21/10/2025
๐๐จ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐: ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐
At Biao National High School in Davao City, the lively hum of youthful energy fills classrooms where teenagers race to finish assignments, share stories, and dream of futures. Among them are Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners of all ages and backgrounds united by the shared ambition to reclaim their education, like travelers returning to a road they once had to leave behind.
One of these learners is Ann Ann C. Toress, a 36-year-old mother of four, living as a tenant and caretaker of a lot, while her husband works as a tricycle driver to support their household.
She grew up in a large family of eight siblings, raised by a farmer father and a devoted housewife mother. Her family lived in poverty, and only three of the eight children managed to graduate from high school.
She entered ALS 7 at New Valencia Integrated School as a working student, determined to continue her studies despite hardships. By Grade 8, she returned home to help her parents and support the familyโs needs.
Her journey in ALS came to a halt when, in her ninth grade, she faced early pregnancy โ a reality that forced her to prioritize responsibility over her education.
For a time, her dreams of finishing school seemed out of reach. But learning about the chance to re-enroll in ALS reignited her hope.
"๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ค ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐ค๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐," she said.
(I'm glad that there is ALS because it allowed me to continue my studies.)
Through ALS, she believes she can finish high school and secure better work in the future โ even reaching college, a dream she once thought she had lost.
Today, she continues her journey as an ALS 11 learner at Biao National High School. She is distinguished not only by her spirited participation and proactive attitude but also by a quiet strength, steady as a mahogany tree, that inspires those around her.
Still, the road has not been free of doubt. Many continue to underestimate her and other ALS learners, using their age, circumstances, or parenthood as reasons to question their place in school.
โ๐ผ๐ ๐ค ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ช๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฎ. ๐ผ๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ฃ ๐ช๐จ๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ช๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ช๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ฉ, ๐ ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ช๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐ช๐๐ข๐๐ค๐ฃ,โ she declared.
(I firmly believe that I will achieve my dreams. I am committed to helping others succeed through their dedication and hard work, because age and social status are no barriers to creating a brighter future.)
Beyond her own determination, Ann turns her story into encouragement for others. To those who, like her, had to set aside schooling because of responsibilities or hardships, she urges them to see ALS as a chance to rise again, to continue again, and to dream again.
For Ann, education is not only about personal progress; it is also about inspiring the next generation to believe in the power of knowledge and persistence.
Her story reflects what ALS truly stands for: a second chance at education and a lifeline for those who once thought it was too late. In the classroom, she is not only a learner but also a beacon โ a light that refuses to dim even in the strongest storms.
The ALS is a program of the Department of Education, offering a chance for those who were unable to continue the traditional path to resume their studies โ whether at the elementary, junior high, or even senior high school level.
By Froilan P. Santos, Biao National High School
