Coming from a poor family, an Indigenous Tribe, a small town with fewer resources, a tribal kid from the municipality of Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay emerges on top of her class as Top 5 finisher on the 2023 Licensure Exam for Sanitary Engineers.

IP-Struggle For Rights And Life

Mariefer Utal, hails from a family of five siblings. Her family solely depends on the meager income of their parents. Her mother works as a seasonal worker at the Barangay, receiving a monthly stipend of Php 2,000.00 while her father is a laborer who makes sure he has something to put on the table for his children every day. The combined income of the spouses does not suffice the growing needs of the family during that time. However, as parents, Fernando and Josephine remained persistent in giving value to education. No matter how difficult and heavy the storm they faced, they made sure that they remained steadfast in their hopes and dreams for their children. As Fernando said during the interview, “Lisud kaayo kung dili maka skwela, labi ng IP pa mi..(Life is difficult without proper education especially for us, Indigenous People).”

Marie or Feng, as she is fondly called by her brothers, is the 3rd of the Utal’s siblings and is often referred to as the “Disney princess” for she is the only rose among the four thorns. But this does not mean that she gets special treatment or life has spared her with the ups and downs. Marie had her share of hardships and defeats before she made it to success.

She finished her Junior and Senior High School at the nearby school in the small town of Siay with recognition as “With Honor”. She remained diligent in her studies despite the hardships brought about by poverty. As a member of DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Marie’s family receives monthly cash aid to support her educational needs such as school allowance (baon), food, school supplies, projects, etc.

Her parents were denied of the opportunity to finish their education due to poverty. Realizing that education is the key to escape their impoverish situation, Marie focused on what truly mattered, that is to finish school and to overcome poverty.

Determined as she was, Marie continued to show excellence in studies. The Utal family rejoiced with Marie’s achievement, extremely happy and hopeful for it signifies that their daughter could have the chance to go to college, knowing the expenses, the family decided to even tighten the belt and look for additional income. But Marie is not just diligent, she is also sacrificial, in realizing her dreams, she understands that there are sacrifices that need to be made. And the sacrifice began.

Her 4P’s: Patience, Perseverance, Purpose, and Prayers

Those were the only things Marie brought with her when she moved to Zamboanga City to pursue her studies in college. A little of something like “baon” from the Siayaños , helped her get by during the adjustment phase.

Marie took Bachelor of Science in Sanitary Engineering (BSSE) at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City. Briefly, the five-year course program focuses on the protection and preservation of the environment as well as the promotion of the health and well-being of the general public. Surprisingly, not her first choice, but eventually, it felt like guidance from above. Plus, she was granted a scholarship from the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) that provides students with cash grants amounting to Php 20,000.00 per semester. This assistance from 4Ps’ partner agency has helped a lot for her to get through college while lifting a ton load of burden on her parents’ shoulders.

The financial aid from both the DSWD and the DepEd has tremendously set the path towards her success. But more than the cash assistance, something that the Utal family is also grateful for is the consistent guidance and emotional support to her parents. Despite not able to finish their studies, Marie’s parents learned so much from the monthly Family Development Session (FDS) which teaches 4Ps beneficiaries relevant topics that the families could use to better their lives and family relationships.

IP’s Pride

In 2022, Marie triumphantly succeeded as a graduate of BSSE and made her parents and entire Utal clan and the Subanen tribe in Barangay Siloh very proud. This is a big feat in their community as not many tribe members are able to finish studies, let alone finish with high distinction. As can be recalled during her review days, she was not only aiming to pass the board examination but to ace it and land at least on the top 10. The walls and corners of her room was full of study notes to remind her what she was aiming. Days before the board examination result, she felt nervous and scared and even prayed to disregard her desire to be in the Top 10, and bargained to just let her pass and make her an Engineer. Then the most awaiting day came. In her nervousness, Marie did not dare to look for her name in the list of passers but she asked her close friends to do it for her instead. While looking, they all felt scared, and their eyes were close to tears when they noticed Marie’s name was not on the list. She was about to feel heartbroken but one of her friends searched on the list of Top 10 passers.

Her heart stopped when she heard “Marie, naa ka sa Top 5! (Marie, You are on the Top 5!)”

Marie couldn’t contain how she feels during that time, but all she can think of was to thank God for despite the struggles, hardships, failures and delays, still God was faithful in her prayers. Even generous enough to place her on TOP 5. This good news immediately expanded in the small town of Siay, especially in Barangay Siloh making her parents, relatives, the entire tribe to feel very proud as one of their precious IP members brought honor and pride not only to the family but to the whole Siayoños and Subanens.

As a proud parent, during the conduct of FDS in the community, Fernando, the proud father had the chance to share their journey and life’s success story to the 155 program beneficiaries of Barangay Siloh, in the hope that the parents will be encouraged to not only comply with the program conditionalities but to support and guide their children in their dreams. Moreover, Fernando hanged a congratulatory tarpaulin in the barangay hall, to remind and celebrate his daughter’s success.

In addition, Fernando personally extends his heartfelt thanks to the DSWD program saying, “Dako kayo mog tabang, Ma’am, Salamat gud, Palihog kug ingon nila sa taas. (You are such a big help, Ma’am. Thank you very much. Please extend my gratitude to the management.)

On March 19, the Utal family finally transitioned from the program as they are one of the 285 program beneficiaries in the Municipality of Siay who achieved Self-Sufficiency (Level III) and celebrated Pugay Tagumpay of 4Ps. This means that they will graduate from the program as a successful family that have escaped from their situation from being in Survival level to Self-Sufficiency.

Marie was invited as one of the guest speakers who gave personal testimonies to the program where she highlighted a message: “To all the parents, please try and give importance to your children, they need your guidance and support, please listen to them especially when they have problems, most of the time they are quiet and seem to be okay, but you never know what they go through unless you talk to them. To the children, always listen to your parents but know your rights, you have the right to education, do not ever listen to them when they tell you to stop and don’t go to school because it’s difficult, or “walay balon. Always think of the future, what will your future be if you give up now, 5 to 10 years from now, where are you? Yes, it is never easy especially we are here, but the key is to be resourceful and utilize the government’s different forms of assistance. Lastly, do your best and pray.”

-ENGR, MARIEFER UTAL, TOP 5 Board Passer for Sanitary Engineers