Beggar-turned-honor student seeks help to raise funds for online schooling

An honor student who used to be a beggar has lost his laptop money to an online scam. He is now asking for help through an online crowdfunding campaign named Piso Para sa Pangarap.

According to “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Eugene worked as a tutor to help his fellow students and save up for a laptop.

After earning enough money, he finally bought a laptop from an online seller on Facebook. However, he soon realized that he got scammed.

The student said he trusted the seller because it had reviews, adding that just like that he lost savings which he accumulated from September to May.

Eugene was the first student in his school to graduate with a grade of 98. He earned more than 150 medals in high school and graduated with the highest honors from Hilongos National Vocational School in Leyte. He passed the entrance test at the University of the Philippines and was also offered admission at Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University with a full scholarship.

He said he valued every single peso that came his way because of what he went through. Before he became a multi-awarded student, he roamed the streets as a beggar.

When Eugene’s parents separated when he was five years old, they left their son to his grandmother, who would later allegedly inflict physical abuse on him using hangers and wooden sticks.

She later drove him out of their house when she learned he was gay, and he spent the next few years fending for himself on the streets of Manila.

“Tinapon niya po lahat po ng gamit ko po sa labas. Pagtapon po kasi ng bag ko po, wala po talagang laman po na kahit ano, kahit piso po, wala po, bente singko sentimos, wala din po,” he said.

[She threw my stuff out, not giving me a single peso.]

“Naging mahalaga po ’yung bawat piso po na kikitain ko po kasi alam ko po 'yung pakiramdam po na talagang walang wala po,” he added.

[Since then, I’ve come to value every single peso that I earn because I know how it feels to have absolutely nothing.]

For years, he begged on the streets and slept on train railways, under bridges, and in front of malls.

That changed after he found his father in Hilongos, Leyte, and he was soon able to enroll at a nearby school.

Their reunion, however, didn’t last long, because his father moved to Bicol.

Eugene was left under the care of his stepmom’s sister Elsa, who knew she didn’t have enough money to support her nephew.

Elsa Pilongo, Eugene’s guardian, said her husband earned only P350 a day for delivering sand bags.

“Sabi ko ‘Eugene, paano iyan? Hindi ko kayang mapagpaaral ka,’” she said. “Sabi niya sa akin, siya na lang daw ang bahala magdiskarte, maghanap siya ng magsuporta.”

[I said, Eugene, what will we do? I can’t pay for your education. He told me he would find a way, he would find support.]

True enough, Eugene, who dreamt of becoming a lawyer, studied hard while working at the same time.

However, Eugen fell victim to the laptop scam. He is now asking for help through an online crowdfunding campaign named Piso Para sa Pangarap.

While many people answered his call, the funds he received were still far from the target amount. He feared he might not be able to resume his studies without a laptop because school was about to start in a week.

Fortunately, the office of Leyte’s fifth district learned about his situation and sent him a brand new laptop. The KMJS team also gave him financial aid.

However, the Department of Education said that it did not have a nationwide program to distribute gadgets to students.

According to Undersecretary Alain Pascua, DepEd has plans to expand its computerization program. He also said the department was waiting for Congress’ approval for the funds so that it could turn over learning gadgets to over 22 million public school students

Thankful for all the blessings he received, Eugene advised his fellow students not to take whatever they have for granted.

“Nais ko pong sabihin sa mga kapwa ko po estudyante na kung kumpleto man kayo sa resources, sana po huwag po natin i-take for granted. And kung meron man tayong kulang-kulang, huwag po tayo mawawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi naman po ’yan sa kung ano ’yung wala tayo pero sa kung ano man ang meron tayo,” he said.

[I want to tell my fellow students don’t take things for granted. If we lack something, let’s not lose hope.] 

For those who want to hep, please deposit to:

BANK: LANDBANK
NAME: EUGENE DELA CRUZ
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 4166 0514 23
CONTACT NUMBER: 09166003450

–Kaela Malig/RC/MGP, GMA News