Tampakan, South Cotabato — As a child, Jernil B. Dumaguit would watch students in crisp school uniforms make their way to class and quietly wish he could join them.
“Gamay pa ko, kung makakita ko og bata nga naka-uniporme padulong og eskwelahan, ingon nako, ‘Ah, ninduta nila oy kay ga-eskuwela sila,” he recalled.
Now 28, Jernil is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration student majoring in Marketing Management. He is also president of the persons with disabilities (PWD) organization in Barangay Tablu and auditor of the Federation of PWDs in Tampakan.
It is a path he once could scarcely imagine.
Born with a physical disability, Jernil is the fifth of seven children from Barangay Tablu, an upland farming community in Tampakan, South Cotabato. His first years in school were marked by obstacles that went far beyond the classroom.
As a child, Jernil moved by crawling and depended on someone to carry or accompany him. He entered kindergarten at age 15, alongside classmates who were five or six years old. At times, he had to stop attending because no one was available to bring him to school.
“Katong gamay pa ko, naga-kamang ra ko. Kinahanglan naay mopas-an nako. So, nag-eskuwela ko sa Kinder, 15 years old nako, samtang ang akong mga classmates naa pa sa 5 years old, 6 years old,” he said.
The physical challenges were difficult, but the discrimination he encountered in school left a deeper mark. He had expected school to be a place of learning and friendship. Instead, he faced bullying that sometimes made him question whether he should continue.
“Gi-expect nako nga ang eskuwelahan, lugar siya nga happy lang. Pero, grabe ang bullying,” he said.
He kept much of that pain to himself.
“Wala nako ginapakita sa ilaha nga nasakitan ko, pero pag-uli nako og balay, didto nako mag-hilak.”
Still, Jernil refused to let those experiences determine what he could become. He continued his studies, holding on to the belief that his disability did not limit his ability to learn, lead, or build a future.
That resolve found support through Sagittarius Mines, Inc.’s (SMI) educational financial assistance program. Jernil had heard about the program as early as high school and hoped he would qualify once he entered college.
“Sa high school pa lang ko, dungog na nako ang programa sa SMI. So, nangarap ko na once na mag-college ako, papasok talaga ako sa program ng SMI,” he said.
The assistance helped cover his school-related expenses and eased the daily financial pressure that can prevent many students from completing college.
“Dako siya og tabang sa akoa ang programa sa SMI, lalung-lalo na sa akoa bilang PWD. Dako siya og tabang sa mga allowances,” Jernil said.
He said the program has also made higher education more attainable for other young people in their barangay.
“Wala’y gipili si SMI sa pagtabang. Kung kinsa ang gusto mo-eskwela sa among barangay, maka-sulod gyud siya sa programa,” he shared.
For Jernil, the value of SMI’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP) is not measured only by the financial assistance it provides. It has given him room to focus on his studies and move closer to a goal he has carried since childhood.
“Dako ang impact sa ako. Sa karon, asa ka mangita og ing-ana nga halaga? Bisan piso karon, maglisod na og pangita. Ang buhaton na lang nimo, mag-eskwela ka, magdawat ka og allowance gikan sa SMI,” he said.
But Jernil’s story does not end with the help he received. He has turned his own experience into a reason to serve others.
As president of the Barangay Tablu PWD organization and auditor of the Federation of PWDs in Tampakan, he works to encourage fellow PWDs and challenge assumptions about what they can do. He wants people to recognize that PWDs can take on responsibilities, contribute to their communities, and lead.
“Gusto nako ipakita nga kami nga mga PWDs, naa mi’y kakayahan.”
His parents remain at the center of his motivation. Jernil hopes to finish school, find stable work, and give his mother a life that no longer depends on farm labor. His father has passed away.
“Ang akoa, gina-look up nako ang akong ginikanan. Sila ang ginahimo nako nga inspirasyon nga maka-human. Sila ang gahatag og kusog sa akoa. Gusto nako nga mahatagan sila og maayong kinabuhi. Gusto nako nga dili na magtrabaho sa bukid ang akong mama. Kay ang akong papa, wala na.”
The boy who once watched other children walk to school now has a place in the classroom, a voice in his community, and a clear purpose for the years ahead. His journey is a reminder that opportunity matters—but so do determination, family, and the courage to keep moving forward when the path is not built for everyone. (30)
