Farmer’s Daughter Competes for National Exemplary Children Search

Jamaica A. Aventajado, 14, of Sitio Purok 4, Barangay Bay-ang, Ubay, Bohol will represent Central Visayas for this year’s Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children National Search.

A consistent honor student, Jamaica is a doting daughter to Armando and Robelen. She wakes up as early as five in the morning to help her parents in the farm.

Armando and Robelen are tenants and their income is highly dependent on the yields of the farm.

Aware of his family’s living condition and of his father’s health problem, Jamaica has made it a habit to help her parents in the farm before going to school.

Armando has ulcer and because of financial difficulties he cannot maintain his medications.

Meanwhile, Jamaica is currently enrolled in Bohol Northeastern Education Foundation (BNEF) as a grade 8 student. She was able to study in a semi-private school because of the scholarship she got after graduating on top of her elementary class.

Jamaica loves poetry, cooking, baking and food carving. During weekends she and her siblings Jay and Jasmin would often cook or bake using raw materials they get in the farm.

An active student leader, Jamaica represents her school in different competitions not only academically but also in sports tournament like table tennis and volleyball.

She dreams of becoming a public school teacher, “I want to teach poor kids because I can relate to them.”

Aside from her school activities, Jamaica also joins community activities spearheaded by World Vision.

Jamaica will compete with all the regional winners nationwide and will also automatically join this year’s National Childrens Congress in Metro Manila next month together with the runners-up of the regional search Melanie Lomoljo of Maria, Siquijor and Teresa Moranta of Dumanjug, Cebu.

Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children National Search recognizes children beneficiaries of the program who served as role models in the community where they reside.