My name is Dindo, born on May 17, 2004, I am the fourth child among the seven that have been born by my lovely parents whom I love most because they give us love and care, for us to live and see the beauty and goodness of Almighty God. My father is a local fisherman while my lovely mother is plain housewife and at the same time a vendor of “kakanin”. I am grateful to God for despite poverty and hardships our family is facing, in trying moments of misunderstanding, fist fighting between my parents, now they are living together, whole, and intact helping each other, trying very best to sustain our daily needs though not enough.
Since childhood I had already experienced diving into the sea fishing, farming, fetching water and many others work that I earned money to help my parents buy our necessities. If the food was insufficient for all of us, I do not eat and play instead to forget my hunger. Daily living at home must be difficult but more so when I was elementary grader. Every day, my siblings and I used to walk kilometers from home to school and vice-versa since our house is situated on the mountain. If the weather is good and if there is money, we took a boat instead. It was then we arrived at school on time. My parents borrowed money here and there to support our schooling and we have lots of debt. The Cassava fruit served as our refuge to fill our empty belly the entire day. Sometimes I have 1 peso pocket money to buy my snacks but most of the time, I went hungry most of the time. Nevertheless, I was determined to finish my schooling. But it came to the point that my two older brothers had to stop their schooling because my parents could no longer afford to support them. They managed to finish until junior high school and worked as daily laborer at the construction site. I also overheard my parents planning that I should stop my schooling after grade 6. Would I also end up being a construction worker just as my elder brothers? Fortunately, the light of dawn has finally come when the two of the Sisters of Mary came to our place to conduct the scholarship examination. Parents are required to accompany the examinees, but my parents were not able to accompany me because we did not have money. My friend who was also decided to take the exam invited me to come with him. His father then stood as my guardian during the interview. I passed.
Here at Boystown, my life is the exact opposite of what I have at home. I study without worries about what to it, what to wear and how to go to school. Everything here is free. Time flies and I am now in my last year of stay here. Every part of my being is being honed. I learned to pray, work conscientiously, study hard and play along with my fellow students. I am privileged to gain skills in AUTOCAD 2D & 3D, tailoring, BIT (automotive), Metal Works, Electrical Installation and Maintenance, and Machining. I am now preparing for the national assessment machining NC II and dream becoming a machinist.
With the skills I have acquired here, I plan to work after my senior high school and help my family and send my siblings to school. I also would like to become a businessman to become sustainable and be able to be a blessing to others. I thank God for blessing my life, my family for the inspiration that no matter what, life must go on and of course to the Sisters of Mary School, who saved me from life’s tragic poverty and to the donors who continually support the honorable work of Fr. Al and the sisters.
Thank you for helping me reach my dream and to become what I am now.