A 22-year-old Palaweña from Roxas town is making waves by graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology degree from Makati Science Technological Institute of the Philippines.
Imie Caabay Ustares, who was born on February 14, 2003 in Penagteman, Barangay Taradungan, to Exequil Ustares and Jelyn Caabay, finished her elementary and secondary education in barangays Taradungan and in Roxas National High School, respectively, in her hometown.
She recalled that her journey towards this accomplishment wasn’t a walk in the park as she had to go through with countless struggles as she had to juggling her studies and working as a cashier in McDonalds.
Finally completing college, Imie is grateful to the company that accommodated her as a working student.
“Thank you to McDonald’s for being more than just a workplace—for being a training ground not only in customer service, but in life. Thank you to my managers and co-workers who encouraged me, covered my shifts when I had exams, and cheered me on,” she said.
“This diploma isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s a symbol of every early morning, every late-night shift, every meal skipped, and every dream kept alive through hard work,” she adds.
Imie was also thankful to her elder brother, Efren, who works in Metro Manila and is the one paying her house and other bills, and for pushing her to do better.
Imie said that she dedicates her success to her parents, especially to her father, Exequil, a 59-year fisherman who has been fishing for more than four decades already.
She said that despite its getting harder to survive in fishing, her father endured and persevered to support her studies. She said that these hardships has become her inspiration, her strength, and her reason for pushing through every challenge.
She recounted that during habagat, when her father’s banca is hit by strong winds, he is unable to fish.
Her father usually starts fishing by 4am and returns by 9am, catching five to 10 kilos. Some days, he brings home just two kilos. His usual catch includes mullet, catfish and rabbitfish through fishing using nets close to shore locally known as pamante.
“Hirap talaga pag masama ang panahon. Nasisiraan ng banca si Papa. Hindi sya maka-pamante,” Imie narrates.
As a proud fisherman’s daughter, Imie shared some of her photos while she and her father fished in the coastal waters of Taradungan.
She also posted videos with captions, “Si Papa silent warrior sa dagat, ako naman silent grinder sa pag-aaral. Ngayon isa na syang mangingisdang may Cum Laude. Para sa inyo ni Mama ito, Pa.”
Exequil was emotional, realizing that his struggle as a fisherman yielded a fruitful result in his daughter who graduated with flying colors, inspiring many other young people in their humble village.
