Walang Imposible and Other Cliches: The Story of Nanay Feliciana

Age is just a number, as the cliche goes.

Well for Nanay Feliciana of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, this is not just a saying but the story of her life. At 70 years old, Nanay Fely still spends her weekday afternoons in school with teenagers. Not as their teacher (or librarian, you know how it's always the old cranky lady who mans the library huh?), but as their classmate.

Yes, at 70 Nanay Fely is still a first year college student. Taking up Hotel and Restaurant Services, and a full scholar at that. Yes, at 70 Nanay Fely is still striving to fulfill her dream of finishing college.

The Sacrifice
Feliciana Semillano was the eldest among eight kids. Born to lower middle-class parents, her mom and dad both had to work to make ends meet. Nanay Fely was left to take care of her younger siblings. Since she plays both mom and dad at home when her parents are away, she was on-and-off in attending school. Until she completely stopped schooling when she was in first year high school.

By the time her younger siblings have graduated and her parents a bit more well off, Nanay Fely  took on another string of sacrifices--- she got married.

Blessed with seven kids (the youngest being adopted), Nanay Fely worked to give her kids a comfortable life. Wanting to augment their income, and having a big love for cooking, she opened up her own karinderia. But life just wasn't through yet in giving Nanay Fely trials. Her husband suffered from stroke in 1998 and Nanay Fely's karinderia had to shut down so she can look after her husband.  He passed away in  2005. Nanay Fely took up seminars and trainings to try out other sources of income.  And as she strives to fullfill each of her kids dream, her own dream of finishing school eventually took the backseat.

But all her hard work paid off. Her kids were all able to graduate and land good jobs. One is an accountant, another an engineer, one is a nurse in Scotland and so on.

The Dream
Seeing all her kids (and grand kids even) settled, she pursued her dream. She went back to school by enrolleing in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), a project of the Department of Education for out of school youth and old people who want to finish school. And in 2008, at the age of 68, she earned her highschool diploma. But Nanay Fely didn't stop. She went to college. And while she is a full scholar, she makes relyeno, atsara, ube and other homemade goodies to sell so she will have money for her baon in school.

That is how we knew her. An old woman who gives unconditionally and dreams boldly.

The Story
So with our host Karen Davila, we gave Nanay Feliciana groceries and kitchenware. Instead of just a simple thank you, you know what she said? She said she plans to put up a small karinderia and that she will use all these new stuff for that. "Magsisimula na ko next week, magsisimula nako next week! May tarpualin na nga ako eh!" she kept saying.

To inspire her with her cooking business even more we took her out to meet Jr. Master Chef Host, Ronald Laudico.

The biggest surprise didn't come from us, but from her. Visiting her a day after our first meeting, she had already set up a small eatery around the corner from her house. With her new pots and pans and plates, (true enough she did have a tarp haha) and of course her home cooked meals made with love.

So who came to help her out during the grand opening of "Nanay Fely's Kainan"? No less than soap opera queen, Judy Ann Santos! For those who weren't able to see the episode, they were a riot! And that's just what we showed on air, imagine seeing them together in person.

The Real Story
In our segments we always ask our case studies after we give our interventions; "happy ka na ba?" Nanay's reply was a big smile, screaming up and down "happy na ko! happy na ko!" The perfect reaction we look for in this Wowowee-inspired industry. Good TV, as my bosses would say. But I say the true measure to how good a case study is not how well she reacts on TV, but how people react upon meeting her.

Karen was so amazed with Nanay Fely she gave her money from her own pocket on the spot, to help her start her karinderia. Chef Lau texted me after she met Nanay Fely, "Hope Nanay Fely enjoyed kanina, nainspire niya ko." Judy Ann insisted to visit Nanay's old place (where her old karinderia used to stand) and promised Nanay Fely she would do what she can to help Nanay restore her old karinderia.

As for me, I have never met someone with such passion for life. With such a big heart. she really got me thinking, masarap tulungan ang taong tinutulungan ang sarili. 

Yung mga tambay diyan na nagkakamot ng tiyan, mahiya naman kayo kay Nanay!

We featured Nanay Fely so we can help her start anew. But I guess she ended up helping us as well, by proving to us that, cliche as it may be, everything is possible-- with hard work, determination, and faith.

Roanni