The e-book version has recently been released on Amazon, and its pocketbook counterpart will follow soon. The printed edition is available on a print-on-demand basis.
Iskolar ng Bayan is a record of the struggles, hardships, and enduring hope of the First Batch—commonly known as the Pioneer Class of ’67—of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), the Philippines’ first free-tuition university established to serve the poor but intellectually gifted youth of Manila.
This book is a collection of stories and reflections from young men and women who dared to dream big in order to escape the grip of extreme poverty. It tells of students who studied on empty stomachs, walked miles to get home because they could not afford transportation fare, and survived on daily allowances that could buy only a small banana cue snack.
The Pioneer Class of ’67 were the first dreamers. They fought their way to success despite countless challenges: the lack of school facilities, nonexistent library resources, so-called “terror” professors, the large number of students who were forced to leave after failing to maintain their grades, and the constant uncertainty of funding from the Manila City government.
As dreamers, these pioneers carried on their shoulders the hopes, dreams, and pride of their families—believing that someday, somehow, they would be the ones to lift their loved ones out of extreme poverty.
The book offers a glimpse into the everyday realities of an Iskolar ng Bayan—from sleepless nights and empty pockets to the unbreakable faith that kept their dreams alive. They were young, idealistic, and often uncertain, yet they carried with them the promise of education as a powerful tool for change.
This book is for every student who has struggled to stay in school, every teacher who believed in their scholars, and every Filipino who continues to believe that education can transform lives. Part memoir, part reflection, and part celebration of the Filipino spirit, Iskolar ng Bayan reminds us that hope shines brightest in times of struggle.
In announcing the release of this book, I say “I am proud to announce” because this work represents something meaningful—not only a personal achievement, but something my fellow alumni can carry with them as proof of what our alma mater, PLM, has given us: the chance to succeed in our chosen careers.
Our school paved the way for us to move from lives once lived along railroad tracks and in shanties to more decent homes, whether in the metropolis or even abroad. More than that, I hope this book places Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila on the world map—making it known to all that our university gives poor but talented students of Manila a chance of a lifetime to escape the clutches of poverty.
