FLORIDA, Kapalong, Davao del Norte—Will you survive with P5.00 a day?
For an elementary graduate, Aidel Delima having P5.00 or less as his daily allowance is having to survive going to school hungry– and survive he did when he graduated as the class valedictorian.
Fondly called by his classmates and teachers as “Kimoy”, Aidel Delima is this year’s Class Valedictorian of New Boholano Elementary School—a small school on top of a hill surrounded by lush green trees at Barangay Florida in Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
“I am very happy with my achievement despite my meager allowance. I offer this success for my family and friends who supported me,” he shares.
With only 13 pupils in Grade 6 level, Delima got the most of the academic and special awards because of his active class participation and involvement both inside and outside of the school.
His class adviser, Lorna, 32, described him as a versatile student. “I can easily entrust to him anything and he will do it as instructed.”
“In class, he recites well in our class discussions and reads well. His confidence really helped him to perform well,” she said.
Twelve-year old Delima, who describes himself as shy, said that “poverty” in his family has inspired him to take education seriously. “I prefer to be in school than to be absent and do nothing. I want to become a professional someday. I want to work because I want to liberate my family from poverty,” says Delima.
Born from a family of farmers, Delima said that just like everybody else, he too has his “hard days” in school. “Sometimes I go to school with no baon at all because my parents don’t have money. So during recess time, I have nothing to eat.”
“I need to sacrifice or else I won’t gain something. My parent’s sacrifices could only be repaid by my diploma and I think its value is more than the value of money,” said Delima.
His father Felimon Delima, 40, is a lowly farmer who tills a small parcel of land by day and works as a motorcycle driver by night.
“We don’t have all the material wealth but we inculcate to our son the value of education. We taught him how to live simply and be contented with what we have right now,” said Aidel’s mother Lydia.
Lydia shared that she only reached second year high school education while her husband had only reached Grade 3 level.
“I want them all to graduate and be professionals. It’s our greatest fear that our children won’t be able to graduate because of poverty,” said Lydia.
Aidel lived his dream to become class valedictorian of his batch as he reaped the medals, ribbons and diploma in a graduation ceremony Saturday. (davaotoday.com)
