Igorot boy crosses 4 mountains, 2 rivers just to get to school

Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-social"><iframe frameBorder="0" height="383" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZTWwPRnDSt0" width="510"></iframe></figure>MANILA - For most people, education is the path that will help them reach greater heights, with each grade level bringing them a step closer to a better life.But for Ruben Nayusan, a ten-year-old member of the Kalanguya group of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya, the road to success involves crossing rivers and mountains, just so he can reach his school, which is an hour and a half away from where he lives.The youngest in a brood of ten, Nayusan spends most of his time helping his family earn a living.His family lives in the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain range, where they are surrounded by pristine rivers, fertile land, and lush greens.Their lifestyle and the location of their community makes it difficult for the Nayusan children to study. In fact, out of the ten Nayusan children, only one was able to reach high school.&quot;I want to finish my studies so that my parents don&#x27;t have to work too hard,&quot; Nayusan said.Nayusan and his siblings have to go through four mountains and two rivers to reach their school.The children have been crossing mountains all their lives, but it is never a guarantee that each step will keep them away from danger.&quot;Our feet get muddy. We get drenched in the rain,&quot; Nayusan said.During rainy days, the usually slippery trail becomes harder to cross, forcing Nayusan and his siblings to walk barefoot just to avoid accidents.The path was never friendly, especially for the children. The dangerous cliffs are covered by grassy overgrowth. One wrong step can lead to death.Such difficulty once disheartened Nayusan. At the onset of last school year, he frequently skipped classes, until he eventually quit school in the middle of the semester.But Nayusan&#x27;s mother, Norma said she wants her son to finish schooling despite the difficulties.At ten years old, Nayusan is just an incoming grade 1 student. Despite his small physique, he still stands out among his classmates, most of whom are younger than him.He endures the difficulty of going to school just so he can finish his studies.And at the heart of Nayusan&#x27;s every attempt to learn is his dream of improving the life of his family.&quot;I dream of becoming a soldier or a policeman. I want to help my Mama and Papa so they won&#x27;t have a hard time working for us,&quot; he said.

The path was never friendly, especially for the children. The dangerous cliffs are covered by grassy overgrowth. One wrong step can lead to death.

Igorot boy crosses 4 mountains, 2 rivers just to get to school | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

Lifestyle

Igorot boy crosses 4 mountains, 2 rivers just to get to school

Igorot boy crosses 4 mountains, 2 rivers just to get to school

Rose Carmelle Lacuata,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 24, 2016 08:05 AM PHT

Read More:

ANC

ANC top

ANC exclusives

Mukha

education

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.