MANILA, Philippines – Once forced to sleep on the street and take on any job just to survive, Mardelyn S. Marasigan now proudly holds a master's degree—a remarkable testament that poverty does not define a person's future.
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| Photo courtesy: Mardelyn S. Marasigan |
Born in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and now based in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, the 40-year-old serves as an Administrative Officer IV at the Department of Transportation.
In an exclusive interview with The Summit Express, Mardelyn shared how poverty, sacrifice, and unwavering faith transformed her from a struggling working student into a master's degree holder.
Her journey began in a family where survival always came before comfort, teaching her from an early age that hard work was the only path toward a better future.
As early as five years old, she was already helping her father climb coconut trees, make charcoal, gather firewood, harvest rice, carry coconuts, and sell farm products to help keep food on the table.
"There were times we had no rice, only bananas to eat, and we never experienced celebrating birthdays or enjoying special meals," she recalled.
Mardelyn said taking up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Banking and Finance at St. Peter College was never her dream but simply the only course her family could afford.
"I had no choice because we had no money," she said, adding that she once dreamed of becoming a chef, an accountant, a teacher, or a healthcare professional.
Determined to finish school, she worked as a house helper, nanny, market vendor, bakery worker, waitress, cashier, warehouse worker, gasoline attendant, online seller, laundry worker, and even a restroom cleaner, accepting every honest job she could find to stay in school.
Balancing work and school meant enduring sleepless nights, physical exhaustion, and constant financial struggles throughout her college years.
Despite enrolling in only a few subjects each semester because of financial constraints, she graduated as one of the Dean's Listers in her BSBA batch.
Instead of stopping there, Mardelyn spent six years and nine months earning her master's degree while working full-time and supporting her parents as the eldest among six siblings.
Her journey grew even more difficult after losing her brother, caring for her sick father during the pandemic, battling serious illnesses, struggling with debt, and enduring the heartbreaking loss of her unborn child.
"There were moments I wanted to give up, but I reminded myself that my dreams were bigger than my struggles," she shared.
After years of perseverance, Mardelyn finally earned her master's degree in August 2025, achieving what she once believed was impossible.
She proudly calls herself "Iskolar ako ni Lord," saying she still cannot explain how God always provided for her needs despite countless financial hardships.
Today, the woman once mocked for being "just a house helper" stands as living proof that dreams are not measured by where a person begins, but by the courage to keep moving forward.
"In everything we do, do it for the glory of God, because God is so good," she said, hoping her story will inspire others to believe that poverty should never stop anyone from pursuing their dreams.
— The Summit Express
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