A Fish Vendor’s Daughter: A Good Example for Her Generation

Fish vendor and homemaker’s daughter

At a young age, Rhenalyn Joy C. Perez, 12 years old, from barangay Nagerong, Lazi, Siquijor already experiences life’s difficulties especially in pursuing her education.

“Kaniadto motago ko ilalom sa katre kung magtuon ko sa gabii aron dili mapalong ang lamparilya inig huros sa hangin (Before, I would hide under our bed when I studied in the evening to keep the lighted kerosene lamp from being blown out by sudden gust of wind),” said Rhenalyn.

This had been the reality faced by Rhenalyn as she went through with her daily routine when her family still lived with her maternal grandparents. Her maternal grandparents’ house was located near the shoreline and had no electricity. But this did not deter her from cultivating the good study habit.

This she vividly remembers every time she wakes up at 3 o’clock in the morning to study her lessons and to prepare herself for school.

Unlike before, Rhenalyn need not hide anymore under the bed to study.

Gone are the days when she had to lie on her stomach while studying under the bed. At present, her study table makes it easier for her to scan her notes and answer her assignments. Her family now lives in their own house lighted by electricity.

“I sleep early and wake up early so that I can review and study my assignments and be ready for class recitation,” shares Rhenalyn.

Rhenalyn’s mother, Arlene, 38 years old is a homemaker while her father Ricky, 41 years old vends fish in the market.

“Kaniadto usa ra ako ka drayber sa habal-habal. Tungod sa tabang sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, naka-tigom ko og gamay nga kwarta ug mao kini ang gigamit nako sa pagtinda og isda (I used to be a habal-habal driver. With the help of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, I was able to save money and used it as capital for selling fish, which I still do until now),” Ricky shares his struggles to make both ends meet.

Identified as poor family, the Perez family is among the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Because of the Pantawid Program, Ricky had already stopped being a habal-habal driver who ferries passengers every day unmindful of the scorching heat of the sun or of the heavy rains just to provide for his family.

Proud of her heritage

A seventh grader of Lazi National Agricultural School (LNAS), Rhenalyn is proud of her heritage. She shares her family has been experiencing hardships. She is not ashamed though that her family is poor. Instead, she made this reality her inspiration to strive hard in her studies.

Rhenalyn is proud of her parents because despite being poor, they are doing their best to send her and her two siblings, Ryan and Ralph, to school.

Her parents have taught them the value of education, hard work and good character. Ricky and Arlene exemplify hard work, love of family, respect to elders and faith in God.

Example to siblings

As the eldest among the brood of three, Rhenalyn serves as a doting sister to her younger siblings. She takes it upon herself to wake up her younger brothers, Ryan and Ralph to ensure the two boys would take a bath and clean themselves up for school.

While the boys change for school uniform, Rhenalyn is also busy setting up the table for breakfast.

The boys respect Rhenalyn as she leads by example. She shows them how to say a prayer before eating their meals together.

“Lord, daghang salamat sa pagkaon nia sa among lamesa, unta kini makahatag ug kusog og nutrisyon namu aron mabuhat namu ang among mga nagkadaiyang gingbulahaton karung adlawa (Lord, thank you for the food on the table, we hope this would give us strength and nourishment to our body in order for us to deliver our tasks this day),” Rhenalyn made the sign of the cross after saying Amen.

Arlene says her daughter has mastered the art of cooking rice. “Kabalo na maglung-ag si Rhenalyn, masaligan na nako na siya (Rhenalyn already knows how to cook rice, I can depend on her),” tells Arlene.

Aside from cooking rice, Rhenalyn would love to learn how to cook different viands like nilaga, tinola and their family’s favorite humba.

“Ganahan ko magkat-on pagluto kay gusto naku mamahimong chef sa barko (I love to learn how to cook different recipes because I would like to be a chef someday),” Rhenalyn shares her dream of becoming a chef in a luxury liner.
“Unsay chef? (What is chef?),” Ryan curiously asks her Ate Rhenalyn.

Rhenalyn patiently explains what a chef is while having breakfast. Their dining table becomes a good venue for the Perez family to talk to each other and strengthen communication among the members.

While having breakfast, Ricky arrived. By the sound of his motorcycle, the children could easily identify that it’s their father’s.

The three siblings run outside to meet their father and Rhenalyn leads in raising the front hand of their father lightly on her forehead as a sign of respect and love to their father. The two boys follow suit.

When Rhenalyn arrives home after class, she immediately put her things aside, changes her clothes and helps her mother in the household chores. She would usually wash the dishes on the sink at the back of their house.

“Usahay mag-tutor sad ko sa akong mga igsuon o magdula sad mi nila (I also provide tutorial classes to my younger brothers or I play games with them),” she added.

A consistent honor pupil

Rhenalyn has been a consistent first honor pupil from Grade 1 to Grade 6 at Simacolong Elementary School. And now, a first honor in her class at LNAS as Grade 7 student. Her being a consistent honor student manifested her commitment to pursue her education.

She always makes sure she is present in all her classes.

“Dili gyud ko ganahan nga mo-absent sa klase kay mahadlok ko nga dili maka-relate inig balik nakog tunga (I do not like to be absent in class because I’m afraid I could not follow through with my lessons when I get back to my classes),” says Rhenalyn.

During the awarding ceremony for the Provincial Search of Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children on July 27, 2017, Rhenalyn hurriedly ate her lunch after the half-day event so that she could still catch up her afternoon classes in preparation for the upcoming first periodical examination.

One of Rhenalyn’s favorite subjects is the ICF (Internet and Computing Fundamentals) handled by teacher Rose Lyn B. Paghasian.

“Rhenalyn is very participative in class, dili pa gani ko mahuman sa akong pangutana naa na dayun siyay ikatubag (Rhenalyn is very participative in class, she already has the answer even if I am not yet finish with my question),” Paghasian says.

She also reveals that Rhenalyn is always the first one to submit assignments, reports, projects, and etc.

A student leader and a good friend

“She also leads the group and sometimes helps in reprimanding unruly boys in class,” says Paghasian. She also says that every subject teacher of Rhenalyn knows her because of her good performance in school.

“I see in her a lot of potentials and I hope she will maintain her good performance in school,” verbalizes Paghasian.
During the school’s first recognition, Rhenalyn tops in her class.

Just like any normal student, Rhenalyn lives as a normal teenage girl would do.

Rhenalyn has three closest friends in the campus. They are Chelen, Jannah and Irene who are also her classmates.

“Buotan, bright og matinabangon si Rhenalyn. Dili siya dawu nga classmate (Rhenalyn is kind, smart and helpful. She is not selfish),” Chelen said.

“Kun dili mi kasabot sa among leksyon, siya ang mopasabot namo (If we do not understand the lesson in class, she would explain it to us),” Jannah added.

“A good student and leader that she is, Rhenalyn knows how to balance her social and academic life,” attests her friend Irene.

“Alegre siya nga kauban og good influence namu (She is cool to be with and a good influence to us),” says Irene.

The Achiever

Besides being a consistent first honor student, Rhenaly also excels in her co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

She has been class president from elementary until now. Her other co-curricular activities include scouting, MTAP Math challenge, Science Quiz Bee, Schools Press Conferences (copy reading and sports news writing); WATCH (We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty) Campaign, Clean and Green Project, Simacolong band leader, Simacolong Dance Troup, Intramural Meet Runner, Lawn Tennis Player.

Recently, Rhenalyn is with the Committee on Clean and Green Project. She is also a first placer both in the Science Quiz Bowl and Oratorical Contest. She was also a Buwan ng Wika Sabayang Pagbigkas contestant.

For her extra-curricular activities, Rhenalyn actively participates in the Flores de Mayo, Catechisms and FDS Values Education in Barangay Nagerong.

A loving daughter and granddaughter

Her mother, who is actively involved and busy with her commitments in group activities as president of Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA), as Pantawid partner-beneficiary and as a volunteer of Kalahi-CIDSS, could always rely on Rhenalyn. She takes charge in cleaning their house, washing the dirty linens and dishes every time Arlene has to attend activities related to her involvement with different groups.

The role of Rhenalyn does not end in being a student, a daughter or an Ate because she also is a loving granddaughter of her Lolo and Lola. She would always find time during weekends to visit her grandparents and helps in washing their clothes and dishes as she loves them dearly.

Spending weekends in her grandparents’ house is also her family’s way to bond with the elders and to play with her cousins and relatives.

Nurturing faith in God

Centuries-Old Catholic Churches situated in the towns of Siquijor, Maria, San Juan, Larena and Lazi offer visitors a glimpse of Siquijor’s religious belief in paying homage to the town’s patron saints. Such reverence and devotion is evident by the manner they preserved their churches.

San Isidro Labrador Church and Convent in Lazi, Siquijor where the Perez family lives is reputed to be the biggest and among the oldest in the country.

This contributed to the strong faith of Perez’s family to God.

Despite her numerous activites, Rhenalyn and her family never forget to thank God for the blessings they receive every day.

Rhenalyn looks forward to summer vacations because she always attends catechism in the church and participates in the annual Santacruzan.

“Excited ko pag-summer kay bakasyon man og maka-apil ko sa catechism sa simbahan (I’m excited during summer because its vacation time and I can join catechism in our church),” a smiling Rhenalyn said.

Taking one step at a time

Rhenalyn’s parents may just be fish vendors who face plenty of hardships in their lives as they provide for their children’s education especially sending their daughter, Rhenalyn Joy C. Perez to high school. As early as now, all their struggles have found a beautiful fruit in Rhenalyn because she excels in her class.

This hardworking bright lass from Lazi, Siquijor made her conviction to strive harder in her studies to fulfill her dream of getting a college degree, making her family proud and later help send her siblings to school.

As of now Rhenalyn takes one step at a time in reaching her goal to be a Cruise Ship Chef someday.