Many who joined the program can’t help but share their experiences and wins. One of them, Mitzi Apelo Barrinuevo, who used to fail in English and Math says, “Mas kilala [akong] tahimik at mahiyain bata noong unang pasok sa Silid Aralan. Takot makihalubilo at makipagsabayan sa mga batang aktibo at matatalino. Nahihiyang magkamali sa mga isasagot ko sa bawat tanong na aktibidad na kanilang binibigay. Subalit isang araw, may kataga ang tumatak sa aking isipan na palaging sinasabi sa amin ng mga facilitator ng Silid: ‘Walang batang bobo.’
“Naging takot ko noon magkamali o mahusgahan na baka isa rin ako sa tawagin ng iba na ‘ganoon bata.’ Binigyan ako ng pag-asa at tinulungan ng Silid Aralan para mapatunayan at mailabas pa lalo ang aking kakayahan…para mas magkaroon ng magandang grado at makapag aral nang mabuti,” she adds. Mitzi is now a English teacher for Korean children students.
Another former Silid kid is Jullo Babagay, who is now an Amazon Account Coordinator, having graduated Cum Laude from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). “Before I joined Silid Aralan, I was considered an academically challenged student. My grades ranged from 75 to 77 in Math, Science, English, and other subjects. I struggled and failed many of my quizzes and examinations,” says Jullo.
“After a year or so of joining Silid Aralan, things started to turn around for me. My grades jumped to 90. Although I was still placed in lower-level classes, I developed a love of learning,” Jullo adds.
More than the grades, students from Silid Aralan also shared that they were able to build their character, adopt manners, and overcome challenges that prepare them for the future.
One of them is Erlen Membredo Mahilum who is now a content moderator. She shares, “They also gave us exposure to the different realities in our community and the opportunities to address those realities, whether through problem-solving activities or community projects. With those, I was introduced to the value of paying attention to the world around me and of asking the right questions concerning those different circumstances. Looking back, these experiences remain relevant to me–some learning sessions are still vivid in my memory. I have faced several challenges in my journey and I recognize that a lot of what I learned in Silid prepared me to overcome those.”
Silid Aralan, Inc. (SAI) has been working to help the country’s education sector since 2007.
It will reveal the students who made it to its “75 Under 75” list this May.
The Board of Judges of “75 Under 75” include Diosdado M. San Antonio, Undersecretary for Department of Education on Curriculum and Development; Jose Antonio Banson, Chairman of Monark-CAT Philippines; Danielle Del Rosario,Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and Director for Strategy PHINMA Corporation; Reynaldo Antonio Laguda, President of the Philippine Business for Social Progress; Darwin Flores, Vice President & Department Head for Community Partnerships Smart Communications; Ivan Henares, Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines and 2012 TOYM Awardee; Celia Guevara Lazaro, Chief Executive Officer of Transwealth Fleet & Parking Management; Christine Bersola Babao, Media Personality & President, CBB Production; Julius Babao, Multi-Awarded Filipino Broadcast Journalist in ABS-CBN; and Sitti Navarro, Internationally-Acclaimed and Platinum Recording Artist and Filipino Bossa Nova Artist.
