It was in a very remote barangay in the town of Gigaquit where SNNHS 69er JOSEFA FEBRERO was given birth. Her childhood circumstances were surrounded by indigence and destitution. She started her education in the lone primary school where a teacher handled two grade levels, more than one kilometer away from her home. She had to walk daily for a total of more than two kilometers round trek, crossing twice a river to and from school. She had to be absent when the river overflows during heavy rains, particularly during rainy seasons. There were no transportation available and her only chance to be saved from a long walk was when an unwheeled carabao cart of a farmer in their place will have a trip to the direction of the school. Together with a few deteriorated books and limited school stuffs, she carried in her lowly hand bag a very scanty meal for her lunch wrapped in moderately heated cuts of banana leaf. That had been her childhood’s pitiable experiences for three consecutive school years.
Since the remote school nearest their area was only up to grade III, she transferred to the town proper of Gigaquit and lived with relatives as a working student to support her grade IV Elementary education. She felt she needed to work to learn and be educated hoping to one day rise above her childhood’s financial handicap. The following school year, she was again transferred to Surigao City, where she stayed with her uncle as a working student and eventually finished her elementary education at the Surigao East Central Elementary School. It was a hard earned graduation for it came as a fruit of her early childhood labor as a working student.
Since the remote school nearest their area was only up to grade III, she transferred to the town proper of Gigaquit and lived with relatives as a working student to support her grade IV Elementary education. She felt she needed to work to learn and be educated hoping to one day rise above her childhood’s financial handicap. The following school year, she was again transferred to Surigao City, where she stayed with her uncle as a working student and eventually finished her elementary education at the Surigao East Central Elementary School. It was a hard earned graduation for it came as a fruit of her early childhood labor as a working student.
Her self-supporting status as a student continued in high school as she enrolled at the then Surigao High School, later re-named to Surigao del Norte National High School (SNNHS). She took and passed the qualifying examination for a special science class and so became a member of the elite section. Despite her rural heritage, she had a fair complexion and neat appearance. She had the innate intellectual ability to academically compete but every opportunity to excel was suppressed by the pressures of her work as a teenaged working student. She was also deprived of regular and enjoyable extracurricular activities at school because she had to give priority to her assigned duties at the home of her uncle. Even her summer vacation times almost deprived her of a visit to her family in the remote barangay of Gigaquit because she is not permitted for reason that it is the only time when she can do fulltime work in the home where she lodged. A three-day vacation to her parents is all that is allowed. Yet with so much patience and persistence she maintained her seat in the elite special science class until her graduation in 1969.
The seven years of self-sacrificing and independent efforts to obtain preparatory education was to her a very difficult experience. But it never deter neither did it discouraged her for she knew that it is the only chance for her to walk past the gloom of penury. In her young mind was the thought that should she had to go back to her rural home place after high school graduation, she would again be walking on rice paddies and planting rice on muddy fields, so will be her future children, and therefore repeat the sad parental heritage of continuing poverty. She felt she should never give up but instead make her grueling self-supporting efforts to stand as her ladder towards success. She believed that the future will provide a room of opportunity for her. Her modest goal was not to be rich but just to rise above the level of poverty where she had been momentarily consigned and to make sure that her future children will not pass the same misery she had been through.
True to her desires she enrolled at the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges still as a working student. She knew as Napoleon Hill declared that, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Her original course was Bachelor of Arts, but she shifted to a course in commerce major in accounting after a semester. During such time Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in accounting is a course most in demand. While it was difficult to combine work and schooling, yet she made it sure that she would finish her college in four years. Accounting is a hard subject, but she dared and overcame all requirements to qualify by burning her midnight candle. Her capability was observed by one of her accounting instructor in college who owns an accounting firm. During her fourth year in college she was invited for a part-time job to handle bookkeeping and auditing needs of some business establishments in Surigao City. She readily accepted the job as an opportunity to gain actual experience of accounting works and to earn extra income for her school and personal needs.
True to her desires she enrolled at the Northeastern Mindanao Colleges still as a working student. She knew as Napoleon Hill declared that, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Her original course was Bachelor of Arts, but she shifted to a course in commerce major in accounting after a semester. During such time Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in accounting is a course most in demand. While it was difficult to combine work and schooling, yet she made it sure that she would finish her college in four years. Accounting is a hard subject, but she dared and overcame all requirements to qualify by burning her midnight candle. Her capability was observed by one of her accounting instructor in college who owns an accounting firm. During her fourth year in college she was invited for a part-time job to handle bookkeeping and auditing needs of some business establishments in Surigao City. She readily accepted the job as an opportunity to gain actual experience of accounting works and to earn extra income for her school and personal needs.
Ever faithful to her personal commitment and with perseverance and diligence, she eventually graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in Accounting in 1973, exactly four years since high school graduation. Her feeling was one of remarkable victory. Her heart overspills with joy and gladness at such an achievement. With her initial accomplishment she understood better the words of Aristotle she learned in her high school English Literature class, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” She was earnestly grateful to God for the wondrous blessings bestowed upon her and for the daily power of enduring the tough and very challenging route of her journey. She felt that with a college degree she is now on the road past her poverty stricken life which to her was the greatest motivating factor.
She continued with her work at the accounting firm of her college instructor for a few months. With recommendations from the same college instructor she was employed on a casual status with the Bureau of Census and Statistics. During the last four years she failed to get a permanent position. She filed for a vacation leave to try to find her fate in Manila. She was accepted for employment in a brokerage firm. Hence, she returned to Surigao City to file her resignation from the Bureau of Census and Statistics. It was during this time that she learned of a vacancy in the office of the Bureau of Customs in Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur. She applied and with God’s Providence she was employed. While the Bureau of Customs was branded to be a corrupt government institution, yet it was one of the most sought after government employer. However, it was never in her character nor did she have even the remotest of intention to corrupt. She knew that, “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverbs 15:16). And, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
She continued with her work at the accounting firm of her college instructor for a few months. With recommendations from the same college instructor she was employed on a casual status with the Bureau of Census and Statistics. During the last four years she failed to get a permanent position. She filed for a vacation leave to try to find her fate in Manila. She was accepted for employment in a brokerage firm. Hence, she returned to Surigao City to file her resignation from the Bureau of Census and Statistics. It was during this time that she learned of a vacancy in the office of the Bureau of Customs in Mangagoy, Bislig, Surigao del Sur. She applied and with God’s Providence she was employed. While the Bureau of Customs was branded to be a corrupt government institution, yet it was one of the most sought after government employer. However, it was never in her character nor did she have even the remotest of intention to corrupt. She knew that, “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Proverbs 15:16). And, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
It was during her stay in Mangagoy that she met the man of her dreams who gave her the family name of Villaseñor. They were ushered into the altar of matrimony on June 28, 1981. Their marriage of 33 years was blessed with only one child and two grandchildren whom she considered as priceless treasures. She considers the professional achievement of her only daughter as another significant accomplishment of her goals. She is apt to say that poverty is not a hindrance to success for she had been through it and had ascended beyond its accompanying agonies and pains.
Walking past the gloom of penury, she still continues to work with the Bureau of Customs. She intends to retire in two years. She felt successful having been emancipated and released from the pangs of poverty. She did not reach a position of prominence nor does her financial vault filled with possessions of gold and silver. Yet she believes that “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” (Booker T. Washington). The hurdles of the past are now forgotten and she is now savoring the sweet fruits of victory. She felt confident that her age of grey will be laden with wonderful memories of her battles of life and the joy and gladness of having won the fight.
Walking past the gloom of penury, she still continues to work with the Bureau of Customs. She intends to retire in two years. She felt successful having been emancipated and released from the pangs of poverty. She did not reach a position of prominence nor does her financial vault filled with possessions of gold and silver. Yet she believes that “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” (Booker T. Washington). The hurdles of the past are now forgotten and she is now savoring the sweet fruits of victory. She felt confident that her age of grey will be laden with wonderful memories of her battles of life and the joy and gladness of having won the fight.
