In the flood‑prone landscapes of Maguindanao del Sur, where rivers swell and schools often sit on unpaved roads, one Hope Paddler has made it his mission to bring children closer to the classroom instead of farther from it. Mastura Esmail Unayan, a 39‑year‑old Teacher‑III at Lomopog Elementary School in Midsayap, Cotabato, is not just an educator—he is a builder of hope, a connector of communities, and a living testament to the power of perseverance in the face of poverty and natural disaster.
Born on January 26, 1987, in Poblacion, Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, Sir Mastura grew up as the second among six siblings in a farming family. His childhood was shaped by early mornings in the fields, where he learned the value of hard work, patience, and sacrifice long before he ever stepped inside a university.
His parents, both farmers, worked tirelessly to support their eight children on limited resources. They sold livestock and even mortgaged their land to help fund his studies, never letting financial hardship become an excuse to stop learning.
Sir Mastura became the first in his family to earn a college degree and pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Rather than rest on that achievement, he took on the responsibility of becoming the family’s breadwinner, supporting three of his younger siblings through college. All three eventually passed the LET as well and are now permanent teachers, a source of pride that he insists is shared, not his alone.
Teaching was never just a job for Mastura; it was a calling rooted in his own experience. “Life was not easy,” he says, “but education was our only hope to improve our situation.”
When he began supporting his siblings and saw them transform into educators themselves, his sense of purpose deepened. He realized that his work was not only about lesson plans, but about unlocking futures.
If he had not become a teacher, Mastura says his dream would have been to work abroad as an Overseas Filipino Worker. The goal would have been the same: to help his family, secure a better future, and give his siblings the chance to study. Instead, he chose to stay in the classroom and in his community, turning that same selflessness into the foundation of his leadership.
Sir Mastura’s journey with the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation began when Guntong Elementary School was adopted and received paddle boats for its learners. Though he was not officially invited, he and fellow teacher, Sir Jay‑arr Jimena, attended the turnover ceremony, quietly hoping that their own far‑flung school, Lomopog Elementary School, would one day receive the same support.
Their hope came true. When YBH later adopted Lomopog Elementary School, Sir Mastura was appointed the school’s Yellow Boat of Hope School Facilitator, a role that opened the door to his work as a Hope Paddler. He then began volunteering beyond his own school, helping identify and connect other underserved schools in Maguindanao del Sur to the foundation’s programs.
The situation in many of these schools was dire: damaged floors, missing doors, and unsafe structures weakened by frequent flooding and typhoons. As Sir Mastura visited more “last‑mile” schools, he heard principals and teachers describe years of unheeded requests for help and support. Those stories moved him to act.
One of Mastura’s most visible impacts has been his leadership in the Starter Classroom program. Through this initiative, he has helped plan, monitor, and turn over multiple new learning spaces for children who previously studied in risky or overcrowded conditions.
As of 2026, three Starter Classrooms have been completed and turned over:
One at Datu Samad Ukas National High School in Sharif Saydona Mustapa, Maguindanao del Sur.
One at Ambadao Elementary School.
One at Alonganen Elementary School, both in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur.
Two more are currently under construction at Pandi Elementary School in Datu Salibo and Salunayan Elementary School in Midsayap, Cotabato. Once finished, these spaces will further ease the shortage of classrooms and help ensure that rain and floods no longer mean lost school days.
Beyond new construction, Mastura has also led repair projects in several schools, including:
Balanaken Elementary School and Lomopog Elementary School in Datu Piang.
Malibpolok Elementary School in Rajah Buayan.
Guntong Elementary School in SGA BARMM.
His first project with YBH was the repair of flooded classrooms at Lomopog Elementary School, where he supervised the replacement of doors in seven rooms and the repainting of walls. “Completing that project was truly fulfilling—for me, for the teachers, and especially for the students,” he says.
Teachers and parents in the area now describe the difference clearly. At Balanaken Elementary, students say they are no longer afraid of studying in damaged rooms. Teachers at Datu Samad Ukas note that the new Starter Classroom has made their lessons easier to deliver and more effective. Parents report feeling more at ease sending their children to school, knowing that the school infrastructure is safer and more secure.
Sir Mastura’s work as an educator and Hope Paddler has revealed strengths he says he did not fully see in himself before: resilience, compassion, and a willingness to take initiative for others. He learned that leadership is less about titles and more about service.
He believes that effective leaders in education must be compassionate, resilient, and resourceful. For Sir Mastura, that means showing up when many would stay away, going to the hardest‑to‑reach schools, and refusing to let the scale of need paralyze him into inaction.
What keeps him going, he says, is the sight of students walking long distances, studying under difficult conditions, yet still showing up with determination. His own family, too, remains a powerful source of inspiration, reminding him that every sacrifice he makes today is an investment in the lives of those who will come after him.
The most rewarding part of Mastura’s work, he says, is seeing the impact on learners’ lives. “The greatest reward is knowing that through our work, we are bringing hope, opportunities, and a brighter future to children who need it most,” he shares.
To anyone who wants to make a difference in education, his advice is simple but profound: start with commitment and compassion, and lead with the heart. He urges fellow changemakers to truly listen to learners and communities, understand their realities, and then act.
Mastura’s long‑term goals are clear: to ensure that every learner in his schools and surrounding communities has access to safe, functional, and quality learning spaces. He wants classrooms that are not just roofs over heads, but environments where students can grow, explore, and dream.
More than anything, he hopes to leave behind a legacy of hope, opportunity, and empowerment. He wants future generations in his community to know that education is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a powerful tool that can transform lives.
For the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, Sir Mastura Unayan is more than a Hope Paddler; he is a symbol of what local educators can achieve when they are given support, trust, and a platform. From the farm fields of his childhood to the far‑flung classrooms he now helps build, Sir Mastura continues to paddle forward.
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