Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education

1st Salah Jubair Essay Writing Contest

Name: Amer Hassan V. Usman

Category (JHS,SHS Tertiary
or Tertiary):
School/University: Mindanao State University - Marawi
Schools Division/ Marawi City/Lanao del Sur
Province:

The Canyon’s Bridge

I often ask children what are the dreams that they wish to achieve in the future.

I heard some who wish to be a nurse, some who wish to be hafidhs, and some whose wish
are very simple: to own a house with their family. Just these statements alone can make you
see how people have dreams. Sadly, not everyone has the chance to achieve them.

Think of how many dreams were shattered because they did not have the opportunity to
pursue it.

This is why I hated the concept of Filipino resiliency. Perhaps its because I was used to
seeing my peers suffer while putting on a smile on their face or maybe its because I myself
saw and felt that suffering. They say that Filipinos are great because of them being
“resilient”; whatever disaster may come, we survive it with a smile. And although that’s an
admirable trait, it hinders us from the solution to the problem: we don’t have to take it, we
can do something to change it.

We don’t have to see the dreams of these children being crushed; we can do something to
change it. And I know for a fact that we can do it, because I too, had my dreams become
blurry before my very eyes. But people took a brave step in changing the system; they fought
for the Bangsamoro people.

I did not know it at that time how the transition can change the course of my life.

I was never a star student in my class. I had a difficult time keeping up with my classmates
during lessons. Despite the grades I received, I still gave my best in every subject hoping that

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 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education

1st Salah Jubair Essay Writing Contest

one day, I’ll be able to move forward. Deep down, I felt like there was something in store for
me. I just needed bridge to help me cross this canyon I’m trapped at.

Back in the 12th grade during the onslaught of the pandemic, I applied to every college
examinations I could find online, hoping to achieve a scholarship to pursue my dream in
medical school. Every day I processed my documents, hoping that one day, all of these will
be worth the time and effort spent. But this is where I found out that all of the universities and
institutions based their acceptance and scholarship on previous grades rather than an
examination.

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking thing you can feel is when you see how blurry your
future can be because of your past. I felt like my only chance at gaining a scholarship and
becoming a University student became further and further. The gap in the canyon became
wider.

“Saan na kaya ako itatapon nito?” I jokingly asked myself as I pondered if I can even proceed
to college. Every time a university announced their qualifiers or when an institution would
announce their grantees for a scholarship, I would anxiously search for my name. But never
did my name appear on the list.

I felt my future becoming darker and more blurred. Then, I remembered, I still had two last
announcements I was waiting for: Mindanao State University System Admission and
Scholarship Examination and BARMM Ministry on Science and Technology Bangsamoro
Assistance for Science Education.

I woke up one afternoon because an unknown number was calling me. I answered the phone
and a person introducing himself as an MOST staff told me to come their office for an
announcement. After the call, I rushed to their regional office and upon entering their door, I
was met with congratulations from the staffs as one of them commented “Pkabaya a giya a
estudyante saya a go bo myakawma” (The student who just arrived will surely be happy).

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 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education

1st Salah Jubair Essay Writing Contest

I learned that I qualified for the scholarship. Upon seeing my name in the list of qualifiers, I
felt like I was dreaming and that my future became clearer. It’s as if I was suffering in this
canyon but then I saw a bridge appear right before my very eyes.

I’m now currently a Biology major who envisions to enhance the scientific progress and
technology in BARMM. I’m a proud grantee of MOST BARMM and I felt like all of this was
possible because of the transition.

If you ask my child self what his dreams, he would say he dream for a change. And now, I
am here, standing proud because of the change people made.

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