Mother, son classmates in Grade 3

MANILA, Philippines - A 36-year-old mother from Benguet province believes that poverty and motherhood are no hindrances to her getting formal education.

Anabelle Balaswit has enrolled in Grade 3 at the Buyagan Elementary School in Benguet, and sits beside her son Lou in the classroom.

Anabelle, who hails from Dumaguete, was raised by farmer parents who did not believe in education. Because of this, she became a helper in their farmland and remained unschooled.

When she relocated to Benguet with her husband, who is also a farmer, she decided to pursue her studies.

But her dream was delayed as she first sent her two older kids to high school.

Now that she and her youngest son Lou are classmates, she is learning and at the same time guiding her son.

She is now able to write her name and the English alphabet but admits she can only read Tagalog and not yet English.

Anabelle hopes to graduate from high school, believing that education is a powerful tool that no one can take away from her.