On the shoreline of Tamorong, Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur, where the sea kissed the sand and the wind carried stories from generations past, Cadet First Class Rafanan was born on August 27, 2000. Cadet 1C Rafanan was not raised in the usual way. While many grew up under the care of their parents, he was brought up by his grandmother, “Nanay Eva.”
A strong Ilocana with weathered hands and a kind heart, she became the mother, teacher, and guide not just to him, but to her other grandchildren as well. Nanay Eva was a firm believer that greatness is not measured by wealth, but by character. “Iti tao nga makaanos, isu ti makagun-od,” she often reminded them. The one who endures is the one who succeeds.
Source:Â PNPA KALASAG
