MANILA, Philippines – A 22-year-old former beauty queen and part of the Badjao community in Bohol passed the November 2022 Nurse Licensure Exam (NLE).
Carla Mae Telmo is considered the first registered nurse in the Badjao community of Barangay Totolan, Dauis. She is proud of her accomplishment and shares her success with the Badjao community.
Telmo said, "I am very thankful to God who heard my prayers. This success is not only for me but also for my family and my Badjao tribe. I am very proud to be a Badjao."
She added that she'll make sure to give back to her community, especially because she earned her scholarship because of her Badjao roots.
Telmo finished her degree in nursing at the Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City. She received a scholarship from Badjao Bridge Philippines, a non-government organization that has been helping and giving opportunities to the Badjaos.
Telmo recalled the incident that opened her eyes and motivated her to pursue nursing. In 2017, at least 21 Badjao kids were hospitalized due to gastroenteritis. This made her vow to work in a public hospital to cater to more indigent and indigenous people, who often face discrimination.
The newly-licensed nurse hopes many more Badjo youth will learn to value education and pursue big dreams.
"Hopefully they would learn to love learning, that they would find enjoyment and fulfillment in learning. I hope that they would also see the value of education,” she added.
Telmo's mother, Merlinda, couldn't be prouder of her daughter's achievement. She said in their native dialect, "I am very happy we have a nurse now. His father and I are happy that she passed the board. We thank the Lord for granting our prayers."
On Facebook, Telmo thanked the Lord for answering her prayer. She wrote, "TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!! Thank you for another answered prayer, Lord. Your girl with a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus is now an RN."
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Carla Mae Telmo is the first registered nurse of her Badjao community in Bohol | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ Carla Mae Telmo |
Carla Mae Telmo is considered the first registered nurse in the Badjao community of Barangay Totolan, Dauis. She is proud of her accomplishment and shares her success with the Badjao community.
Telmo said, "I am very thankful to God who heard my prayers. This success is not only for me but also for my family and my Badjao tribe. I am very proud to be a Badjao."
She added that she'll make sure to give back to her community, especially because she earned her scholarship because of her Badjao roots.
Telmo finished her degree in nursing at the Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City. She received a scholarship from Badjao Bridge Philippines, a non-government organization that has been helping and giving opportunities to the Badjaos.
Telmo recalled the incident that opened her eyes and motivated her to pursue nursing. In 2017, at least 21 Badjao kids were hospitalized due to gastroenteritis. This made her vow to work in a public hospital to cater to more indigent and indigenous people, who often face discrimination.
The newly-licensed nurse hopes many more Badjo youth will learn to value education and pursue big dreams.
"Hopefully they would learn to love learning, that they would find enjoyment and fulfillment in learning. I hope that they would also see the value of education,” she added.
Telmo's mother, Merlinda, couldn't be prouder of her daughter's achievement. She said in their native dialect, "I am very happy we have a nurse now. His father and I are happy that she passed the board. We thank the Lord for granting our prayers."
On Facebook, Telmo thanked the Lord for answering her prayer. She wrote, "TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!! Thank you for another answered prayer, Lord. Your girl with a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus is now an RN."
— Sally, The Summit Express
