LEGAZPI CITY — Melody Portugal — a 60-year-old indigenous native — is the embodiment of the adage "education is for all" as she patiently stood in line to get her Christmas gifts — a bag of groceries and an envelope of school supplies.

Portugal is currently a Grade 2 student at the Katutubo Village Elementary School in Barangay Bakal in Paracale, Camarines Norte, and the gifts she received — Grade 2 notebooks and pad papers — will be her ally in her reading and writing journey.

It was in 2020 when Allan Terrazula, school principal, urged Portugal's family to move near the premises of KVES so they could have better access to education.

As the day gradually descends towards dusk, Portugal trades her shovel and shears, which she uses to tend a calamansi farm, for pencils and papers in pursuit of her lifelong dream.

"I just want to learn so I will not get lost when I travel because I can read the signboards," she said, a soft and knowing smile playing on her lips.

Three years ago, Portugal decided to attend formal education despite the odds. 

As a member of the Manide tribe, an indigenous community found mostly in the Camarines Norte province in Southern Luzon, Portugal admits lack of access to education and her fear of being with non-indigenous people hindered her from attending school during her younger years.

 But now that she has the opportunity, she wouldn't let anything — not even her age — get in the way of her dream.