The story of a simple woman who fought for her dreams and now tries to explore the world with generations that is full of inspiration. **All About Myself**

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Hello, hivers! Good day! It’s me, a simple Filipina who wants to be acquainted with all of you here. Being new on this platform, I am willing to learn anything from you and share the best thing that I can do. I am **Mercy Fuentes Rondina,** 51 years old, married with two (2) kids. Born in Caduawan, Tabogon, Cebu, located in the Northern part of Cebu, Philippines. When I was young, I dreamed of finishing my studies only in high school for I knew I couldn’t pursue in college. We belong to a poor family, unlike other children who were born with a silver spoon. My Father was engaged in a small business while my mother was a simple housewife. I have two brothers and 1 sister before I know that I have a half-sister and half-brother. My life became worse at the age of nine (9). That’s the time that my father left us and chose to stay with another family. During that time because I was too young and I didn’t understand what happened to my family all I knew I hadn’t seen my father for so many months. Oh my God, I missed my Father for I knew, I was his favorite child. I love my father, of course! I don’t have a feeling of hatred for him. Good, my mother was so determined enough to raise us without my father. I and my two brothers helped each other to find ways so that we could eat 3 times a day but, despite those circumstances, we still managed to go to school during school days. After so many months, God answered my prayers. My Father came back and apologized to my mother. Forgiveness was granted but unluckily my father suffered severe sickness. He was confined in a hospital for a month. When he got well, we back to our normal life. I and my brothers pursue studies in a public secondary school, (Liba-ong Barangay High School) which is more or less 3 kilometers away from our home. **Success Behind Obstacles** *My High School Life* I can’t imagine how I surpassed the obstacles, I experienced during my high school days. The school is located in a remote area and we have to walk morning and afternoon across the road between high mountains just to reach the school. I have no choice since no public vehicles are available to go there except those who have private vehicles. I don’t remember that my parents bought me a new uniform for they only bought me an *ukay2x* or surplus. The tuition fee before was only “Fifteen Pesos”,(P15.00)per month, but in our status before, it's so hard for us to pay that amount. We were financially constrained during that time. We tried to find ways to earn even a little. We helped together to cook *suman* (rice cake) so I have to sell it in our school. Just imagine, I walked more or less 3 kilometers going to school bringing with me a net bag of suman for sale for One Peso, (P 1.00) each just to have money to pay my tuition fee and to buy our things used for school. Thank God we were able to survive. I graduated in secondary education, School Year 1987-1988. That’s one of my greatest achievements in life. **Challenges I Met During College** I thought I couldn't pursue college but Thanks to God my Father was pro to education. He tried his best so that I could pursue my college. I was the first who took college since my eldest brother helped my father manage our little business which is the stone craft. My college life was also very difficult. Since my allowance was so limited, I had only fifty pesos, (Php 50) per week. I don’t have any budget for fare in a tricycle for just only 1 peso, (Php 1.00) from our boarding house to school. I just save my allowance for food expenses and my fare going home during the weekend. So, I have to walk every day going to school and vice versa. I can’t imagine how I managed my college life. But I always remember the inspirational message from one of our college instructors. She said,” Compare yourselves to a river because the river finds ways to reach its final destination which is the sea”. Even with some challenges in our way, if we have will and self-determination then we can achieve our goal. That’s exactly what our instructor wanted us to compare ourselves to a river. I was so inspired by her. Thank God, I passed all the obstacles and I graduated with a Bachelor of Elementary Education, (BEED) in Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges, (CRMC), Bogo City, Cebu last March 23, 1993. **The Fulfillment of My Dream** *As a teacher* Last May 8, 1993, I took the Professional Board Examination for Teachers, (PBET) at Cebu City. The results of the test were released last October 1993, and I am one of those lucky passers. I got my appointment as a substitute teacher for two (2) months at Tabogon Central School, Población, Tabogon, Cebu, (February-March 1994). My first assignment as a permanent teacher was at Sambag Elementary School, Sambag, Tabogon, Cebu, on July 1, 1994, which is more or less 12 kilometers away from our home. I need to walk for more than 1 kilometer from the provincial road to school because there’s no other means of transportation to reach the school. I handled combination classes Grades 1 and 2 for almost two (2) years. To teach combination classes is not an easy job. Imagine, two (2) classes in one (1) room and you need to write a lesson plan in every subject for two classes. But if you love teaching and you have the passion to teach, everything will be easier. I was transferred to Tabogon Central School, Población, Tabogon, Cebu last October 1996 and handled Grade 1 class for almost two (2) years. This school is farther than Sambag Elementary School but the location is accessible for all means of transportation. Handling solid classes is easier than combination classes. Then, I moved to Libjo Elementary School, Libjo, Tabogon, Cebu. I’ve been teaching there for seven (7) years. There, I was promoted to Teacher 2, then after 6 years, I was promoted to Master Teacher 1. The moment I’d been waiting for. I was transferred to Caduawan Elementary School, Caduawan, Tabogon, Cebu, my very own barangay. I was handling Grade 6 class for one (1) year and Grade 4 for one (1) year. To be assigned to school which is your Alma Matter is a greatest blessing.

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I think God has set plans for me. One of my friends inspired me to take the Principal’s Qualifying Test. At first, I hesitated because I was already contended to be a Master Teacher. But the next day she brought me a form for the qualifying test. Then, I was convinced by her to try. I prayed to God to give me a sign. If I passed the qualifying test then He wanted me to step up. Luckily, I was one of the passers of the Principals Qualifying Test, year 2006. I was assigned to different schools as a school head. Currently, I am working in our very own barrio school, Caduawan Elementary School, Caduawan, Tabogon, Cebu. **My Marriage Life** *How I Love My Family* ![m3.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/lovinglymers/23zkpVQZZobVqQVFYf248btWANxF3VVJ2bjW2prQAk4yrbUR2mcs7tj76hmEiiVhfPxmn.jpg) I got married at the age of 34 last April 28, 2007, at Saint Martin Parish Church, Ilihan, Tabogon, Cebu. After one (1) year I gave birth to my first child last May 13, 2008, at Cebu Doctors Hospital, Cebu City. Then after five (5) years, I delivered my second child last December 9, 2013, at Bogo-Medellin Medical Center, Inc. Medellin, Cebu. Our daughters complete us, as one family. **My family** ![m4.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/lovinglymers/23zS7PYApoCdujNuksjYAArpYmQSfBCwuCJj8ULsG9JStpspWpyJdkbNcvDN9i533cLsB.jpg) *My Hobbies and Interests* Doing something that makes us happy can eliminate our boredom and stress. I am fun in writing, and reading books and novels. I love traveling, watching movies, cooking, and gardening. I have a collection of plants at home that need to be watered every morning and afternoon. ![m5.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/lovinglymers/23xAZzKva8tgqFcR5ZnLTPpv5r6dV4qmGJ8ebXqbXXjozwu9xDyTcDjDq1bpcQoMayYb5.jpg) *My Collection of Plants* **The Reason I Joined Hive** ![m8.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/lovinglymers/23vhuRcYsH3hf7TGmBhzPPUYi7FFYgyjCS8iv4pXQ9sr5ojvoFPVccWj7VjpKpFFFznnk.png) One of my teachers told me a little background about Hive, and due to my eagerness to know more about this platform, I told her to invite speakers to orient us about Hive. I am also excited and interested to learn about this platform. So grateful to @naymhapz together with other Hivers who invited speakers @indayclara, @ybanezkim26 , and @intoy.bugoy who served as speakers during the orientation last June 24, 2023, at Caduawan Elementary School, Caduawan, Tabogon, Cebu. They introduced to us the benefits we can get from the platform and how it works. That day was considered, one of the most fruitful days. We learned a lot from them and now we are highly motivated to join the platform. We are so thankful for them. Now, that I am here, hope you will follow my next blog. Thank you for your time! God bless!