My teacher in high school once said: "Poverty is not a hindrance to success" and I do believe in that inspiring quotes. I personally witnessed this achievement of such success since my high school life in The Sisters of Mary School through the teachings of Fr. Al. Humbly, I am Wilson V. Macabare, a native of Calbayog City in the Province of Samar. I graduated as 2nd batch - Batch 1995 at SMS Talisay campus. After studying in college, with my knowledge and skills acquired in SMS, I finished the Civil Engineering course with flying colors. I have worked in different companies in Manila for a few years, but have not satisfied. Presently, I am employed at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as Local Government Operations Officer, here in our province. I am happily married to a fellow SMS graduate and blessed with 2 children.



How was your life before you entered SMS? Why did you choose SMS?

As I recall it, I cannot imagine how hard my life was. I am just an ordinary person living with my mother who was separated with my father when I was still 5 years old, we are 4 children to care of and she has no other source of income. We only rely to the help and support of my mother's sisters and brothers. We lived poorly as though we only have to eat twice a day. I could never believe that I will be able to finish my elementary since we have no money to spend for my studies but with God's grace and guidance, I was able to finish it. In general, it was quite miserable life because I too experienced hardships and trials before i entered SMS. And how I got there?--a destiny that God has given me. God is really good, all the time. I have choose SMS through my teacher in elementary. She have recommended me to the recruiting sister, the late Sr. Elizabeth, to be enrolled in SMS. I was so lucky that I have been included and be part of the children to go to Cebu. I have chosen SMS because I believe it will mold me as a better person and become a productive member of the society. I have chosen SMS because, I've learned that they provide 100% free secondary education. A one-time experience that I will never forget for the rest of my days.



What was your most memorable experience inside the SMS?

I have so many memorable experience inside the SMS. I cannot count it one by one, but one thing I have experienced was the daily rosary that we did for four years and the unparalleled happy moments with peers, helping brothers and sisters. The different teachings of Fr. Al really inspired me until this very moment. He had inculcated in my mind the virtues and values that one should practice. I have kept in myself those virtues and I am faithfully doing good things to others.



What did you do right after graduation? Did you work or study? How was it?

After graduation, I continued my studies with the support of my Uncle and Aunts. With my knowledge and skills acquired in SMS, I took up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering here in Calbayog. It was also hard then because my mother could not support my studies for long enough, but luckily with the help of other members of the family I was able to finish my studies with flying colors. I graduated in college belonging in the top ten and passed the C.E. Board Examination.



How is your life now? Tell us about your work? studies?

Presently, I have my own family. I have 2 children and my wife is also working as a Teacher in their hometown. My work has not been so easy because I am being assigned to different places here. Although I am a Civil Engineer by profession, I am working in a National Government Agency that involves local officials and covers Local Government Units of the country. Still, I am blessed that I have this wonderful life at present.



What can you say about SMS? About Fr. Al?

I could not say any thing against SMS but rather I am grateful enough to SMS because it made me as what I am today. Foremost, I humbly thanked Fr. Al for all the things he had provided me. I am honored to be part of the SMS family and I will never forget those wonderful memories for the rest of my life. And I am proud to be an alumni of SMS. Fr. Al should have been a saint long time ago. He is a very good man with a big heart to poor children as we are. Thank you very much, Fr. Al! I missed SMS a lot.