to missed any day as she believe that every day is a great day to learn something new. Though, she grew without electricity in their house for they cannot afford for its installation still she managed to continue her studies. In order to study her lessons, she uses oil lamp as a source of light. She never complains why she has that kind of life, instead she motivates herself to strive hard to achieve her goals in life.
Anna spent her elementary days in a public school together with her siblings and luckily the school is just a walking distance from their house. In order for them to sustain their daily needs and school requirements they must spend time to raising backyard animals such as chickens, pigs and goats. They need to walked long distances every weekend carryings sacks in order to get some food (kangkong/Ipomoea aquatica and gabi/Colocasia esculenta) for their raised animals she even sells vegetables within their place in order to buy common commodities. Life is not that easy for them, sometimes they failed to eat three times a day because of shortage of budget but they survived because they are taught by their loving parents to work hard so that their family will be alleviated from poverty.
For six years she maintained her good grades and she never failed to receive her medals and ribbons as a reward of her hard works. She graduated as the class valedictorian of the Centennial graduates of Ogao Elementary School in the year 1998.
She is about to enroll in a public secondary school at Manat National High School but her parents find it hard since the school is located far from their place and it entails an amount daily in order to go to school for the fare expenses. Because of the situation her sister preferred to leave them and worked in Davao City at early age as a working student. Since Anna is so determined to continue her studies so she decided to sacrifice and anticipates the probability that sometimes she need to walk about 5km every day back and forth and cross the river. From the time when she started her high school life she achieved good grades and enough reason for her to become known in school. She joined different school activities but then sometimes she cannot afford to joining activities that is costly since earning money for them is difficult and not enough for all their needs. In fact she coped with her studies using the old uniforms and shoes from their relatives. Recycling used folders in order to submit projects and selling goods cooked by her mother inside their classroom just to earn an amount.
There are few things she could claim to have in her life. But she’s not complaining because she compensates this lack by having many dreams. Visions that made her strong to persevere and trust the divine creator.
Sometimes, God send to every individual a trial in order to test our trust in Him. Anna was in her third year in high school, when an unexpected accident happen her father fell down from a coconut tree. It was a heartbreaking event for the family specially that he is the breadwinner of the family. At that time family conflicts arises some of their relatives told them to stop schooling because it will be very difficult for them especially they don't have money enough for medication and food to eat. But because of the strength of character of her mother, they were able to continue their studies. Her mother came to Davao City and worked as a housemaid. Her sister also decided to stop studying in college to work full time and earn money to support the medication of her father and for their education.
They accepted all the things that happen in their family and endure the trials together. They need to sacrifice and live away from each other. Anna never wasted the time and effort that her mother and sister did for them. She really continued her studies for she knows that behind those complex things they’ve been through they will receive wonderful blessings in the future.
In her high school days, she treasured lots of memories and experiences together with her friends she never forgot those days that she represents their school in other places in different competitions and won.
As she graduated, she was awarded as 2nd Honorable mention and she also receives a lot of awards that proves that poverty is not a hindrance to success. As years passed by her desire to become a nun changed, because she wanted to help her family.
She dreamed of becoming a person who can lift up the situation of their family. She made a promise to herself that someday her own children cannot experience the hardship she had in life and so he signed her high school ambition: To become a Teacher.
On April 2002, Anna went to the city to follow her mother as well as to continue her study in college. She applied as a working scholar in Holy Cross of Davao College Consumers Cooperative in order to sustain all the fees in school. She undergo a one month training showing her abilities in work in order to have the scholarship, since only few will be selected from numerous applicants. Living in the city is difficult for her specially that she is coming from the province, she experienced being lost in the city and don’t know how to go home but then because of her enthusiasm she still managed to find ways and went home safely that unforgettable day.
Finally she was accepted and was assigned as a cashier/salesgirl of the school canteen. Anna attended her class half-day and in the afternoon she had her work until evening. Being a working scholar was not an easy thing especially if you were going to maintain a grade to keep the scholarship, but Anna shows that she can do it and she became one of the Dean’s Listers.
Though she missed a lot of things she used to do when she is still in high school like, joining different school activities but then she is always grateful to God for the opportunity given to her though she need to leave the comfortable embrace of her own family and live with other family just to take the opportunity to continue her studies. Sometimes she wanted to give up specially when she got sick because she skip meals due to scarcity of her allowance but then she is reminded with the promised she made for herself.
She keeps on dreaming, because she believes that this will be her strength to eagerly and productively continue life. Her ambitions help her to draw the pattern of her life. And with that dreams she have faith in God because He knows God is always there to guide her way. She takes all the barriers and obstacles that come along her way as a challenge for her to become better and stronger.
When she was about to start her second year in college a big opportunity came in, an opportunity that she never expected to happen and that is to be one of the scholars of the Rotary Club of East Davao. The scholarship started when her aunt meet Rtn. Lacson at Ateneo de Davao University where the scholarship was first offered. Rtn. Lacson is one of the members of the scholarship committee that time. He offered the application form to her aunt with the thought that she might know someone who needs a scholarship. It was a great timing for Anna because they were looking for a 2nd year student to fill in the gap between Chester Lelis who is 3rd year in college that time and Jocelyn Lelis who is about to enroll as first year college.
She applied and undergoes a panel interview. During the interview her unforgettable experience was when she need to face the scholarship committee headed by PP Miyake together with PDG Hilario, PDG Reyes and the rest of other Rotarians specially Rtn. Boy Jucutan who is noted for his very peculiar questions among the interviewers. But still, Anna was very confident and optimistic throughout the interview with the Rotarians. And luckily, among the applicants who were also good she was the only who stands out and she was chosen as the scholar. It was the best gift ever that she received on her birthday at that time as well as to her parents who were very thankful for the opportunity that has been received by their daughter.
After that wonderful news, Anna went to Ateneo to assess her transcript but it falls out that she were going to repeat again as first year there because she was under load when she was still a working scholar in Holy Cross. That’s why the scholarship program continued in HCDC and for her to graduate in 4 years she grab all the summer classes every year.
Anna has been under by the scholarship program of Oikawa Scholarship Foundation supported by Rotary Club of Ishinomaki South, Japan. She was very happy when she received the scholarship program because it will be convenient for her to study her lessons and easier for her to pay for the fees in the school. She always got high grades and become a Dean’s Lister every semester. Like what she wished she joined different clubs and organizations. She has been an active COMELEC Commissioner in the college and members of different clubs.
Like an eagle she soars high but in return a startling event struck their family, her elder sister got pregnant at the early age, 19 and she plan to get married. It made her upset because they have so many plans with her sister towards the improvement of their family. But then, she realized that as a family she needs to support her sister. So she ended up with a decision to strive and work hard to achieve their dreams for their finally.
She was very fortunate and blessed to be part of the Rotary family. According to her, she enjoyed a lot of opportunities, which is not common for young individual like her. She can really say that rotary hone her to become what she is today. That is because of the immeasurable help coming from her generous sponsors whom he considers second fathers. There were a lot of experiences that she can’t forget and cannot be paid by any amount. One of it is rendering service to different community; wherein they were enjoin to facilitate some part of the program. She gained a lot of lifelong learning that are all worth to be treasured forever.
As a scholar under the Oikawa Scholarship Program, she is so blessed to meet the sponsors of her scholarship every year. Much more when she was given a privilege to visit and meet the other sponsors and their family in the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan). May 2005 PP Hikaru Miyake and PP Leo Edwin Zantua facilitated her trip. Finally on May 27, 2005 Anna departed from Davao City Philippines to Japan.
She couldn't believe that one of her dreams to go on foreign countries do come true. When she arrived at Japan, PP Kohachi Oikawa, her scholarship sponsor meets her at the airport. She feels very safe because all things there are in the proper way. She has done a lot of things in Japan. Together with her host family Mr. & Mrs. Asano, they visited lots of beautiful spots and historical sceneries in the Sendai city, which make her to appreciate more the simple yet productive country having the well-preserved culture and tradition. Then, they went to Ishinomaki for the party that her sponsors prepared for her as well as to meet them.
Since her trip was coincide with the celebration of the Rotary 100th years, she delivered a speech about her dreams in life, on what she can do to develop her country and what she can do to help young people like her. It was indeed an awesome experience for her to speak in the crowd. During her stay in Japan, she also visited some schools and observed their classes.
They also went to Nagoya together with PP Oikawa and witnessed the 2005 World Exposition where she enjoyed all the rides and see lots of new innovation in the world of technology at that time and in the future. Her ten day visit in Japan was one of the remarkable days of her life, where she enjoys and learns a lot.
After all the hardship she experienced, all was put in a wonderful outcome. She graduated with flying colors as Cum laude in HCDC on April 2006. That was an amazing day for her and her family. At last, she graduated and she can now help her parents. After 2 months, she was employed at Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School as a Science teacher from June 2006 – March 2009. The school is located at Angliongto Avenue, Lanang Davao City. Then, after a month when she was employed she receives another blessing, she passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers.
On March 2009, Anna decided to stop working in the private school and take a chance to be employed in a public school but she failed and so PP Oikawa asks her to think of a project to be implemented in their community at Toril on October 2009, Anna proposed a project. It is called as, ROTA-KID ESKWELA PROGRAM it is a community service project first initiated by the scholars of the Oikawa Scholarship Foundation and Rotary Club of East Davao in the year 2006. It started with a Summer Enrichment Classes at B.O Pampanga, Lanang, Davao City. After that good start, it became an annual project (every summer) of the scholars supported by the two sponsoring Rotary clubs the Rotary Club of Ishinomaki South in Japan and the Rotary Club of East Davao.
Due to the impact of the program into that community the founder of the Oikawa Scholarship Foundation, PP Kohachi Oikawa wish to extend the program into another community and finally it was realized in October 17, 2009. The program was introduced to Anna’s community at Marapangi III Toril, Davao City. This time the program is supported solely by the kind hearted Rotarian who never stop thinking on how he can help the young Filipino children not only his scholars but to other children in different communities.
The program generally aims to help and inspires young Filipino children to believe in the power of their dreams through education. The class then held every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) catering children from the community as participants. Core subjects such as: English, Mathematics, Science and Filipino were taught to the school children in a form of enrichment session, school supplies and snacks were provided too.
She teaches there for 3 years from 2009-2012. The program still continues until now and they assigned a volunteer teacher to take part of Anna’s responsibility for three years. Although she is not teaching there now, her presence is still there continue supporting it. This project creates a gigantic effect on her lives, as she always feel the importance of being a teacher. She can also say that even in her own little ways pursuing this project she became an instrument, an inspiration to some people in their place to believe the beauty of their children’s dreams.
On June 2011-April 2013, she was employed to another private school, Brokenshire College Toril Davao City Inc. The school is nearly located at their house. So, it will never be a burden to Anna to travel so far and she can save some amount that can be a great help for sustaining the daily expenses of their family. But unlike before, her family now can eat good food and sometimes they afford to have leisure time with the whole family.
On the other hand Anna has a long term relationship, August 18, 2012 marks the enormous day of her life as she got married to the man she truly loves Jonathan Lauron- Madanlo, a senior salesman of Philippine General Merchandising Corporation a man who inspires her and always there for her for about four years and ten months and now for a lifetime.
After two months of marriage, their love bear fruit and she is expecting a baby in her womb. The couple was really happy and excited, as they are about to see their first born baby girl.
They are very eager to become parents that will love, care and nurture their child. Anna continues her work and managed the magnificent experience of being a woman, to bear her child inside her womb. Her pregnancy is not that easy but she was able to pass the hurdle enjoying the nine months wonderful day to day journey with her loving and supporting husband patiently waiting for the perfect day to come.
On June 07, 2013, she gave birth to a beautiful angel sent from heaven and named her Joanna Eliza. The families were filled of so much joy as they blessed with another member of the family.
With the glory of God, she is now currently teaching in a public high school at Doña Carmen Deñia National High School Toril, Davao City. An opportunity she waited for so long time finally comes. For now she will work one at a time to fulfill her dream as an educator, who can inspire young lives to believe in the beauty of their dreams to succeed in life.
