Mariano Marcos
State University

First college graduate in family of gamecock healers

𝘽𝙮 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙮𝙖

The surname Dela Cruz may be the most common in the Philippines, but the story of this particular family in Brgy. 4, Laoag City is anything but ordinary. For three generations, they have been known as mangngagas iti manok, traditional gamecock healers. Through the decades, they’ve watched sabungeros return home either with wads of cash or a pocketful of tears. But on July 11, the family will bring home their biggest win yet: their first college diploma.

Meet 31-year-old Eleahnor Dela Cruz–Santa Ana, a first-generation graduate from her family who will receive her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a major in Computer Technology from the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) during the 47th MMSU Commencement Exercises on July 11. 

Through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), she earned her degree, leveraging her years of work experience and her humble background.

For 13 years, Eleahnor, fondly known as Leah, has been working toward her dream of earning a college degree, but because of life's challenges, she has had to fight for it, much like in a cockfight.

𝗖𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

At a very young age, Leah has witnessed how her family has to strive hard to survive. 

The youngest of the five children of Ricky and Virginia Dela Cruz, she grew up mostly witnessing how his father’s hand heals wounded gamecocks as a medic inside the cockfighting arena. 

“Bata pa po ako noong isinasama ako ng tatay ko sa loob ng sabungan. Nasanay na ako sa ingay ng paligid at sa iba’t ibang klase ng tao. Nakita ko roon ang mukha ng pagkatalo at pagkapanalo,” she shared. 

(I got exposed to the cockfighting scene at a very young age. I grew accustomed to the noise and became familiar with the diverse range of people. I saw the faces of winning and losing.)

As a child, this scenario became familiar to her, as they served their family food on the table three times a day, which was an everyday struggle for them. Leah witnessed how their family survived by receiving help and assistance from their father’s bosses as a family driver and a carpenter.

After finishing high school in 2011, she considered pursuing college with her parents. 

Constrained by the seasonal and below-minimum-wage income of her father, an ambulant vendor, and her mother, she decided to set her dream aside and help with their family finances — the only choice left for her.

“Nasakit para kaniak kas amana a diak maited ti dawatna nga agadal iti kolehio. Ikarigatak kunak iti sanguananna uray ammok a marigatanak talaga ta awan met permanente a pagsapulak,” her father recalls.
(It hurts me as a father not to grant her request to study in college. Saying ‘I’ll do my best in front of her means the difficulty of doing it because I do not have a permanent job.’)

Before the Republic Act 10921, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, took effect in 2017, attending college had always been considered a privilege. To families whose income does not meet the minimum, setting aside the dream of getting a college diploma for a couple of years is deemed the best option. 

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲

Right after graduating from high school, Leah stayed with a relative in Manila and spent her days and nights filled with the beeps of scanners, assisting customers with checkout one at a time in the aisles of the supermarket. 

“Ayokong maging dagdag-pabigat pa sa kanila, kasi nakikita ko pa lang ’yong pagkayod nila araw-araw, sa tingin ko, nagiging makasarili ako kung uunahin ko pa ang pangarap ko,” Lea said.
(I do not want to add to their [her family] burdens. Seeing how they struggle every day, I think choosing to pursue my dream would be selfish.)

For years, she has been following the same routine and has become a master of the game. Yet, after realizing that she’s stuck, she decided to make her first attempt to enroll in college.

In 2015, Leah enrolled in a degree in secondary education at the University of Rizal System-Angono while working at night in a fast-food chain. Yet, fate did not give her a chance to finish even the first semester of her first year. 

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.

“Nakita ko kung gaano kaimportante ang diploma noong nagtatrabaho ako, kasi hindi gumagalaw ang promotion ko kahit lamang naman ako sa experience,” Lea shared.

(I realized how important a diploma is while I was working. I did not get a promotion even though I have an experience advantage.)

She continued to venture into the world of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). There, she mastered the art of multitasking, juggling calls and queries, and devising solutions with ease. 

Her voice became familiar over the line as she took pleasure in her rank. Amidst her success, she still clings to what she wanted: a college diploma. 

Fast forward to 2023, Leah got married to Mr. Roldan Santa Ana. That same year, she left Manila, and they settled down in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. 

Leah diverted her focus to raising her own family while continuing to provide for her parents. She juggled multiple jobs and worked even more, ensuring that she earned valuable experiences that she could use to advance her career. 

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗣𝗢

With years of experience in the BPO industry, Leah continued working in Laoag City. She aimed for a promotion, hoping her experience would speak for itself. However, without a college degree, her efforts to move up fell short.

“Confident ako na nag-apply for a higher position sa company dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na mas lamang na ako sa experience. Dumaan ako sa proseso, at naging maayos naman ang lahat. Hindi nila ako pinili. Wala raw akong college diploma,” she added.

(I was confident to apply for a higher position in the company, knowing that I have enough experience as an advantage. I was not chosen. I do not have a college diploma.)

𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Leah went back to her dream of earning a degree, and this time, she decided to push through despite the odds. 

Her time as an intern for the Department of Labor and Employment’s Government Internship Program (GIP) at MMSU-CIT in 2023 paved the way for the idea of attaining a college diploma through ETEEAP. 

Overwhelmed by the idea, she immediately enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology program with a major in computer technology at the MMSU College of Industrial Technology in Laoag City. 

Her life became an unending cycle of extra work, providing for her parents, and starting to raise her own family while meeting the course requirements. 

𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲

“Hindi po naging madali ‘yong buong proseso. Sa pakiramdam ko, bago lahat ng ginagawa ko, pero hindi ko siya pinansin dahil iniisip ko pa lang na magkaka-diploma ako pagkatapos nito, masayang-masaya na ako,” Leah said.

(The entire process was challenging. I felt like these were all new to me, yet I didn't mind. By merely thinking that I’ll earn a diploma after, I feel elated.)

Her failure to secure her desired position in a BPO company due to not having a college diploma is what she considers her turning point. 

She realized the value of that piece of paper one receives after years of dedication and perseverance. Leah said it isn’t just a piece of paper but the key to changing your life forever.

As she finally attains one of her childhood dreams, Leah recalls seeing the two faces of people inside the cockfighting arena. The memory of the two faces of people inside vividly comes flashing back, realizing that losing a game teaches you lessons about winning at the perfect time. 

“Naala ko ‘yong mga mukhang ‘yon. Ngayon, naiintindihan ko na ang mga damdamin ng natatalo at nananalo,” Leah shared. 

(I now understand the feelings behind those faces–losing and winning.)

She still hears the noise and sees the different kinds of people with stories of survival to tell inside the arena while his father is closely watching over her. 

This year, Dela Cruz is one of the 27 ETEAAP and 3,243 graduates of MMSU. 

Held by the same hands, she will no longer walk inside the cockfighting arena but on the aisle of the sunken garden to receive the first college diploma for family Dela Cruz earned after 13 years of continued aiming and uninterrupted desire.

“Sa mga taong may mga pangarap pero hinahadlangan ng pagkakataon, puwedeng isantabi muna, pero siguraduhing balikan mo ‘yan kapag may pagkakataon,” Lea said. 

(To those who have dreams hindered by circumstances, it is okay to set them aside for now. Just make sure that you’ll go back when the right time comes.)