Meet Aina Corina B. Dimasacat, graduate cum laude from the University of the Philippines, “Iskolar ng Bayan” and Stairway scholar.
It was in her last year of high school when her father had succumbed to liver cancer. Her mother was unemployed and she had to help to take care of her younger sister. Anina had no choice after graduation, but to work as a saleslady to help her family.
Although Anina had to work, she was not deterred from pursuing her dream of a college education. She applied to the University of the Philippines in Diliman where she received financial assistance. But it was not enough to cover her costs. Aggressively, Anina sought out other means of support to supplement her college education. She received a scholarship from the local government and she was accepted as a Stairway scholar.
A year later, Anina needed to support her younger sister’s college education. With her drive, Anina took on various jobs. She worked at McDonald’s as a service crew and was later promoted to the marketing department. She provided tutorial services for private school students. She got a job ushering at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on weekends, and in her spare time, she volunteered at the Stairway office in Manila!
Anina received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing. She graduated cum laude, and not surprisingly, she was offered a job as a full time teacher just weeks before her graduation!
Now as a creative writer, Ainina plans to write a children’s story book about the environment. Her inspiration comes from her exposure to Stairway’s creative advocacy films, A Good Boy and Daughter.
In her free time, Anina still plans to volunteer in the Manila office.
Contributed by Jason Arbarquez, community Assistant Officer, SFI