Saturday, August 18, 2007 Samra Nuh: Kadayawan's Gem By Grace L. Plata
A DAUGHTER of Arabic teachers, it's not surprising for Samra Nuh to end up in the teaching profession.
By answering the judges' questions in English, Bisaya, and K'lagan, there was no doubt that this K'lagan lass from Waan would best seven other candidates for this year's Hiyas ng Kadayawan title.
Nuh, 21, graduated with a bachelor's degree in secondary education from the Ateneo de Davao University.
The eldest daughter in a brood of four, Nuh grew up in a loving family who nicknamed her "Taya" -- a term that means "beloved," an equivalent to the Visayan term "langga."
As a child, Nuh always strived for excellence. A consistent honor student, she is also an awarded musician.
Nuh's group, the Waan K'lagan Ensemble, won three times in a row in the Namcya Music Festival from 1996 to 1998. She plays the kulintang and is handy with the gong and drums.
Nuh went to college through a scholarship grant, which she said was for "financially disadvantaged yet intelligent members of the cultural minority" -- a description, she says, that fits her well.
Going to school in a Catholic university, Nuh said she never experienced discrimination in any way even when she can be singled out as a Muslim as she constantly wears the "tundong," the veil worn by Muslim women.
"Ang mga classmates ko, open sila and even asks questions. On the part of my teachers, I can feel that they respect what I believe in. It's wonderful too because I get to learn and understand the Christian faith," Nuh said.
In college, Nuh was able to stay in the honor's list while getting involved in various extra curricular activities.
"Right from the start, goal ko na talaga to graduate with honors. It is like a gift to my parents especially to my mom who has always been there for me whether or not I needed her," Nuh said.
Nuh said college proved to be harder than she expected. Adding to that, she had to take the long distance trip to Waan and back all through the four years in college.
"Mahirap din talaga kasi (its very difficult actually) rain or shine kailangan sumakay sa motor galing Waan hanggang sa (from Waan to) terminal ng jeep papuntang city proper. That's done wearing a white uniform and skirt pa," Nuh recalled.
After graduating with a cum laude distinction, Nuh took and passed the Licensure Exams for Teachers with flying colors. She is currently teaching in a private school in Indangan run by Baptist missionaries.
According to fellow teachers, Nuh is a perfectionist whose passion for teaching mirrors that of her parents.
"I am really happy with what I am doing although I would want to pursue masters’ degree pa. I am still looking for another scholarship grant," Nuh said.
Never expecting she would represent her tribe in the "Hiyas" pageant, Nuh, whose biggest insecurity is her height -- or lack of it -- initially refused.
"Ayoko sana kasi (I don’t supposedly want to because) I do not feel I deserve it. Sabi ko sa kanila maghanap ng iba pero kung wala na talaga silang mahanap, ako na lang (I told them to look for somebody else but if they can’t find someone, I prefer to) as last option," Nuh said. A remark, which is unfit for somebody who is like her tribe's "golden girl."
"It is really a good venue for interaction," Nuh said of the pageant.
Now that she has been crowned as the festival's gem, Nuh said she would like to use the opportunity to help her people.
If a genie gave her three wishes, Nuh said she'd like to have a school where history and culture of different tribes are taught.
"Non-formal education lang. It's because I'd like the children to know where they came from," Nuh said.
As her second wish, Nuh said she'd like to put up a program called "K'lagan for a cause," which will gather her people and come up with projects that will benefit the community.
Last but not the least, Nuh wishes to gather indigenous people who have become professionals in order to pool resources that will help other indigenous people.
"Kulang talaga ang opportunities for indigenous people especially when it comes to education and jobs. That is why I'd really like to do something that will uplift their way of life," Nuh said.
"Taya," who considers herself a modern person, said she is thankful to have been born in the this day and age which have afforded her the chance to be educated, pursue her dreams and become a "gem" to represent the spirit of her people.
