In the quiet and rugged hills of Sitio Alsok in Barangay Kinam, Malapatan, where farming is both a way of life and a daily struggle, a humble family has proven that dreams are not reserved only for the wealthy or the privileged.
For the Donde family, the road to success was carved not by comfort, but by sacrifice, determination, and the unwavering belief that education could change their lives forever.
What once seemed impossible for a family of farmers from a remote mountain community has now become an inspiring reality after three siblings successfully graduated from college—bringing pride not only to their parents but to the entire municipality of Malapatan.
The remarkable achievement drew praise from Salway Sumbo, who personally extended his congratulations to the Donde family for the extraordinary accomplishment of the siblings.
Behind the smiles, graduation gowns, and diplomas lies a story of hardship that many rural Filipino families know too well.
Raised by parents who relied on farming to support the family, the Donde siblings grew up understanding the value of hard work at an early age. Life in the mountainous community of Sitio Alsok was far from easy. Daily living meant enduring long travel distances, limited resources, and financial uncertainty. Yet despite the odds stacked against them, the siblings refused to allow poverty to define their future.
Instead, they turned their struggles into motivation.
Chaymelyn Donde completed her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Marketing Management, while her sister Jinkee Donde earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English from a university in the city.
Their sister, Jenelyn Donde, also fulfilled her dream after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from another respected institution.
What makes their achievement even more inspiring is that the siblings worked their way through college as working students. While balancing academic responsibilities, they took on jobs and endured countless sacrifices just to continue their education.
There were days when exhaustion threatened to overcome them, but quitting was never an option.
For the Donde siblings, every hardship carried the face of their parents—simple farmers who spent years toiling under the sun just to provide food on the table and send their children to school.
Their success did not happen overnight. It was built through years of persistence, discipline, and family unity.
Even before the latest milestone, the family had already shown that determination runs deep in their household. Another sibling, Jear Liz Donde, had earlier passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and now serves as Head Teacher at Nabol National High School.
From the mountains of Sarangani emerged not just graduates, but living proof that education remains one of the strongest weapons against poverty.
The Donde family’s story now resonates across communities as a powerful reminder that being poor does not mean being powerless. A farmer’s child can become a teacher, a marketer, a social worker, or anything they dare to dream of becoming.
Their journey stands as a beacon of hope for countless Filipino families struggling in silence—especially those in far-flung communities where opportunities are scarce and challenges are many.
In a world where success is often measured by wealth and privilege, the Donde siblings have shown that courage, perseverance, and love for family can carry people farther than circumstance ever could.
And somewhere in the mountains of Sitio Alsok, a farmer’s dream has finally blossomed into success.