The son of a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has topped the recent Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Licensure Examination conducted on October 2-4, 2018.

Joseph Vincent Y. Satura, 21, from Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, garnered the highest rating of 92.20 percent during the exam.

Joseph graduated Cum Laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Cebu (UC). He is among the eight graduates of the university who dominated the top 10 of the board exam.

The topnotcher said he considered himself as an ordinary student who only wanted to finish his studies and simply pass the licensure exam. He even admitted that during the first day of the examination, he had already lost the hope to pass, as the questions seemed difficult for him.

“Lipay kaayo ko. Wala jud ko nag expect kay ang amoa ra gyud ato sa akong friends nga makapasar lang mi (I did not expect to be on top because what I wished, together with my friends, was to only pass the exam),” Joseph shared.

He said he is grateful to God and to his family for their prayers and encouragement all throughout his journey towards achieving the feat.

Joseph’s parents could not be any prouder for the pride that their son has brought to their family.

“I hope nga magpabilin siya nga humble bisan paman unsa na iyang mga nakab-ot karon ug unsa pa iyang mga makab-ot (I hope he remains humble even with all the accomplishments he already got and with those he is yet to achieve),” wished his mother, Rosalinda.

Dreaming big

“Living in a communal house in Labangon, Cebu City with my family and other relatives, and being the eldest of four siblings, I have dreamed of building our own house to experience what it feels like to be able to provide something big for my family. So, I planned on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, believing that it would help me realize my dream house,” Joseph stated.

The 21-year old studied hard and was granted a scholarship from Tsuneishi Foundation (Cebu) Inc. However, his dream course was not included in the degree program offered under the scholarship; so, he took up Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, which he eventually fell in love with.

But while Joseph did not have to worry about his tuition, budgeting his P50 daily allowance for his fare, food, and other miscellaneous expenses in school was a constant struggle. He acknowledged how the cash grant his mother received from 4Ps has helped augment his needs while he was studying.

“I am thankful that for a lot of times, the cash grants my mother received from 4Ps have helped me in my expenses for my projects, especially during the time I was doing my thesis,” he recounted.

Joseph’s financial challenges did not hinder him from performing excellently in school. He has championed and placed in different school-based and national competitions, including the 2015 UC Engineering Math Quiz Bowl, 2015 and 2016 UC Engineering Subjects and Applied Science (ESAS) Quiz Bowl, Stellar Composite Design Competition, and the 2nd Alliance of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Students of the Philippines (ANAMESP) Math Quiz Bowl and Naval Architecture Quiz Bowl.

He also represented the University of Cebu in the Worldwide Safety Ferry Association Design Competition in Thailand in April 2017.

Great love, support from family

Joseph recognizes the great love and support of his family as the key in all his achievements.

“Grabe gyud ka supportive akong pamilya mao nga naningkamot jud ko (My family is very supportive. That is why I strived),” he shared.

Joseph’s mother, Rosalinda, said she knows how important it is for her children to have a good support system as they grow. She is grateful for her learnings from the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of 4Ps, as it helped her in responsibly parenting her children.

“Dako gyud og natabang ang FDS sa pagduma nako sa akong pamilya. Ang mga nakat-onan nako sa session ako gyud nang e-apply pirme ngadto sa akong mga anak, sa akong pamilya ug sa uban pud nga tawo sa community since barangay health worker man ko (FDS has helped me a lot in managing my family. Everything that I have learned in the sessions I always apply to my children, family, and as well as to other people in the community since I am also a barangay health worker),” she said.

Joseph is currently a part-time faculty at the University of Cebu, Main Campus. He is planning to pursue his chosen profession by working for the shipbuilding company that granted him his scholarship in college. He is also looking forward to designing their family’s dream house very soon while helping his parents in sending his two other siblings to college.

Asked what tips he could give to students who also aspire to be successful in their studies, Joseph said, “Always give your best in whatever you do, be it big or small. You have bigger chances of fulfilling your aspirations in life if you work hard for it. And of course, never forget to pray and believe in God that he gives whatever your heart desires.”

DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista extended his warmest congratulations to the topnotcher son of a 4Ps beneficiary of the Department.

“I congratulate Mr. Satura for topping the board exam for naval architects and marine engineers. I also congratulate his parents for raising a hardworking child who valued his education and made it a stepping stone towards reaching his dreams,” Sec. Bautista said.

“Knowing that the programs we implement in the DSWD are making an impact in the lives of our beneficiaries makes us even more motivated to perform our job of assisting our kababayans in need for an improved quality of life,” he added.