Dreams Do Come True

On the 16th day of June 1983, at 8:00 p.m., a baby girl was born in Tabuk,
Kalinga. This girl studied in a school where it will take her two hours to travel to reach
the school. That is why she had to stay in her relative's house that is near the school.
At a young age, she experienced hardships, but these experiences made her tough in
conquering her struggles in life.
She graduated valedictorian at Gobgob Elementary School. Before entering high
school, she took the exam in a private school and made it to a Science Class at Saint
William's Academy in Bulanao, Tabuk, Kalinga as a scholar. Her father’s dream of
seeing her advancing in her studies was not pursued because they cannot afford the
boarding house fees, so she transferred to Apayao State College Laboratory High
School. There she stayed with her sister in a dorm. During weekends she and her
sister will go to their teacher’s house to wash their clothes and clean their backyards
in exchange for money for their allowances. Even if they were not favored financially,
she is gifted with knowledge and she graduated fifth honor in their class. Before
graduation, her principal asked her to write a letter to the Vice President of the
Philippines in the person of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to ask for a scholarship. She
waited days and months, but she found herself hopeless for an answer.
She took the entrance examination at Cagayan State University (CSU) – Andrews
Campus and passed it. She enrolled in Bachelor of Elementary Education at CSU –
Piat Campus. On her first day of stay in her school, she got trembled and nervous
because she did not know anyone, but she conquered her fears and got a new friend
the next day. Unfortunately, after two weeks, she had to go home because she got so
ill. She had to travel 86kms in a bus going home. Upon arrival in Tabuk, she rode a
tricycle and asked the driver to drive her to the nearest hospital and there she was
admitted immediately. She was in pain and dizzy and no one was with her. A
concerned person even went to a radio station and requested a public service
announcement. She was diagnosed with malaria and gastritis. She was advised to rest
so her father went to CSU and requested to officially drop her in college.
After a week of recovering, she got a reply from Vice President Arroyo, and she
immediately went to CSU to get her pertinent papers and personal belongings. They
borrowed money and went to PRC Baguio. She presented the voucher to the PRC
Director, but the latter said that all slots were already filled, and the semester had
already started but she pleaded and begged that he would reconsider. She shared her
story while crying and the director got moved and reconsidered her. She was granted a
four-year scholarship with Php 2,500.00 per semester book allowance.
She immediately gave all the documents to the University of Baguio as
instructed and waited for the second semester. Her college journey started likewise her
bigger struggles in life. She had to work while studying, moving from one house to
another and working from one employer to another to suffice her boarding, food, and
allowance. Luckily, she had friends and concerned people who helped her conquer
those challenges. She graduated from college without her parents because they do not
have the money to use for their fare.
 After her graduation, she looked for jobs and was hired in Jollibee and Texas
Instruments, Inc. She passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers and started
teaching as a volunteer in their barrio. In 2007, she got married and had a child. In
their first year of married life, things were going smoothly until she ended up being
beaten by her husband when drunk. Things were not going nice as they lived together
until one day, she had to go back to their barrio because her brother died. Her
husband didn’t want to join her, so she went home together with her son. After the
burial, she wanted to go back to her husband in Leyte, but she did not have money.
She asked her husband to give her money through remittance, but his husband did
not give her. She lost communication with him, so she focused on her work until one
day, her sister-in-law told her that her husband already got his new wife. Her world
became dark, but she cannot do otherwise because her husband is too far from her.
With the darkness that she walked in and the battles she fought; she used all
her heart breaks to move forward for her son. She got her permanent position in the
Department of Education, got promoted, and finished her Doctor of Philosophy in
Education. Today, she is the author of her own story, a part-time professor at Saint
Joseph's College of Baggao, Inc., a researcher, and online seller.
Her story is proof that dreams can come true depending on the ability of the
person to make them happen. She believes that God answers prayers, and we need to
continue working on our plans and never quit because the chances of realizing our
dreams are bigger than we imagine. This is the story of Ma’am Joy Magadang
Ammogawen, Ph.D.
Questions:
1. What was the reason for Joy's father in requesting her to drop out of college?

a. she was diagnosed with malaria and gastritis and she was advised to rest
b. her father cannot send her to school anymore
c. she will be working in her teacher’s house
d. she had to take care of her sick father

2. When was Joy born?

a. on June 16, 1983

b. on July 16, 1983
c. on June 26, 1983
d. on July 26, 1983

3. Where did Joy study after she dropped out of college in Cagayan State

University due to illness?

a. Apayao State College Laboratory High School

b. Saint William's Academy
c. University of Baguio
d. Saint Joseph’s College of Baggao Inc.
4. Who is the woman being described in the story?

a. Ma’am Joy Ammogawen

b. Ma’am Gloria Arroyo
c. Ma’am Joy Arroyo
d. Ma’am Gloria Ammogawen

5. Why did Ma’am Joy go back to the barrio with her son?

a. because her husband got a new wife

b. because her parents miss her
c. because her son wants to go there
d. because her brother died

6. Which Vice President did Joy send her letter for a scholarship?

a. VP Leni Robredo
b. VP Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
c. VP Noli De Castro
d. VP Jejomar Binay

7. How did Ma’am Joy pass through the darkness and heartbreaks she went

through?

a. she asked for help from her friends

b. she gave up and accepted her faith
c. she believed that God answers prayers sho she continued to work on her plans
and never quitted
d. she did everything so that people around her would be pleased