Chapter XII: Hit the Books, Part 1
The sun rises gently over Vigan, casting a golden glow on the cobblestone streets. Inside the house, Christine hums softly as she flips through a magazine on the dining table. Isko walks in, his face thoughtful.
"Ma'am Christine," he begins hesitantly, sitting down across from her.
"Pwede ba kitang makausap?"
Christine looks up, sensing the weight in his tone.
"Oo naman, Isko. Ano 'yon?"
He fidgets with his fingers, struggling to find the words.
"Namimiss ko po 'yung pumasok sa eskuwela. Gusto ko po sana... bumalik ulit."
Christine's heart softens. She had anticipated this, knowing how eager and curious Isko had always been.
"Ang seryoso mo diyan, Isko," she teases lightly, but then her tone turns serious.
"Kausapin ko muna si Benigno, ha? Para maayos natin 'to nang tama."
That evening, Christine finds Benigno in their small garden, watering the plants. She approaches him, the soft crunch of her steps on the gravel catching his attention.
"Ben," she starts, her voice calm.
"Hm?" Benigno glances at her briefly before resuming his task.
"Tungkol kay Isko," Christine says.
"Gusto niyang bumalik sa eskuwela."
Benigno pauses, lowering the watering can.
"Gusto niya? Sigurado ba siya diyan?"
Christine nods.
"Oo, sinabi niya kanina. Seryoso siya, Ben. Pero alam ko rin na may pinagdadaanan ka pa tungkol kay Regie noon."
A shadow crosses Benigno's face at the mention of Regie. Memories flood back—his son's rebellious choices, the disappointment, the frustration.
"Christine, alam mo naman 'yung nangyari noon. Ayoko nang maulit 'yon. Hindi ko kayang makita ulit 'yung ganung sitwasyon."
Christine places a reassuring hand on his arm.
"Pero si Isko, iba siya. Nakikita ko sa kanya 'yung pagkagusto niyang matuto. Hindi natin siya pwedeng husgahan dahil lang sa nakaraan."
Benigno takes a deep breath, her words sinking in. After a long moment, he nods.
"Sige. Pero gusto ko muna siyang tanungin. Alamin natin kung anong gusto niya at kung gaano siya kaseryoso."
The next morning, the couple sits Isko down in the living room. Christine starts gently,
"Isko, napag-usapan namin ni Ben. Gusto ka namin tanungin tungkol sa plano mo sa eskuwela."
Benigno follows up, his tone firm but kind.
"Ano ba ang iniisip mong kukunin? Maraming oportunidad, pero gusto naming marinig ang sayo."
Isko looks nervous, his brows furrowing in deep thought.
"Marami po akong naiisip, eh. Mahilig ako sa sining, pero gusto ko rin po 'yung agham. Mahirap po pumili kasi parang gusto kong subukan lahat."
Christine smiles warmly.
"Natural lang 'yan. Minsan mahirap talaga pumili. Pero isipin mo, saan ka pinaka-excited? Saan mo gustong gumising araw-araw para gawin?"
Benigno nods.
"At saka, isipin mo rin kung ano 'yung makakatulong sa'yo at sa ibang tao balang araw."
The conversation stretches, with Christine and Benigno suggesting courses that align with Isko's talents: fine arts, biology, engineering, education. Finally, Isko takes a deep breath, his eyes lighting up as he makes his decision.
"Gusto ko pong mag-teacher," he declares.
Surprised, Christine and Benigno exchange glances.
"Bakit teacher?" Christine asks.
Isko smiles, his voice steady.
"Kasi po gusto kong magturo. Gusto kong magbahagi ng kaalaman sa ibang tao, lalo na sa mga bata. Parang..." He pauses, choosing his words carefully.
"Parang gusto kong tumulong sa paggawa ng mas matalinong henerasyon."
The couple freezes for a moment, a distant memory flashing in their minds.
In the flashback, a young Regie, no more than eight years old, stands proudly in the living room, holding a drawing of a teacher in front of a blackboard.
"Balang araw, gusto kong maging teacher!" Regie exclaims, his eyes full of wonder.
"Para po matuto lahat ng bata sa mundo!" But at the end, he gets sanitary engineering.
Christine and Benigno had laughed at the innocence of his dream back then, not realizing how much it would stick with them.
Back in the present, the couple looks at Isko with renewed admiration. Christine blinks back tears, her voice soft.
"Ang ganda ng dahilan mo, Isko. Sigurado akong magiging mahusay kang guro."
Benigno nods, his stern demeanor softening.
"Kung 'yan ang gusto mo, susuportahan ka namin. Gagawin namin ang lahat para makapag-aral ka nang maayos."
Isko's eyes well up with gratitude.
"Maraming salamat po. Hindi ko po kayo bibiguin."
Christine smiles, pulling him into a hug.
"Hindi namin hinihiling na maging perpekto ka. Ang mahalaga, gawin mo ang makakaya mo."
Benigno pats Isko on the shoulder.
"Simula ngayon, pamilya mo kami. Kasama mo kami sa pangarap mo."
As the day ends, Isko retreats to his room, a newfound determination glowing in his heart. For the first time in a long while, he feels like his dreams are within reach. Meanwhile, Christine and Benigno sit together in the quiet of the living room, their hearts full of hope.
"Ben," Christine says softly,
"alam kong si Regie ay may ibang landas, pero tingnan mo si Isko. Baka ito na 'yung pagkakataon natin na makatulong ulit."
Benigno smiles faintly, his gaze steady.
"Siguro nga. At least ngayon, natutunan ko nang magtiwala ulit."
The couple shares a quiet moment of gratitude, their faith in second chances renewed.
The next morning, Christine is up early, preparing breakfast while Isko organizes his documents.
"Handa ka na ba, Isko?" she calls out as she sets plates on the table.
"Opo, Ma'am Christine," Isko replies from his room, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Ang aga mo namang excited," Christine teases, smiling.
Isko grins.
"Para sa pangarap, Ma'am."
Christine chuckles, impressed by his determination. After breakfast, they head to town to gather any remaining documents, like a barangay clearance and good moral certificate. At every stop, Christine notices how polite and earnest Isko is, thanking every clerk and officer who assists them.
"Ang sipag mo talaga," Christine remarks as they finish the last errand.
"Para po ito sa future ko," Isko replies confidently.
Back home, the two sit in front of the old desktop computer in the living room. Christine types into the search bar, pulling up a list of colleges in Vigan and nearby towns.
"Ang dami palang pwedeng pasukan dito," Isko says, his eyes widening.
Christine nods.
"Oo, at iba-iba ang requirements. May entrance exams, may wala. Anong mga school ang gusto mong subukan?"
Isko's face lights up.
"Lahat po!"
Christine laughs.
"Sigurado ka ba? Hindi ka ba mapapagod?"
"Kakayanin po, Ma'am," Isko replies with determination.
At that moment, Benigno walks by and overhears their conversation.
"Lahat? Sigurado ka bang kaya mo 'yan, Isko?"
Isko turns to him, his voice steady.
"Opo. Alam kong kaya ko. Kung papalarin po, pipili ako ng pinaka-maayos at pinakamalapit."
Benigno raises an eyebrow but doesn't push further.
"Sige, kung 'yan ang gusto mo."
Over the next week, Isko goes from school to school with Christine accompanying him. They visit institutions like Mariano Marcos State University, St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur, Divine Word College of Vigan, and more. Some schools require entrance exams, while others are open for direct enrollment. Isko takes every opportunity seriously, putting his best foot forward in every exam.
Christine notices his perseverance. Even when they have to travel to another town, Isko remains optimistic.
"Hindi ka ba napapagod, Isko?" she asks one afternoon.
"Hindi po, Ma'am. Kailangan pong magsikap para maabot ang pangarap," Isko answers with a smile.
A month later, the results start arriving. One by one, letters of acceptance come in. Christine and Benigno sit with Isko as they open each one, their excitement building with every school that admits him.
"Ang galing mo, Isko!" Christine exclaims, holding up the acceptance letter from Mariano Marcos State University.
Benigno reads another letter aloud.
"St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur... tanggap ka rin dito!"
The table is soon covered with acceptance letters from various schools: Ilocos Sur Community College, Divine Word College of Vigan, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, and more.
Benigno looks at Isko, pride evident in his eyes.
"Lahat ng inaplayan mo, tanggap ka. Ang galing mo, Isko."
"Salamat po," Isko says, his voice filled with gratitude.
Now comes the harder part: choosing a school. Christine and Benigno sit with Isko in the living room, discussing the options.
"Anong pipiliin mo, Isko?" Christine asks.
Isko takes a deep breath, thinking hard.
"Sa University of Northern Philippines po sana. Maganda ang programa nila para sa teacher education."
The couple nods, approving his choice.
On the day of enrollment, Christine accompanies Isko to the UNP campus. However, when they arrive at the registration office, they're informed that all slots for the teacher education program are already filled.
"Pasensya na po," the registrar says apologetically.
"Baka po sa ibang semester."
Christine glances at Isko, worried.
"Ano na ang gagawin natin?"
Isko stays calm.
"Hanap na lang po tayo ng iba. Sabi po nila, ang Divine Word College of Vigan malapit lang din."
Christine nods, and they quickly make their way to DWCV. Thankfully, there are still slots available, and Isko is able to enroll without any issues.
After completing the process, they head to a small eatery nearby for lunch. Christine sighs, looking at Isko apologetically.
"Pasensya ka na, Isko. Hindi natin nakuha 'yung unang choice mo."
Isko shakes his head, smiling.
"Okay lang po, Ma'am. Ang mahalaga, makakapag-aral ako. At saka, baka dito talaga ako nakalaan."
Christine feels a pang in her chest. In that moment, she flashes back to Regie as a young man. He had been easily disappointed, his temper flaring at the slightest setback. She remembers the times she had to console him, wishing he could handle challenges with more grace.
Returning to the present, Christine looks at Isko with admiration. He is so different from Regie—resilient, optimistic, and grounded.
"Ang laki ng pasasalamat ko na ikaw ang binigay sa amin, Isko," Christine says softly, her voice filled with emotion.
"Salamat din po, Ma'am," Isko replies.
"Dahil sa inyo, may pagkakataon akong tuparin ang mga pangarap ko."
Christine smiles, silently vowing to support him every step of the way.