School in Paradise

How Mariglo and her husband Angelo are shaping lives in El Nido through a school

When Mariglo and Angelo moved to El Nido a little over twenty five years ago, they carried with them the shared goals of being hands-on parents and living a life of continuous learning.

Little School in the Forest

They built a school for their own children and welcomed students living nearby. Today, Potter’s Place is the first Dep Ed-recognized, non-sectarian, private educational institution in the municipality of El Nido. Built near their home, the school provides 300 kids with a safe and accessible learning space amidst nature in their town. Pre-pandemic, it was bustling with kids scurrying to their classrooms, ready to learn something new. Nowadays, however, the school halls are silent as kids are forced to stay at home and attend online classes instead.

“It’s been very difficult this past year,” Mariglo admits in an online interview in 2020. “But we are no strangers to difficulties and hardships.”

Choosing this island life isn’t for the faint of heart. It was doggedness, diligence, and this burning need to be a force for positive change that keeps husband and wife going.

In retrospect, she has no regrets at all. “I think my problem is I don’t scare easily… I was 29 years old then, so I didn’t know myself as much as I do today. I don’t recommend this to everyone. Being a mom now of two adults, if either or both would tell me that they would up and leave and pitch a tent in the middle of nowhere, I’ll probably freak out the way my parents did!”

For a Better World

Next on her list of activities to make the world a better place: offering online counseling for mental health support. “I’ve gotten into a lot of volunteer support groups that reach out to young people. There are alumni of Philippine Science High School like me, who came together to reach out to these young, gifted individuals who are struggling.” She may not be a professional in this field, but for her listening makes a huge difference, and this is what she hopes to continuously offer them as much as she can.

Mariglo talks about her advocacies with sincere enthusiasm and spark in her eyes, just like talking about someone you’re in love with—you can go on and on for hours talking about them.

It’s as if fighting for a better world for future generations is what she was born to do—it’s at the core of her being.

Mariglo’s Secret Place in El Nido

Beyond El Nido’s breathtaking karst cliffs and crystal clear lagoons is a hidden gem of paradise: 16-hectare permanent forest where old, Philippine native trees are thriving. This is Mariglo’s secret playground, about 30 minutes by boat from the shore nearest her residence. She purchased the land several years ago (for “dirt cheap,” she says) with the sole purpose of making sure that there will always be a preserved forest in the municipality. Here she is creating a plant nursery from seeds and seedlings gathered within the forest. She hopes to distribute the seeds so more forests trees can grow again in Palawan. What makes it her favorite part of El Nido, apart from it being an expansive sanctuary for many living species, is the majestic sunrise view it offers. “Beating the sunrise and enjoying the sunrise there are things that are really special.”