Carla Mae Telmo, 1st Badjao registered nurse



By Leo Udtohan 

TAGBILARAN CITY- For Carla Mae Telmo who passed the nurse licensure examination (NLE)  last November 2022, part of her success was due to being a Badjao and she wants to repay the community. 

Telmo, 22, is the first registered nurse in the Badjao Community in Barangay Totolan in Dauis town, to have achieved such milestone — a feat uncommon in her tribe.

"I am very thankful to God who heard my prayers. This success is not only for me but also to my family and my Badjao tribe. I am very proud to be a Badjao," she said. 

The Telmo family was overjoyed over Carla's success.

"I am very happy we have a nurse a now. His father and I are happy that she passed the board. We thank the Lord he heard our prayers," Merlinda Telmo-Agdan, her mother, said.

Mario Coham, the chieftain of the Badjao community, said the whole community was proud of her achievement. 

"She serves as an inspiration to all Badjao kids here," said the 62-year-old chieftain. 

Proud of her roots, Telmo said being a Badjao was the reason and bridge for her to study and qualify in various scholarships from the government and private sectors.

"Because of being a Badjao, I was able to reach my dreams. And now I was able to make them proud," said Telmo who was also a former beauty queen who joined beauty pageants. She became Miss Booy 2018 and Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2019  2nd runner-up. 

She said her childhood dream was to work in an office, but an incident in February 2017 changed it. At least 21 Badjao children were rushed to a hospital in Tagbilaran City due to gastroenteritis that it caused one death. 

"That incident opened my eyes," said Telmo. " I told myself I hope I can do something if it will happen again. Right there and then, I decided to become a nurse. I want to help them in the future."

It was not at all easy, as Telmo described her journey that got her to success. She went through hardships just be where she is right now. 

 

Her father, Carlos, a carpenter, and her mother Merlinda, a housewife, supported her through the way. She found inspiration from her two two siblings: Joana, 17, and Maria Cathlyn, 12. 

Telmo, like most people from her tribe, suffered discrimination and financial problems. 

She finished her elementary at Booy South Elem. School. She finished her high school at Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School. She painfully recollected the memory of how she almost forced to quit school because of lack of money.

But getting a college degree drummed into Telmo’s head. Fortunately, the Badjao Bridge Philippines, a non-profit organization helping Badjao people, became instrumental to help Telmo finished her nursing degree.  It helped Telmo overcame her financial struggles. She fervently studied and passed the exam. 

She remained in gratitude to every one who helped her throughout her journey. In return, she promised to work to help her fellow tribe. 

"I would like to apply in a public hospital because Badjao people often go there to seek health care. I want to be able to serve them in any way, I can accommodate the Badjao people. Of course they will also see that I did not leave them even after I finished my education," she said.

As granddaughter of the chieftain, Telmo knows too well why education should be integrated in their culture.

"I hope education will be appreciated because it is really the key to our success.  I hope our Badjao people will value education." 

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Photo caption: 

Carla Mae Telmo, 22, a former beauty queen and a member of the Badjao Community in Bohol province, has passed the nursing licensure exams last November 2022.  Photo: Leo Udtohan