By Helen Castaño | 04:52 PM December 01, 2022
A 22-year-old Badjao became the pride of her Badjao community in Barangay Totolan in Dauis town after she passed the 2022 nurse licensure examination last November.
Carla Mae Telmo was the first nurse of the Badjao tribe in Bohol province.
“Super malipayon ko, super thankful kay God nga iyang gidungog ang akong mga pag-ampo, ang pag-ampo sa akong ginikanan, sa akong prayer warriors pasalamat kaayo ko,” said Telmo on Thursday.
A proud Badjao, Telmo said she is proud of her roots.
“This success is not mine but also the success of our tribe, Badjao,” she said.
Telmo was crowned Miss Booy 2018 and Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019 second-runner up.
“I am very proud of my roots, ang akong pagka- Badjao maoy rason nga nakaeskwela ko. I was qualified to different scholarships that’s why nakalampos ko ug nakab-ot nako akong mga pangandoy sa kinabuhi,” Telmo shared.
Telmo’s path-to-success was full of hurdles. She recalled that she had almost quit school because her family ran out of money.
She finished her elementary at Booy South Elem. School and she finished her secondary and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School.
In college, the Badjao Bridge Philippines, a non-government organization helping Badjao people, helped her nursing studies.
To prepare for the exams, Telmo asked her family and friends to pray for her. When the day of the exam came she had help from above.”
“Kining nursing is a wonderful profession where you can render and give care to those who are sick,” she said.
After passing the exams, she said that she wanted to go back to her roots.
“As of now, nagpadayon ko pag-volunteer, nagtudlo kog mga bata on how to read and write in English para makita nila nga nindot makahuman og eskwela para makakita sila nga ako wala ako mingbiya nila,” she said.
Telmo was also grateful to all those who had helped her along the way. She wants to help her fellow Badjaos.
“I want to work in public hospital. Kay dinha mudagan ang mga Badjao sa public hospital. Makatabang ko nila,” she said.
