I’ve never thought, “I’m poor.”
When your parents give you constant love, you don’t realize you're lacking anything.

Growing up, my parents never missed a chance to feed us and show us love. You know that feeling—when they give so much, you don’t even notice what’s missing.
When I started school, I only had five pesos in my pocket. I didn’t even know it wasn’t enough to get through the day until I had to manage things on my own.
My parents were always busy—grinding, working hard to make our lives better. At the time, I didn’t realize my father was jobless, or that his part-time work paid only half of what we needed.

My things weren’t the latest, my clothes weren’t brand new—but I never thought we were poor. Because love filled the gaps where money couldn’t.

My family strives together—and because of that, I believe we can make lasting change, not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.

I grew up close to my family. They didn’t just raise me—they grew with me, stood beside me, and helped shape the person I am today. Their love wasn’t just spoken; it was shown in small, everyday things—the kind of care that doesn’t need grand gestures to be felt.

Even as a child, I was fully aware of how much love surrounded me. My parents, though sometimes tired and burdened with responsibilities, never failed to make me feel important and safe. My siblings were my first friends, my first teachers, and my strongest supporters.

In a world that often measures worth through material things, I learned early on that the true riches lie in having a family that loves, sacrifices, and grows together.
They don’t just complete me—they fulfill the whole me.

Si Ate ug si Kuya, sila ang akong the best nga mga amiga.

Nagdako ko nga adunay kahati sa tanan—sa gamit, pagkaon, ug bisan sa ubang butang. Tungod kay dili man mi dato, dili mi makapalit og tagsa-tagsa nga gamit, mao nga hiramanay lang gyud mi. Pero bisan pa man ana, akong duha ka igsoon, grabe kaayo og pailub ug pagpakumbaba.

Ako ang kamanghuran, mao nga kasagaran ginapaburan ko nila. Gamay ra ko nga spoiled, pero dili sobra. Kahibalo mo? Dako kaayo og sakripisyo ang gibuhat ni Kuya Harold. Laliman ka, nag-working student siya sa iyang college aron lang makahuman og eskwela. Dili gyud mabayran ang iyang paningkamot para sa among tulo ka mag-igsuon.

Si Ate pud, naningkamot nga makaskwela nga libre, kay lisod gyud ang among kahimtang. Ug kung mangutana mo kung ngano ga-paninguha ko karon? Kay nakita man nako sila Kuya og Ate nga naningkamot pud.

Karon, si Kuya aduna nay pamilya. Anaa na si Dahlia ug Darlene sa iyang kinabuhi. Si Ate, naa sa Manila—nagpaningkamot gihapon ug maayo. Karong panahona, usa na siya ka CPA. Siya ang nagpatuo nako nga mahimong mas nindot ang kinabuhi basta magpaningkamot lang.

Mao kini sila, akong duha ka igsoon—akong inspirasyon, akong garbo, ug akong pinalangga.

I never thought I would become a Junior Barangay Captain—
But somehow, I was destined to be one.

This role made a huge impact on my life. It turned a simple dream into a beautiful reality.
Ever since I was a kid, I had that “leader-leader” energy. I always wanted to lead, to manage, to take charge of something—even if I didn’t fully understand what that meant back then. I didn’t know that those small sparks of leadership would eventually help shape my future.

Then came the pandemic era. Out of nowhere, Delmark chatted me, asking if I wanted to join a youth program. I said yes, because deep inside, I knew I wanted it. I applied—and to my surprise, I got accepted.

That’s how I became the second Junior Barangay Captain.

Since then, life has been amazing. I became a Save the Children youth advocate, got to travel to different places, stay in hotels, and experience things I never imagined. But the biggest blessing of all?
I received a scholarship. The Ayala Foundation is now funding my college education.

Because of this journey, I learned to love myself more—and love my community even deeper.
This is not just a title. It’s a turning point.
And I’m just getting started.

Hindi ko inakala.
Hindi ko akalaing kakayanin ko.
Pero maraming naniwala sa kakayanan ko—kaya natuto rin akong maniwala sa sarili ko.

Ako si Angel, isang GAD Councilor sa aming kolehiyo.
Lumaki akong bunso sa aming magkakapatid. Tahimik lang ako noon—sanay na ako na ang desisyon ay nanggagaling sa mga mas nakatatanda. Sa mata ng iba, ako 'yung tahimik, 'yung laging sumasang-ayon, 'yung hindi palaging nagsasalita. Pero hindi ko alam, may natatagong lider pala sa loob ko.

Nung una akong pumasok sa unibersidad na ito, kabado ako. Sobra.
Ang daming matatalino. Ang daming may skills. Parang ang liit ko lang. Pero pinanghawakan ko ang isang bagay—ang paniniwala na lahat tayo ay may angking kakayahan. Ang kailangan lang, lakas ng loob para subukan.

Nang magkaroon ng pagkakataon na maging councilor, hindi ako sigurado. Kinabahan ako.
Pero alam mo, minsan ang takot ay senyales na may mahalagang bagay kang kailangang harapin. Kaya tinanggap ko ang hamon. At doon ko napatunayan: ang leadership, hindi lang sa malalakas ang boses, kundi sa may malasakit, dedikasyon, at tunay na puso para sa kapwa.

Bilang GAD Councilor, natuto akong makipag-usap sa iba’t ibang tao, makinig, umunawa, at magbigay ng boses sa mga walang boses. Natuto akong lumabas sa comfort zone at yakapin ang responsibilidad.

At higit sa lahat, natuto akong ipaglaban ang mga adbokasiyang mahalaga sa akin at sa buong komunidad.

Kaya sa mga katulad kong tahimik lang noon—huwag matakot sumubok.
Minsan lang dumaan ang oportunidad. Kapag dumating ito, yakapin mo.

Dahil minsan, ang mga hindi inaakalang lider—sila pala ang pinaka may puso para maglingkod.