She once wondered how cement, steel, and careful processes could come together to create a building. Today, Aileen Perello is learning the answer in college as she works toward becoming a civil engineer while helping her family overcome the financial challenges of keeping her in school.
A Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at the Bataan Peninsula State University, Aileen has carried her childhood fascination with buildings into her college journey, determined to finish her degree on time and turn her dream into a profession.
“Pinili ko po yung kursong Civil Engineering kasi bata pa lang po ako gusto ko na pong maging civil engineer kasi naa-amaze po ako kung paano po nagwo-work yung mga semento, kung paano po yung proseso kung paano po mabuo yung isang building,” she said.
Her decision also reflects the hopes of her parents, who wanted her to pursue the same course.
But while Aileen has a clear picture of the career she wants, getting there has not been easy for her family.
Her father, Esteban Perello, works as a barangay tanod in Barangay Dangcol, Balanga City, Bataan. With three children and two currently in college, his income alone cannot cover the family’s educational and household needs.
To augment his earnings, Esteban takes on extra work that pays about P500 a day, with weekly pay. He and his wife stretch their income to provide their children’s allowances and cover their daily household expenses.
“Yun po yung aming nagagamit na pang-baon po ng mga anak ko at pang gastos sa bahay. Yun po yung pinipilit pong pinagkakasya ng asawa ko,” he said.
For Aileen, the financial limitations at home have made her more conscious of the expenses that come with pursuing a college degree.
Although she does not pay tuition at the university, she said other school requirements still demand money, including projects, seminars, and other day-to-day educational expenses.
She also said the money her parents provide does not always cover everything she needs, but she often chooses not to tell them when she needs more because she does not want to add to their worries.
That burden became lighter when Aileen was chosen as one of the five beneficiaries of the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Presidential Scholarship Program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Barangay Dangcol.
The P20,000 assistance gives Aileen additional support for her school expenses while providing her family some relief from the financial demands of sending two children to college.
“Sobrang saya ko po nung nalaman ko pong isa po ako sa napili para maging Presidential Scholar kasi po malaking tulong po ito hindi lang po para sa akin kundi pati na rin po sa pamilya ko po kasi po mababawasan na po yung mga bayarin na iintindihin po nila,” she said.
For Aileen, the scholarship means she can worry less about school expenses and focus more on completing her degree.
“Malaking tulong po ito dahil mababawasan na rin po yung iisipin ko po sa mga bayarin sa school,” she said.
She also sees the assistance as preparation for the next challenge in her journey.
If she has funds left, Aileen plans to use them for a review center as she prepares for the civil engineering board examination, which she expects will require another significant expense before she can pursue her profession.
A father’s relief
For Esteban, the scholarship represents more than financial assistance. It is a source of relief for a father who has spent years finding ways to keep his children in school.
He said seeing Aileen nearing the completion of her degree gives him immense happiness because, like any parent, his greatest wish is to see his children graduate.
“Ngayong pong malapit na pong makapagtapos ng pag-aaral si Aillene, napakasaya ko po na bilang isang magulang at wala pong mapaglagyan ang aking kaligayahan po dahil ang pangarap po ng isang magulang ay mapagtapos ang kanyang mga anak,” he said.
The scholarship also means he no longer has to worry as much about finding additional money for Aileen’s remaining school expenses.
“Napakalaking tulong na po sa amin ’yan pong kaunting halaga na matatanggap po ng anak ko kasi po hindi ko na po iisipin pa saan ko po kukunin yung mga halagang kailangan niya pa sa pag-aaral po niya,” Esteban said.
For a family that carefully stretches every peso, the assistance provides some relief as Aileen works toward completing her degree.
Esteban said he and his wife will continue doing everything they can to support their children’s education.
“Lahat po gagawin ko po, pagpapaguran po namin para sa pag-aaral po ng mga anak namin,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to President Marcos Jr. for extending assistance to students like Aileen, saying the support brings significant relief to families who struggle to finance their children’s education.
Bringing support to the barangay
The assistance Aileen received is part of a broader effort to bring educational support closer to communities.
Barangay Dangcol received P200,000 under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program, with P100,000 allocated for its five scholars who each received P20,000.
Barangay Captain Romeo Austria said the barangay initially identified 15 prospective beneficiaries before gathering the students and their parents to explain the selection process and determine the five scholars.
The barangay considered the candidates’ financial circumstances and academic performance in choosing the final beneficiaries.
“Kaya sila napili ay dahil sila ay talagang karapat-dapat base sa pamumuhay nila sila rin naman ay talagang wala rin kakayahan sa buhay, at base na rin sa grade na ipinakita ng mga bata,” Austria said.
He said the selection process helped ensure that the assistance reached students who were both deserving and in need.
Austria urged the scholars to take the opportunity seriously by working hard in their studies and completing their education, which he said would help them secure better futures.
He also expressed his appreciation to President Marcos Jr. for the assistance, saying the program provides meaningful support to students and families in the barangay.
Building toward a dream
For Aileen, the Presidential Scholarship has become part of a journey that began with a simple childhood fascination: understanding how the materials and processes behind buildings come together.
Today, she is studying those processes herself, preparing for a profession that she has wanted since she was young.
Her immediate goal is clear: to finish her civil engineering degree on time, prepare for the board examination, and eventually become the civil engineer she has always dreamed of becoming.
She thanked President Marcos Jr. for providing assistance that helps students like her manage the costs of pursuing higher education.
“Salamat po dahil nabigyan po kami ng mga ganitong bagay na makakatulong po sa aming pag-aaral, sa mga gastusin po namin sa school,” she said.
She also hoped that more deserving students who need assistance would receive opportunities similar to the one she received.
For her fellow young Filipinos, Aileen shared a message on their role in shaping the country’s future.
“Patunayan natin yung sinabi ni Dr. Jose Rizal na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Patunayan natin na tayo talaga yung susi para gumanda itong bayan natin at para maging maunlad ang bayan natin,” she urged.
The road to becoming a civil engineer still demands hard work, from completing her degree to preparing for the board examination.
With the support of her family and the Presidential Scholarship, Aileen now moves closer to the day when the buildings she once admired will no longer be just something she wonders about, but structures she can help bring to life. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
