And An Inspiring Story of Sheer Determination and Perseverance
Caramoan, a 2nd class municipality in the Province of Camarines Sur is the so-called Emerging Paradise of the Pacific known for its pink and white beaches. It’s where the Season 26 of Survivor which premiered in February 2013 was shot. This brought the island’s name into international fame. It is also where we discovered an inspiring story of sheer determination and perseverance.
Sabitanglaya Beach Sitio Lipata Sitio Lipata
The photos above were taken by Mr. Windel Alvarez, one of our Country’s “Dangal ng Bayan” Awardee in 2018 and a finalist of the Global Teacher Prize this year who hails from Caramoan.
His life was not easy at all. He lost his mother when he was in grade 1 at a very young age of seven, and dropped-out from college in 1996 due to financial constraints as his father, a farmer, cannot afford his studies. From 1996 to 2001 he worked in a church in Caramoan. This did not make him to waver and lose hope to return and finish his education. Finally in 2001, at the age of 22, with the support of his cousins and some friends, he was able to enroll again in college while working to provide for his daily needs and some school’s expenses. In March 2005, after 4 years, he was able to achieve his dream and graduated with a Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSEd). He’s the only one from among his family to have a tertiary education.
For more than 3 years, from November 2005 to January 2009, he worked as a volunteer teacher in Tabgon NHS and Northern Peninsula HS, all in Caramoan. While in Tabgon NHS for more than a year, he shouldered all his expenses as the school is located within their barrio. The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Caramoan provided him a monthly allowance of PhP5,000.00 when he taught at Northern Peninsula HS. To reach the school, he would take a ‘habal-habal’ or a motorcycle for more than 1 hour on a rough road every week as he decided to stay there during the school days. There was no regular trip in going to the barrio back then. Finally on January 27, 2009, he was hired as permanent teacher and designated Teacher-In-Charge of Northern Peninsula HS in the Schools Division of Camarines Sur. But when an item for a mobile teacher for the Alternative Learning System was offered, he grabbed the opportunity to serve those who drop-out and returning to school.
This is when his story in Sitio Lipata started. In 2017, after their literacy mapping, he established an Alternative Learning Center for 50 students. Sitio Lipata is located more than 1 hour boat from the capital of Caramoan. His students’ age range from 17 to 54 years old, some of them do not know how to read and write.
As of this writing, they now have a concrete center for out-of-school youth and adults, donated by Yellow Boat Foundation. Also, some of his students were able to enroll in tertiary education, some took vocational courses after passing the Accreditation and Equivalency Test.
2017 2018
Coming from a poor family and despite setbacks along the way, Windel never gave-up to pursue his education. He exemplifies sheer determination and perseverance and has committed to give his best to make education accessible to everyone.
Sabitanglaya Beach Sitio Lipata (Snacks of boiled cassava and coffee)
Caramoan Island dubbed as the Emerging Paradise of the Pacific is certainly worthy of its name, not only because of its natural beauty but of its people like Windel who don’t lose hope to better their lives and those of others. He has kept his focus and in the end, reach his goals. He has been an instrument for the people of Sitio Lipata to learn and improve themselves. Every time I think of Caramoan, its clear and pristine waters, its powdered beaches, I also remember Sir Windel. He has become a stalwart advocate of quality, accessible education for all.
What a peaceful and tranquil life we may have when we achieve the best version of ourselves in the service of the people.
For those who would like to share their resources for Sitio Lipata Learning Center, you may contact him at windelalvarez32@gmail.com.
Magnificent! Thank you! (May I direct message you with an idea?)
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Thank you so much! Yes sure… send email…
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Please send email to me at mariacristina1.baroso@gmail.com. Thank you so much…
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Stunning photos Maria!
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Thank you so much! Glad you like it… 🙂
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NICE POST AND THANK YOU FOR THE FOLLOW
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Thank you so much! Keep safe always…
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You as well
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Fantastic post! And such beautiful pictures! I’ve always loved tropical places!
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Thank you so much for the kind words… I love that you like our place… 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Beautiful!
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Hi, thanks for the time and message! Keep safe always! 🙂
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Thanks Maria. You too!
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This is so inspiring as well as interesting. I am endlessly amazed by the hardships and mountains people must climb to achieve their goals and do beautiful things in this world. This was a nice read. Thank you!
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Hi, thank you for this! Often, it’s the hardships/struggles and the sweats that make our journey more interesting, meaningful and worthwhile. 🙂 Keep safe always…
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what a lovely positive story, thanks for sharing!
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Hi, thank you so much! I’m glad you like this. Stay safe always…
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and you Maria!
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What an inspiration!💛 stunning photos!🌴
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Hi, thanks for your visit and message! I’m glad to hear that! Stay safe always.. .:)
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Your blog is beautiful!!!
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Thank you so much! It’s salamat in Filipino. Send my regards to your family… Stay safe always.. .
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What’s Salamat Filipino?
Actually, I am an Indian..I am not aware of it.
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Salamat is our Filipino term for thank you. 🙂
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Wow!
Salamat Filipino.
Nice to meet you!
Will look forward to more of your blog posts!
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Thank you so much! You’re really kind. 🙂
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We will make blogging more fun 😊
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Great shots! I have an officemate whose family is from Caramoan. Her dad is a former Mayor there, Alarcon…
That place is really stunning… not able to see it yet, coz nun pumunta kami we were not aware there’s a typhoon coming. Unfortunately we were not allowed by the coast guard to cross the sea to the island. It was a very frustrating moment, we have travelled all the way from here to Camarines just to see it. Hay…
Hehehe… hoping to see it in the coming days maybe after the pandemic.
Thank u for sharing… God bless 😊🙏🏼
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Wow, so glad you’ve been in Caramoan already. 🙂 Really uncertainties come unexpectedly, like this pandemic. 🙂 The trip was long and rugged if you came by land. Yes, please do come once the pandemic is over. God bless, thank you for your time and message. Stay safe…
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Thank you. Yes, we travelled by land. Its more fun and exciting than by plane. It took us more than 10 hours to reach Camarines because, we had few stop overs hehehe… thanks so much. Stay safe too 😊🙏🏼
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Your very much welcome. I’m really glad to have found your blog. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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🙏🏼😊❤
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Beautiful post & blog.
Read your bio. It’s well written and amazing. 😊
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Hi, thanks for the visit and message! I really appreciate that… Also found your photos stunning. 🙂 I’ll definitely visit your blog from time to time. Stay safe. 🙂
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Thank you 😊.
Mutual feels. Stay safe!
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This is much appreciated.. .:)
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Inspirational person he is. 🙂 Glad that you covered him. 🙂 It is necessary for them to be known because we are in a generation where the inspirational ones are the least talked-about. 🙂 Btw i’m using 🙂 these because i noticed that you put this emoji in almost every sentence. 😂😂
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Hahahahha.. thank you for noticing. It’s like letting my reader know that I’m happy about his/her visit and message. 🙂 I’m so glad that you found my post inspiring. Yes, I’d like to feature inspirational persons, those who did not surrender despite hard life and setbacks along the way, those who stayed focus on their goal and finally succeeding in the end while serving the people. 🙂 Stay safe always…
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🙂
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great positive story, tin! i was in caramoan with my family once. really a wonderful vacation then. i wrote about it here: https://cbholganza.com/2012/11/29/carefree-in-caramoan/
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Wow, great! I’ll check this out… thank you for this…
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“What a peaceful and reflective life we can lead when we achieve the best version of ourselves in the service of the people.”
That’s it! THANK YOU, dear Mary, for your wonderful blog and introducing people like Mr. Windel Alvarez… A heartwarming story that goes around the world and touches people…
Unfortunately I don’t know the English language and I use the helpful Deepl translator for reading and writing…
https://www.deepl.com/translator … 🙂
All LOVE YOU, dear Maria, all your readers and ALL the wonderful people and this earth…
In LOVE and CONNECTION with ALL THAT IS
Elke
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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Hi, thank you so much for this. I really appreciate your beautiful message. 🙂 Stay safe… 🙂
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Wow , awesome ♥️
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Thank you that you like it…:)
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The views are inspiring…foods, yummy !
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Hi, thank you so much! So glad that you appreciate my blog. 🙂
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so with mine…thank you for the Follow and Likes. I’m happy you Followed me so, I’ll Follow you !!! Be safe.
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Yes, so glad that I found your blog. Take care and stay safe as well. 🙂
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thank you very much !
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Beautiful place! I would like to nominate you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Your post is very positive and uplifting!
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Hi, Ariela! Thank you so much for this! So kind of you. 🙂
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You’re welcome!
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Gorgeous💙
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Thank you for this beautiful post. it touched my soul. love your blog.and thank you for following mine. Xx Dew
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Thank you so much for the kind words. 🙂 Yes, I’ll be looking forward for your posts. 🙂
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Honestly.. your blog is so inspiring and amazing. i like that it is so genuine. keep up the work. its great to meet you here.
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Thank you so much. Your message is very much uplifting. 🙂 Take care and stay safe always. 🙂
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You too:-D take care and stay safe
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