Carrying her mother’s dream: Young Cordilleran earns full scholarship to Harvard

FEATURE

On what should have been a joyful seventh birthday, Reya Nikole Maryella M. Siojo faced a tragedy that would forever change her life.

The young girl lost her mother in an accident on the very day she turned seven. Left behind was not only grief but also a final written message from her mother—one filled with hope that her children would one day achieve even greater things than she had.

Years later, that message would become a source of strength and inspiration for a remarkable journey.

Today, Siojo is celebrating an achievement that only a handful of Filipino students attain. The top graduate of the Philippine Science High School–Cordillera Administrative Region Campus (PSHS-CAR) Batch 2026 has earned admission to Harvard University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

Even more remarkable, reports from local and national media outlets said she received a full four-year scholarship covering tuition, housing, living expenses, and annual airfare—allowing her to pursue her dream without placing a financial burden on her family.

For many students, admission to elite American universities is already difficult. Securing full financial aid is even rarer.

Yet behind Siojo’s success was a journey marked not by fanfare, but by determination and quiet perseverance.

According to reports, she worked on her college applications largely on her own and chose not to tell her family about the process. Aware of the intense competition faced by international applicants, she pursued the opportunity privately, focusing on her goal without drawing attention to herself.

Her efforts eventually paid off when Harvard offered her admission along with a full scholarship package.

The recognition did not stop there.

Siojo also received admission offers from Washington University and Lee University. She was likewise placed on the waiting list of other prestigious institutions, including Princeton University, the University of Notre Dame, and Amherst College.

Back home, she qualified for the highly selective Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) program of the University of the Philippines, one of the country's most competitive academic tracks.

But long before acceptance letters arrived, Siojo had already set her sights on studying in the United States.

Reports said her dream began years ago after visiting the country. Since then, she worked toward returning—not as a tourist, but as a student.

That dream was fueled by a desire to honor her mother’s memory and fulfill the aspirations she left behind.

As she prepares to leave the Cordillera mountains for the halls of Harvard, Siojo carries with her more than academic awards and scholarship offers. She carries a story of resilience, hope, and determination that has inspired many young Filipinos.

Her journey—from a grieving seven-year-old girl in Baguio City to a Harvard scholar—serves as a reminder that life's most painful moments do not have to define a person's future.

Instead, they can become the motivation to reach heights once thought impossible.

Siojo’s achievement also reflects the academic excellence of PSHS-CAR’s Batch Laharaya, whose members have likewise earned admission to prestigious universities and scholarship opportunities in the Philippines and abroad.

Based on a PSHS-CAR Facebook post, these students include Andreana Victoria F. Bacani, Von Elijah G. Lumbres, Tristan Gabriel C. Cabinta, Juliene Nathalia S. Barcellano, Charles Edrian B. Madrid, Yumi R. Baloca, Samantha Louise C. Samson, Ken Nicolai D. Flores, Marian Aile Grise D. Oduña, and Joaquin Stephen M. Manuel.

For Siojo, however, the journey to Harvard is more than an academic milestone. It is the fulfillment of a dream nurtured through years of hard work—and a tribute to a mother whose final message continues to guide her every step of the way.