Cebuano Yolanda survivor among top 10 civil engineers

Dale G. Israel

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Cebuano Yolanda survivor among top 10 civil engineers
Arrabis places 10th in the May 2014 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination


CEBU CITY, Philippines – It was the crucial last semester of his 5-year civil engineering course when Super Typhoon Yolanda left his family homeless.

Dovann Arrabis was studying in Cebu City at the time 120 kilometers away from his hometown of Daanbantayan where his family was still living at the time. It was difficult for him to be far from his family, knowing that the eye of the typhoon was nearing his town.  

But his hard work and perseverance prevailed in spite of the devastation Yolanda caused him and his family. 

Arrabis placed 10th among all board passers nationwide who took the May 2014 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination and was one of the two students from Cebu Technological University (CTU) who made it to the top 10.

Early afternoon on February 6, the new civil engineer was among those recognized at the capitol for being a successful scholar of the Cebu provincial government. For more than 10 years, the capitol has been providing financial assistance and scholarships for the province’s top high school students who want to pursue higher education.

Arrabis, who was receiving a monthly allowance of only P2,000 ($45), recalled how difficult it was to study while his family was living in tents at home.   

“Pagka ugma adtong Yolanda, niuli dayun ko sa amoa kay nabalaka kaayo ko sa akong pamilya (A day after Yolanda struck, I went home worried to check on my family),” said Arrabis, who – at the time – was working on finishing his college degree in the evening, while studying for his licensure exam in the morning.

Overcoming odds 

The eye of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) was near Daanbantayan when it made landfall in northern Cebu in November 2013. The town lost communication and many of its roads became impassable. Hundreds of families lost their homes because of the record-breaking strong winds.

Arrabis said that because of the typhoon, he stopped going to school and stopped reviewing for about two months to help his family recover.

Naguol kaayo ko ato niuli, after duha ka buwan naka-recover rapud ko,” said Arrabis. (I was shocked when I went home. After two months, I was able to recover.) He explained that the will to improve his family’s living conditions inspired him to stay focused. 

When he returned to school, Arrabis did not waste time and hit the books immediately. “Mao to nga sige lang gyud ko ug tuon, tig kadlawn na ko makatulog, kung daot ko ron, mas daot pa ko sauna,” said Arrabis. (I would study until dawn and was even skinnier before.) 

Syempre ang pamilya gyud akong inspirasyon (Of course, my family is my inspiration),” said Arrabis, whose father is a carpenter and fisherman. His mother stays at home to look after his other siblings, the youngest of whom is 10 years old. 

Inspiration

Arrabis remembered the first time he got to the city as he entered the CTU-main campus. He saw tarpaulins of achievers and topnotchers being displayed at the gates and around the school.

Nakapangutana ko ug kung ako naa diha pud unya, unsa kahay feeling?” (If my face appears on that tarpaulin, how would that feel like?) That was the question, he said, that guided him all throughout college.

After passing the licensure and making it to the Top 10, he said he was so happy and proud when he walked around the campus with everybody smiling and knowing him. More than that, he said his parents were proud of him.

Magna cum laude

Now working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office for infrastructure projects, Arrabis is earning a basic pay of P29,000 ($654) a month since October, his first job offer. 

He now uses his earnings to continue to support his family. He also graduated magna cum laude at the CTU.

At the capitol, Arrabis got a medal, a plaque and cash incentives totaling about P50,000 ($1,127.89) in a ceremony attended by Governor Hilario Davide III and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale. 

Each college scholar of the capitol, chosen among the marginalized families in the towns, got cash incentives between P5,000-P50,000 ($112-$1,127.89) for finishing school. The amount received varies depending on the student’s achievement and for passing licensure exams.

At the time, he must have felt truly proud. – Rappler.com

 

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