At 4 a.m. every day, Jerrymae Malinog would wake up to get ready for school. He had two hours ahead of him to walk seven to eight kilometers to Kiahe Integrated School from his house in sitio Lamnama.

His house and school are in a remote, mountainous area in Malapatan, Sarangani in Mindanao. To get to his school, he had to navigate a rough terrain and cross at least three rivers.

“Two hours baklayon. Motabok mig tubig,” Jerrymae told GMA Regional TV News.

In their part of the world where poverty defined their everyday, the sacrifice was necessary.

Unknown to Jerrymae, those long, arduous walks were a prophetic guide hiding in plain sight, already preparing him for what would be one of the most important walks of his life.

In July 2024, he travelled to Cebu City to compete in walkathon as one of the athletes representing SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) for the Palarong Pambansa.

At 16, the Grade 10 student became the first Blaan athlete from Kiahe Integrated School to make it to the annual national sports meet organized by the Department of Education (DepEd). He belongs to the Blaan Indigenous Cultural Community in Malapatan.

The trip to Cebu was his first outside of Mindanao.

SHOWING PROMISE

Jerrymae said he decided to give walkathon a try because walking long distances was something he was already used to doing.

“Diha ko nagsugod moapil sa athletics kay kabalo ko diha ko makakuan kay sanay akong tiil,” he said.

From a distance, his teachers and mentors were seeing his potential. This is one of the reasons why, when he was in Grade 10, he got accepted as a working student and scholar at Kiahe Integrated School.

“Jerrymae is a goal-driven child. Since elementary days niya, nakitaan na namin siya ng potential in terms of academic and sports. With all that we do, our promising students, we support them in bringing out their best,” Jerrymae’s mentor, Salvador Torcuator III, said.

“When we observe a promising student, gina-consider namo ilang family background, dreams, and residences. And the fact that he’s doing very well in class, we provided opportunity for them para dili na kaayo sila mahago pag-eskwela since malayo ang bahay nila from school,” he added.

Being a working student and scholar meant Jerrymae could stay at the school dormitory and only had to go home on weekends. It also meant he did not have to pay school and classroom fees, and would even get school supplies and some allowances.

Staying in school also meant Jerrymae could devote more time for athletics.

DEDICATION

A child walking for hours to and from school is not particularly unique, Torcuator said, but what made Jerrymae exceptional was his dedication and ability to manage his time well. He attended classes religiously, participated in school activities, and even managed to excel in the classroom.

Needless to say, Jerrymae learned to value his long walks to school and back.

“Jerrymae is just one of those students na sinusulit ang stay sa school para ma-justify ang pagod sa paglalakad,” Torcuator said.

This is the same attitude Jerrymae displayed in preparing for the games leading to the Palaro – giving his best in training without forgetting his responsibilities as a student. 

For four months, from March to June, Jerrymae trained intensively from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The regimen included plyometrics, running and walking drills, and muscle building using indigenous resources.

Torcuator said Jerrymae’s silver medal finish in the provincial meet and bronze medal finish in the regional meet secured him a spot in the SOCCSKSARGEN team.

“Though not gold talaga but his records were at par with the Palaro standards. And that secured him his seat at the Palaro,” he said.

PALARONG PAMBANSA

So off Jerrymae went to Cebu to compete with and against the best from across the Philippines.

He said he never expected to set foot in Cebu and see action in the Palaro.

“Na enjoy ko… nakaadto ko diri sa Cebu tapos daghan ko nailhan bag-o friends… lipay kaayo ko nga nakaabot kog Palaro… dili nako gi-expect nga makaabot ko diri kay taga-bukid man ko,” he told GMA Regional TV News hours before the closing ceremony on July 16, 2024.

He did not get a gold medal, but Jerrymae still returned to his community victorious and with a heart that was full, bringing home stories of inspiration and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

During the closing ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center, he and an athlete from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu were given a special recognition for having the most inspiring story in the Palarong Pambansa.

Jerrymae shared that recognition with 17-year-old Asia Paraase who earned the admiration of many for giving her fellow athletes a hand after their race in track and field.

Reflecting on his journey, Jerrymae said focus was key in reaching his Palaro goal.

“Kung kulang akong pag-training ug pag-focus sa dula, dili gyud ko kaabot sa Palaro kay dili lalim ang modula… ang lesson is dapat mag-focus sa dula kailangan dili magpatintal sa uban tao,” Jerrymae said.

ROLE MODEL

Jerrymae, as others have before him, has proven that given a chance and with the right attitude, athletes like him from areas wanting of opportunities can make it to the big leagues.

With the example his mentee has set, Torcuator wants Jerrymae to continue setting the example for others, something that Jerrymae himself intends to do.

The young athlete wants to become an engineer and he wants his three younger siblings and other young people in his community to never let poverty become a hindrance to getting an education and fulfilling their dreams.

“Dapat dili moundang sa pag-eskwela. Bisan unsa kalisod, padayon gihapon kay wala man hayahay nga kinabuhi kung dili moagi sa kalisod,” he said.

From the mountains of Sarangani to the competition field in the Palarong Pambansa, Jerrymae has walked far enough for his age, but as one might say, his journey is just beginning.