Lumingon sa pinanggalingan.
Ito ang mantra ni Rizalino Caratao, 28, na seventh placer sa September 2015 mechanical engineering board exam.
Nagtapos siya ng mechanical engineering sa Cebu Technological University (CTU) sa Cebu City.
Pero hindi naging madali ang kanyang journey bilang estudyante dahil namulat siya sa kahirapan sapul pagkabata. Pangingisda ang ikinabubuhay ng kanilang pamilya.
Nakapanayam si Rizalino ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) noong February 2, 2022 via Facebook Messenger.
Kuwento niya, maaga siyang natutong magbanat ng buto para makatulong sa pamilya at makapag-aral.
Pagbabalik-tanaw niya, “I would join my father fishing at my young age.”
Nang magtapos ng elementary, siya ang nakakuha ng pinakamataas na karangalan.
Ngunit naging problema naman niya kung paano makakatuntong sa high school dahil wala silang pera.
SCHOLARSHIP MULA SA MGA MADRE
Nabigyan si Rizalino ng scholarship ng The Sisters of Mary School Boystown sa Minglanilla, Cebu.
Isa itong stay-in secondary school na pinatatakbo ng mga madre. Kinakalinga ng mga ito ang mga estudyanteng mula sa pinakamahihirap na pamilyang Pinoy.
Ani Rizalino, “I first entered the institution back in April 2006.”
Dahil hindi siya sanay mapahiwalay sa kanyang mga magulang at mga kapatid, nahirapan siya sa mga unang araw niya sa institusyon.
“I found myself weeping bitterly in our bedroom during my first day. I was a total stranger there.
“I could not keep my tears from falling knowing that it would be taking a long time before I get to see my family again.”
Makalipas naman ang dalawang linggo ay naka-adjust na siya, at ang naging motivation niya ay libre ang lahat—pagkain, tirahan, damit, at ang pinakaimportante, ang matrikula.
Ayon kay Rizalino, parang mga tunay na anak sila kung ituring ng mga madre.
Nalibang din siya dahil may mga pasilidad doon para sa mga sports, gaya ng soccer, volleyball, sepak takraw, at basketball.
Marami ring activities na pang-espiritwal.
“Placing me in this wonderful institution is, perhaps, the greatest gift that God has ever bestowed upon me in my life.
“My personality, principles and ambitions had a major turnaround. They taught me the values of simplicity, humility, kindness, compassion, discipline, and hard work.”
LALONG HUMUSAY SA MATH
Napakaganda rin ani Rizalino ng kalidad ng edukasyon na nakuha niya sa The Sisters of Mary. Pakiramdam nga raw niya nang pumasok siya roon ay isa siyang mediocre student.
“Digital devices are strictly prohibited. Even calculators are not allowed. We do manual computations in our Mathematics class.
“It was in here that I discovered my potential as a student, and my math skills were honed to a great extent.
“It has become the turning point of my life. I discovered my potential in mathematics there. I honed my analytical skills, with speed and accuracy, and won almost any inter-school math competitions.”
Maging siya ay nasorpresa sa kanyang sarili dahil sa ganda ng kanyang naging performance sa klase.
“I was a consistent top two for my entire four years of stay, and finished school as salutatorian of our batch.”
INIALAY ANG TAGUMPAY SA THE SISTERS OF MARY
Dahil sa magandang pundasyon ng secondary education na nakuha niya sa The Sisters of Mary School Boystown, hindi nahirapan si Rizalino nang magkolehiyo.
“I didn't have the difficulty to excel in college as I took my bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Cebu Technological University, as I was still carrying the study habit I once had in The Sisters of Mary.
“All the times when I made an achievement, I never failed to attribute my success to the intensive academic training I have undergone in my amazing high school.”
Nairaos naman niya ang matrikula sa college dahil naging scholar siya ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
Dahil din sa training niya sa The Sisters of Mary, sa CTU ay naging student leader, writer, at pambato sa mga math quiz si Rizalino.
Pinakamalaki naman niyang achievement ay nang maging 7th placer siya sa Mechanical Engineer Licensure Exam.
“My story from being a simple son of a fisherman evolving into a top-notch mechanical engineer because of the Sisters of Mary reached a broad range of audience that time.”
Binigyan siya ng parangal ng The Sisters of Mary.
Ani Rizalino, “There was never a feeling more fulfilling than the one I had when I delivered my impromptu inspirational speech before my younger brothers, as I see myself in each and every one of them.”
Natupad umano niya ang pangako sa yumao nilang American founder na si Fr. Aloysius Schwartz o Fr. Al.
“Before I left the congregation, I promised to fulfill the wishes of our founder, Fr. Al when he said, ‘My children, you are not created to be fat little ducks waddling in the mud, but to be eagles destined to rise above, to explore the kingdom of God.’"
Sa ngayon ay nagtatrabaho si Rizalino bilang Duty Engineer sa Seda Hotel–BGC.
Kasama sa mga pangarap niya ang masuklian ang kabutihang nagawa sa kanya ng The Sisters of Mary.
“It has been my lifelong dream to become one of the major donors and benefactors of this charitable institution someday.
“I'll work hard for it and I will never stop. When one's dream is unselfish, I know God will help me in marvelous ways to achieve it.”