Pia Kristine de Gracia

Pia or PK as fondly called by her family & friends was born in Olongapo city on February 25,1986. She was the youngest among the 3 siblings of Ben & Lina de Gracia. If, I would be asked to describe her, she is charming, and talented lady.
Her father serves as an Extra-Ordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist at the parish of St.Joseph, Olongapo City and also an active member of the “Family & Life Apostolate.

She spent her primary days at Holy Infant College, Olongapo city and was a consistent honor student from Kinder to Grade six. At her young age, she was a school representative for newsletter writing in the National School Press conference (NSPC) held at Ilagan, Isabela and news editor of the school organ “The Young Scribes”.

She graduated high school at Regional Science High School, Kalayaan, Subic Bay Freeport Zone on April 2003. I will always cherish the time when I performed in one of the stage play organized by the school for a cause held at Subic Bay Arts Center (subac),
She said. For her, high school days were very memorable, especially during graduation. It was a day of joy, achievement and fulfillment, yet it is extremely sad for it means bitter parting with such wonderful friends and classmates. She was thankful for passing the first step in the ladder of learning, for having endured the pains of challenges, but for sure, these are positive changes for betterment through determination. .

After the long ten (10) years of assignments, quizzes and recitations, it’s a journey to another stage of education (college). Certainly, these face more life’s challenges and challenges are here to make her better persons. She is proud to say that she was lucky enough, because of her guiding stars – The Almighty Lord, her parents, and the significant people around her,”Barkada ng Sagrada Pamilya Foundation,Inc. headed by Rev. Fr. Albert H. Avenido,founder and president and the generous benefactors and friends, who continuously support the mission and vision of the foundation for the benefit of less fortunate ‘I may not combat ignorance and poverty,’ if not for the golden heart of these wonderful people. Thru education, society will never experience total depression and confusion in everything.

‘I almost reached the finish line’. I received my diploma with the degree of ‘‘Bachelor of Science in Nursing’’ at Holy Angel University, Angeles City on April 21,2007. My hospital duties (from 11pm to 7 am), thesis, exams and projects have been over, but I need one more step before saying, it’s a VICTORY! I was having my review class at the same school from April to May 2007) in preparation for the Scheduled Nursing Board Exam on June.2007.Please pray for me . . .
Again, “SALAMAT PO SA INYONG LAHAT.”

Mark Angelo Bacani

H aving to graduate after several years of studying or “Graduation” as they say, is a great accomplishment for everyone. Much of the assignments, examination, research, thesis and other paper works, including duties to different hospitals, not mentioning reporting, which I did’nt like most, were all part of this challenge but for me these tribulations were only half of the trials that I had to surpassed. Having been a victim of financial constraint has doubled the difficulty that I’ve felt before I finally got my diploma.

I’m Mark Angelo Bacani, a fresh graduate from Family clinic Colleges. I was raised by Engr. Angelo and Mrs Rosario Bacani in Floridablanca, Pamp. My parents are both professionals. I could say that they have raised us with the best of their abilities. My eldest brother Rozano was only four years old when my dad had to leave for overseas work. He had to leave to seek for a better paying job while my mom worked as a government employee. My brother was already seven years old when I was born and after two years my mom gave birth to my youngest brother named Archie. We grew up in a setting wherein both our parents had to work to provide for our financial needs. I believe it was even harder for my mom since she had to work and at the same time had to take care of me and my brothers. I took my elementary education at Floridabalanca East Central Elementary School and it was during this time that my dad went back home from abroad, owing to the fact that he suffered from a mild stroke. It was also this time that my mom had a serious problem at work so she was forced to resign and had to find another job. I was so thankful to my “mommy Aida”, my dad’s sister for she never left us during that time. She was the one who helped me pursue my secondary years in St Augustine Academy Pamp. I could not forget the experiences that I had during my highschool days. We were really deprived financially and it was also a struggle for me having to grew up during my adolescence years without my mom beside me because at that time she was working in manila. My dad stayed with us at home yet I longed for the care of my mom. Unfortunately, I have learn to do my own laundry, cook my food and do household chores. All these responsibilities I’ve learned at a very young age. I also experienced going to school with limited allowance, sometimes insufficient for buying my basic needs. I felt bad every time I count my money for I did’nt know how to budget the ample amount of allowance just to get by my everyday needs at school. I’ve learned how to be patient also, I will never forget how it feels to be hungry yet you have no food to eat or worse have no money to buy for food. All these trials has helped me realize to study hard in order for me to help relieve my parents as well as my brothers from this situation. My parents supported and gave me the chance to study in college despite of our financial condition. It was even difficult this time, for pursuing a college degree costs so much. All my experiences during my high school years were nothing compared to the situation that I had during this time. I thought I wasn’t going to finish my degree. I was on my fourth year when I was about to stop my studies because we really could not provide for my tuition fee. Nevertheless, God really never leaves us. He gave me the chance to continue studying by introducing us the “ Barkada ng Sagrada Pamilya Foundation”, it is a foundation that is willing to help those who really wanted to study yet who are financially constraint. It was through my Tita Gloria who is a volunteer member of the said foundation who acquainted me and helped me become a scholar of this foundation.

At this point in my life, I feel so much gratitude and appreciation in my heart for what I have achieved. I thank my family especially my parents who supported me financially and morally to help me go through this life’s ordeal. I thank them for the inspiration and encouragement and the love they generously blessed me with. Iam also very much grateful for my tita Gloria, And to Father Albert Avenido who is the founder of Barkada ng Sagrada Pamilya for financially helping me with my studies. Their help did not end here, not only for my being able to graduate now, but most important because thay have been a part of my life, in God’s design for my future. I will be successful someday, and they helped paved the way for it.