How a Poor Antiquena Passed Criminology Exam

San Jose, Antique- This is a story of Razel Faldas-Balono, a native of Barangay Bugo, San Remigio, Antique — Board Exam Passer, 2023 Criminologist Licensure Examination.

“Bali pulo kami tanan nga mag burugto kag ika-siyam ako. Halin pa kang gamay ko gusto ni Tatay kag Nanay nga mag eskwela ka tadong kay amon pangabuhi mabudlay dun lagi. Hindi nanda gusto maagyan namon ang naagyan nanda kauna,” hambal ni Razel.

(There are ten of us, siblings, and I am the 9th child. Since I was young, my parents have always wanted us to study well because we have a very poor life. They don’t want us to experience the hardships they went through when they were young,” said Razel.

Some of her older siblings had to drop out of school to help send their younger siblings to school. Siblings helping their siblings in their schooling is a practice observed in many Filipino communities especially economically disadvantaged areas and in less privileged families. In the case of Razel’s family, their parents’ meager income from farming and selling fish was not enough to make ends meet.

“Halin kang gamay ko gusto ko maging pulis kay na inspired ako makita ang iban nga pulis kag gusto ko maka bulig sa iban.”

(Since I was young, I have already dreamt to become a policewoman because I am inspired to see them in uniform and I also want to help others.)

“Kis-a gapang huram, gapangayo ko pagkaon sa iban ko nga classmate. Kis-a hindi dun ka kaon, ka yapon pag-uli. Mag halin sa boarding house pag adto sa eskwelahan, hindi dun ka bahaw,” dugang ni Razel.

(I sometimes borrowed money, asked for food from my classmates. Sometimes I could not eat or have dinner when I get home. From our boarding house going to school, there was no breakfast for me.)

#DiscoverAntique 🇵🇭