CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — For Jessica Cabaldo and Rosemarie Maximino, college was once a dream that could easily have remained out of reach.
Today, the two young Aeta scholars are stepping into classrooms at the newly established City of Ilagan College (CIC), carrying not only their personal ambitions but also the hopes of their families and community.
Through the scholarship program of the City Government of Ilagan, Cabaldo and Maximino have been given an opportunity to pursue higher education without having to shoulder the full financial burden that often prevents students from low-income families from reaching college.
The Philippine Information Agency reported on August 17 that the two scholars expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to make the most of the support extended to them.
More Than Financial Aid
For many students, the cost of college goes far beyond tuition.
Transportation, school supplies, meals, projects and other everyday expenses can become major obstacles, particularly for families with limited resources.
That is why the scholarship received by Cabaldo and Maximino represents more than financial assistance. It gives them a chance to remain in school, earn a degree and eventually build careers that could benefit not only their families but also fellow Indigenous youth.
According to PIA, the two scholars hope their education will eventually allow them to return to their community and help other young Aetas pursue opportunities that may once have seemed impossible.
Their story underscores a larger issue in Philippine education: access is often just as important as academic ability.
When students are given the resources and opportunity to stay in school, education can become a pathway not only out of poverty but toward stronger and more self-sustaining communities.
City of Ilagan Builds a College Around Accessibility
The scholarship comes as the City of Ilagan expands its investment in higher education.
The City of Ilagan College was formally inaugurated on May 4, 2026, during the city’s 340th anniversary celebrations. The institution was established as an LGU-run college and entered into a partnership with Adamson University to strengthen its academic programs and capacity.
Reports said the campus was built on a three-hectare property and includes 32 classrooms and five specialized laboratories. Its location beside the City of Ilagan Medical Center is intended to provide students with closer access to practical and health-related learning environments.
The initial academic collaboration with Adamson University centers on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, with Adamson providing academic supervision, faculty training and other forms of institutional support.
The arrangement is particularly significant for students who previously had to travel outside the city to pursue specialized college programs.
In July, PIA reported that the city government was preparing for the college’s opening and had already conducted initial assessments of scholarship applicants. Mayor Josemarie “Jay” Diaz said the initiative was intended to make quality higher education more accessible while reducing the financial burden on families.
A Bigger Education Push in Ilagan
The initiative is also part of a broader education-support effort in the city.
Earlier reports showed that Ilagan has maintained scholarship assistance for its residents. In March 2026, nearly 2,500 students received financial assistance under the city’s Iskolar Ng Bayan initiative, with the city reporting a larger pool of more than 6,000 scholars.
The provincial government has likewise supported Ilagueño students. In 2023, the Provincial Government of Isabela reported distributing educational assistance to 4,275 college scholars under its Bodjie-Rodito Opportunities or BRO program, with the City of Ilagan recording the highest number of BRO scholars among the province’s local government units at that time.
These programs point to a growing recognition that financial assistance and accessible institutions can work together: scholarships help students afford school, while a local college can reduce the costs and logistical challenges of studying far from home.
The Dream Doesn’t End With a Diploma
For Cabaldo and Maximino, however, the ultimate goal is not simply to graduate.
PIA reported that the two scholars want their education to become a means of helping other young Aetas and encouraging them to stay in school and pursue their own ambitions.
That makes their journey bigger than two individual success stories.
Every semester they complete could become proof to another young person in their community that higher education is possible.
Every achievement could become an example for another student who is still wondering whether college is financially or socially within reach.
And every step toward graduation could strengthen their ability to eventually give something back.
For Cabaldo and Maximino, the classroom is therefore more than a place to earn grades.
It is where a new chapter begins.
The scholarship may have opened the door—but what these two young women eventually do with that opportunity could determine how far that door remains open for the Aeta youth who come after them.
Their journey has only begun.
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