Tampakan, South Cotabato — Every morning, 27-year-old Clarissa P. Lucenara greets a roomful of curious children with a warm smile at the barangay daycare center in Danlag, Tampakan. As she guides them through their first steps in learning, she often thinks back to the simple dream she held as a young girl.
“First dream ko talaga noong bata pa ako, maging teacher,” she recalled.
It was a modest dream, but for a long time it felt out of reach.
Clarissa is the youngest of 10 siblings in a family that had to stretch every peso. Her father worked as a carpenter, while her mother stayed at home to look after the children. Loss also marked their journey.
“Sampu po kami. Namatay po ang dalawa, at bago lang po noong 2024, namatay po ang ate ko. Kaya pito na lang po kaming magkakapatid. Ako po ang bunso,” she shared.
Even with the challenges, she never allowed that dream to fade. Everything changed when she became an education grantee of Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI).
Through SMI’s scholarship program, she was able to finish her Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in English, in 2023—a milestone she once thought her family could never afford.
“Maraming, maraming salamat sa SMI. Isa ako sa bunga ng magandang hangarin ng SMI bilang isang scholar,” she said.
For Clarissa, graduation was more than a ceremony or a piece of paper. It was proof of years of sacrifice, her family’s steady support, and the chance SMI had given her.
“Malaking impact po ng SMI sa buhay namin kasi nakatulong po na naka-graduate ako ng college. Naging degree holder ako dahil sa SMI. Thankful po kami sa SMI.”
Still, finishing her degree was not the end of the journey.
To fully live out her childhood dream, she had to pass one more challenge—the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT).
That step turned out to be tougher than college itself.
“Actually, proud po akong sabihin na take three po ako bago ko nakuha ang license ko.”
Each attempt tested her resolve, but it also deepened her faith.
“Di ba po, meron pong verse sa Bible na hinahawakan ko—Isaiah 60:22: ‘When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen.’ Kung ibigay po sa iyo ng Panginoon, sa iyo po talaga iyon,” she said.
Today, life has come full circle. The little girl who once dreamed of becoming a teacher now stands in front of young learners in her own community. Through the partnership between SMI and the Barangay Local Government Unit under the company’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), she receives an honorarium that helps sustain her work as a daycare teacher.
More than teaching letters and numbers, Clarissa hopes to pass on values that will stay with her pupils for life.
“Palagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na kailangang mag-bless sa kanilang mga magulang. Pinaaalalahanan ko rin silang magsabi ng ‘I love you’ sa kanilang mga magulang,” she said.
When she looks back on her journey, gratitude comes naturally.
“Sana po suportahan natin ang SMI kasi marami pa silang matutulungan.”
By investing in scholarships, school support, and other education initiatives, SMI continues to open doors for young people like Clarissa—creating opportunities that uplift families and strengthen communities.
Clarissa’s story shows how education, perseverance, and timely support can turn a distant dream into a lived reality. It reminds us that success is not about how quickly a goal is reached, but about the courage to keep trying, even when the road is long. (30)
