Journey2Life

08/07/2025

The 𝐖𝐢𝐟𝐞 is endowed with an almost OMNIPOTENT powers. She is the:

🟢Commander-in-Chief
🟢Speaker of the House
🟢Chief Justice
🟢Secretary of Finance
🟢Budget Secretary
🟢Bangko Sentral Governor
🟢Audit Commissioner
🟢NBI Director
🟢PNP Chief...and all other unimaginable powers.

However, when the last ray of sunlight fades into the horizon, it is the HUSBAND who dictates the MANNER OF SURRENDER...

08/07/2025

A Filipino farming couple from San Remigio, Cebu — 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐚 𝐒𝐫. and 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨-𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐚 — spent their lives toiling under the scorching sun, driven by one powerful dream: to give their children a better future. With modest means and no financial advantage, they chose to invest in what mattered most — 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Despite the odds, they remained steadfast in their mission to send all eight of their children to college. Their unwavering dedication bore remarkable fruit: each child earned a degree in fields such as 𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒄𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, and 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. Even more inspiring, all eight passed their respective professional licensure exams, a testament to the values of perseverance, sacrifice, and love instilled by their parents.

Their story, shared by daughter Jovy Cataraja-Albite on Facebook, quickly went viral, resonating with Filipinos across the nation and beyond. It wasn’t just about overcoming poverty — it was about vision, grit, and hope. The Catarajas didn’t seek praise or recognition. They simply wanted their children to have the opportunity they never had.

Today, they stand as a powerful symbol of what faith, hard work, and family values can achieve — a quiet legacy of two humble farmers who built a future far brighter than their own.

08/07/2025

In Brazil, a horse gave a heartbreaking farewell at the funeral of its owner.

The incident reportedly took place in the town of Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The horse, named Bilhote, was deeply mournful after the sudden death of its owner, Antonio da Silva, who had died in a traffic accident.

As the ceremony took place, the horse slowly walked around the coffin, sniffed it gently, and then rested its head on top, letting out long, heavy sighs. It flinched and shifted, almost as if it was trying to say goodbye to the only true friend it had ever known.

Moments like this remind us — there is no loyalty in the world deeper than that of animals.

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06/07/2025

FROM PORTER, ICE CREAM VENDOR TO VALEDICTORIAN LAW GRAD!

LOOK: Jorenz Obiedo, once a porter and dirty ice cream vendor, is now a valedictorian law graduate batch 2024 of the University of Caloocan City College of Law.

In a televised interview, he shared his experiences, which were incredibly not a walk in the park. He remembers how he juggled multiple jobs—including being a sorbetero, kargador, dishwasher at a lugawan, and even a hardware boy—in order to send himself to law school. Nevertheless, despite having to work while studying, he managed to finish law school with flying colors.

📷|Jorenz Obiedo FB Account
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05/07/2025

🌊 REMEMBER THE VIRAL CEBUANO STREET SURFER?

Meet Jave Arnaiz, the guy whose 15-second video of street surfing brought smiles to millions—racking up over a million views on his original post and even more on countless reposts.

What was meant to spread good vibes quickly turned into harsh judgment. People were quick to mock him, call him names—adik, suyop pa, undangi na ng drugs—without knowing his story, his heart, or his purpose.

But instead of letting their words define him, Jave turned every insult into fuel. He worked hard, studied harder, and today, he stands proud as a graduate of the University of the Philippines, one of the country’s most prestigious institutions.

On his post, he shared a message for anyone who’s ever been mocked, misjudged, or misunderstood:

“You are more than what they see. You are purpose. You are strength. And with faith, grit, and grace, you’ll rise above it all.”

✨ What can we learn from Jave Arnaiz’s story?

Rise Above Judgment.

No matter how others label you, remember: you are stronger than their opinions, worthy beyond their words, and with faith and perseverance, you can become who you were meant to be. 🙌❤️

PAYTER GYUD NING MGA BISAYA!


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02/07/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩!

2002 — I was born
2007 — My mother died
2011 — My father died
2012 — My sister and I were taken in by our mother’s sibling. I called them Mom and Dad then and now. Loved by them. Nurtured. Supported
2015 — Graduated elementary
2017 — My dad got imprisoned
2018 — My mom died
2019 — My brother died
2021 — Graduated high school
2022 — Dad was released from prison
2023 — Diagnosed with major depressive disorder
2025 (June 17) — I graduated college
From a young age, life taught me grief before I could even spell the word.
Talaga namang I’ve faced loss, heartbreak, judgment, and moments that really broke me.
That’s why I don’t usually tell people my story. When someone asks, I just smile and change the topic, not because I'm ashamed, but because I know most people probably don’t care, and many won’t understand what it means to grow up with loss as your shadow.
But I want you to understand something:
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨, 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡. People who keep showing up, not because it’s easy, but because we don’t know how to give up.
There were times I didn’t want to get out of bed.
Times when I had no idea how I’d keep going.
Times I had no one to rely on but myself.
Times I had to carry the burden of survival alone.
I entered different jobs, anything I could find, just to suffice my studies.
I could’ve had every reason to stop gyud, to give up completely.
But no matter what was happening, one thing remained constant:
𝙄 𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥.
No matter where I was in life, kada enrollment—from high school until college— nagapa-enroll jud ko. (Proud to say never jud ko naka undang. Wala pud ko naka balik.)
Even when I was judged.
Laughed at.
Belittled.
Humiliated.
Underestimated.
Insulted.
They tried to make me feel small.
And I did feel small sometimes.
But I showed up anyway.
I didn’t have a lot of things.
No safety net. No backup.
No certainty.
I only had faith. I had grit.
I had purpose even when it felt blurry.
I worked in silence. I healed quietly. I cried quietly.
𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙠𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥.
Now here I am, not just a survivor, not just a student, but a graduate. If I hadn’t kept showing up, I wouldn’t be here.
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱.
And that’s where the magic starts.
So if you’re reading this and life feels heavy, this is your reminder:
•Even when your heart is breaking.
•Even when everything inside you wants to quit.
•Even when no one claps for you.
KEEP. SHOWING. UP!!!
Because that’s how you build a life.
That’s how you make it through.
That’s how you prove to yourself and the world that you are more than your pain,
more than your doubts, more than your fears, and that you are capable of rising again.
And when you rise, WOUNDED BUT WALKING, you start to see a bigger picture.
That maybe everything you’ve survived wasn’t just about enduring…
Maybe it was preparing you for something greater.
And someday, I will stand in rooms I never thought I’d reach.
I will speak for those who feel unheard,
because I once needed someone to speak for me because of loss.
I will be a light in dark places, a voice of hope for the hurting, and a reflection of love.
In time and in place, these hands, this voice, this heart, this person you see here
will go on to touch lives.
To inspire.
To prove that resilience can be louder than pain.
I will dedicate myself to being the help and hope that others need, not because I have all the answers. But because I have lived the questions.
Against all odds.

𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗜𝗘 𝗘. 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗛𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗔
Bukidnon State University
Class of 2025 — 𝗖𝗨𝗠 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗘

26/06/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧

It can be a harsh punch in the gut to get rejected from your first-choice program for college. Francis Kenneth Araya turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones, as he embraced his second-choice course on a whim and ultimately rose to the top as valedictorian and summa cm laude.

Araya initially set his eyes on medical technology when he decided to leave his hometown in Bicol and apply to the University of Santo Tomas. He picked biochemistry as his backup despite knowing little about it.

However, fate appeared to play a cruel joke on him as not only was he rejected from the medical technology program, but he was also placed on the waiting list for his second choice.

But Araya’s determination to pursue a bright future fueled him to persevere in securing a slot in biochemistry. And now, he graduated with flying colors, earning a general weighted average of 1.081 under a program that he picked without much thought.
Getting derailed from his goal

Before applying for college, Araya said that he and his batchmates felt like they were already at a disadvantage as there was no college entrance test during that time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools relied on grades and extracurricular activities for their applications.

"Until Grade 9 to Grade 11 kasi 'yung grades na considered for college. Eh karamihan sa amin, like me, hindi pa seryoso nung Grade 9 at Grade 10, so hindi ako masyado nag-hope or nag-expect na makakapasa ko but I still tried," he said.

Medical technology had been Araya's "dream program" since he was in high school, as he wanted to pursue a career in medicine.
"Wala akong naisip na second choice sa UST, medtech lang. Tapos naisip ko, applyan ko na lang kaya 'yung other courses within the Faculty of Pharmacy. Tinignan ko 'yung biochem, but before choosing biochem, binasa ko muna 'yung curriculum tapos 'yung description ng UST website. Sabi ko, 'Wow, ang cool ng subjects,' Hindi ko alam mahirap pala," he recalled.

Out of all the schools he applied to, Araya only passed two—UST and De La Salle University. Since he knew he couldn’t afford studying at DLSU, UST was his only option, which is why he persisted in emailing the department every day for two weeks until he finally secured a spot in the biochemistry program.

"I know there [are] many opportunities talaga in UST," he shared, adding that he wanted to live on his own. "I was sheltered by my grandparents, so parang sabi ko gusto ko din ma-try magbuhay mag-isa to get the full college experience."

As he began his university life, Araya encountered another hurdle: Physics and calculus, subjects he struggled with as a STEM student during senior high school.

However, his fears were eventually alleviated thanks to his professors. "Nung nalaman ko na first year, first term pa lang, we have Physics 1 tapos calculus, I was afraid, pero nung na-meet na namin 'yung mga professors, magaling naman silang magturo. So hindi ako masyado nahirapan adjusting, considering my STEM background din," he said.

With a scholarship to maintain, Araya strived to improve his math knowledge. One habit that helped was to summarize the formulas on one page so it would be easier for him to see them all.

"When I review, at least 'di na ako magbubuklat-buklat, nadyan na lang sila. In a way, kapag exam, navi-visualize ko kung saan nakalagay yung ganitong formula. Parang lahat ng study styles, ma-incorporate mo into the review.

But since medical technology was his original goal, Araya found himself torn between his dream and his reality in biochemistry.
"Initially, sabi ko try ko lang muna (biochemistry) kasi I really don't know what to expect sa course na pinili ko. Pero after a week or so, sobrang na-enjoy ko 'yung classes, especially our professors. They're very caring and magaling talaga silang magturo. So, I decided not to shift to another course," Araya said.

Araya further had a pivotal realization during his third year that led him to reconsider his medical school dreams.

"Kasi sa third year, lahat ng major biochem subjects namin, doon siya. Sobrang bigat and sobrang hirap niya, so parang doon ko na-realize na I may not be for medical school kasi I really don't like 'yung pag-memorize lang ng mga bagay-bagay. Gusto ko iniintindi," he shared.

It was also during this time that he began participating in research paper competitions. In 2024, Araya bagged the first place at the 7th International Symposium and 14th Annual Scientific Conference for his work on chemical hazards present in traditional v***r rub liniments.

This deepened his passion for the course even more.
"I didn't really expect na mananalo ako doon, considering na graduating students yung kalaban ko. After that win, I realized na maybe research really is the path for me. And research is really the core of biochem," Araya said.

"After nun, sunod-sunod na yung conferences na sinalihan ko. I went to [my hometown of] Bicol, tapos I also went to Korea noong May to compete as well. So given the gravity of the events that I attended, meron pala talagang moment na masasabi mo na nag-start ka lang from requirement sa subject tapos ma-rerealize mo na it would lead to bigger things. So, of course, sobrang saya lang sa feeling nun," he continued.

Araya is now aiming to pursue a Ph.D. program abroad, but still plans to return to the Philippines to contribute to the scientific community.

"Kulang talaga ng mga researchers na dedicated to their craft here in the Philippines, especially those researchers na 'yung vision nila for the future is malaki," he highlighted.

"Madami sa Pilipinas, pero karamihan umaalis kasi mas marami 'yung magandang opportunities sa ibang bansa. So, I hope to contribute to the Philippines by establishing [research] of my own here that may be related to healthcare," he added.

For now, Araya is celebrating his achievement as the valedictorian of UST Class of 2025 and continues to inspire his fellow students with his story.

"Whenever juniors would ask me kung paano ko nasurvive yung biochem, I always tell them to love the course. The course is really challenging, but when you find it interesting and when you love the course, sobrang mas mapapadali yung pag-aaral mo," he underscored.

For students who feel lost after a setback, he advised, "A rejection may feel like all your plans are broken, but you get to pick up those broken plans and you get to start again and form a new one. Looking back, grabe pala 'yung pinagdaanan ko na I was rejected from medical technology, and although disappointed, I really tried to do whatever I [could] with the given opportunity I [had at] that time."

"It's all up to you how you'll bounce back and pursue greater heights to overcome your rejection. Nasa sa'yo na yan if you'll [let] the rejection get to your head or not," he added.


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25/06/2025

Earlier this week, a 14-year-old boy named Elijah showed up alone at a small animal shelter in rural Iowa, holding a cardboard box with both hands. Staff members assumed he was dropping off a stray — but when they opened the box, they found a small, elderly dog wrapped in a baby blanket, with a note taped to the inside lid.

The note, written in neat but shaky handwriting, read:

“Her name is Pepper. She’s 16. My grandma passed away last week and she was her dog. I promised I’d take care of her but my foster family says I’m not allowed to keep pets. Please help her find a new home. She’s very good. I love her.”

The boy explained that he had walked over five miles from his foster home to bring Pepper to a safe place. He didn’t want her to end up on the street or in a kill shelter. He had been feeding her with his allowance money and saving bits of his own dinner for her. But he said goodbye anyway, gently kissed the dog’s forehead, and left the shelter quietly before anyone could stop him.

Touched by his story, the shelter staff immediately made Pepper their top priority. They shared her story — and Elijah’s note — on social media. Within 24 hours, the post had gone viral, reaching millions.

Donations poured in, not just for Pepper, but for Elijah too. A local couple who had lost their own dog months before came in to meet Pepper — and adopted her on the spot. Even more remarkably, after reading about the boy’s act of love, another family reached out and began the process to foster — and potentially adopt — Elijah himself.

This week, Elijah was reunited with Pepper in his new home. He cried when he saw her, and Pepper wagged her tail and leaned into him like no time had passed.

Sometimes the purest form of love comes from those who have the least to give — and give anyway.💞💞💞

23/06/2025

ℝ𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖

I was going to cry when I read this speech from the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, but at the end I said, "Glory to the God of Israel"

Let's read together:

Mr. Netanyahu said:

Only 70 years ago! The Jews were taken to slaughter like sheep.
🔵 60 years ago!
🔵 no country. No Army.
Seven Arab countries declared war on the small Jewish state, only a few hours after its creation!
🔵 we were 650,000 Jews against the many millions in the Arab world!
There was no strong IDF(Israel Defense Forces).
No powerful air force to save us but only brave Jewish people with nowhere else to go.
🔵Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia all attacked at the same time.
🔵the country that the United Nations gave us was a 65 % desert.
🔵 35 years ago! We fought the three most Powerful armies in the middle east, and we swept them in six days.
We fought against various coalitions of Arab countries, which had modern armies and many Soviet weapons, and we have always beaten them!
Today we have:
🔵 a State (Country)
🔵 an Army,
🔵 a Powerful Air Force,
🔵 A State-of-the-Art Economy with exports worth billions of dollars.
🔵 Intel - Microsoft - ibm & many high-tech companies develop cutting edge products in Israel
🔵 our doctors receive awards for medical research.
🔵 we make the desert bloom, and sell oranges, flowers and vegetables all over the world.
🔵 Israel has sent its own satellites into space!
🔵 three satellites at the same time!
🔵 We are proud to be at the same rank as:
🔵 The United States, which has 250 million inhabitants,
🔵 Russia, which has 200 million inhabitants,
🔵 China, which has 1.3 billion inhabitants;
🔵 Europeans - France, Great Britain, Germany - with 350 million inhabitants.
🔵 the only countries in the world to send objects into space!
🔵 and say that only 60 years ago,
🔵 we were led, ashamed and hopeless, to slaughter!
🔵 we have experienced the smoking ruins of Europe,
🔵 we have won our wars here in Israel with less than nothing
🔵 we built our little "Empire" from nothing.
Who's Hamas to scare me?
🔴 to terrify me?
🔴 you make me laugh!
🔴 Passover was celebrated;
Let's not forget what Passover is:
🔴 we survived Pharaoh,
🔴 we survived the Greeks,
🔴 we survived the Romans,
🔴 we survived the inquisition in Spain,
🔴 we have the pogroms in Russia,
🔴 we survived Hi**er,
🔴 we survived the Germans,
🔴 we survived the Holocaust,
🔴 we survived the armies of seven Arab countries,
🔴 we survived Saddam.
🔴 we will survive the enemies present
Think of any time in human history ⚠
Think about it, for us, the Jewish people,
🔷 the situation has never been better!
🔷 then let's face the world,
Let us remember:
🔶 all nations, empires or cultures
🔶 who once tried to destroy us,
🔶 no longer exist today - while we still live!
🔶 Egypt?
🔶 Babylon?
🔶 the Greeks?
🔶 Alexander of Macedonia?
🔶 The Romans? (does anyone still speak Latin these days? )
🔶 The Third Reich?
And look at us
🔵 The slaves of Egypt,
🔵 The People of Moses
🔵 The Nation of the Bible,
🔵 We are still here,
And Hebrew is still the official language of the State of Israel today:
🚩 from the time of the Bible and now!
🚩 Arabs don't know yet,
🚩 but they will learn that there is a God.
🚩 as long as we keep our identity, we are forever.
So forgive us for not worrying,
🔶 not to cry,
🔶 not to be afraid.
🔶 things are fine here.
🔶 they could certainly get better,
However:
🔴 Don't believe the media,
🔴 they don't tell you alot of good things about Israel
🔴 celebrations continue to take place in Israel,
🔴 people continue to live,
🔴 people keep coming out,
🔴 people continue to see friends.
Some claim our morale is low.
🔵 so what?
Only because we mourn our deaths while our enemies rejoice in the blood shed & war.
🔵 that is why we will win, in the end.
The God of Israel created the Heaven's and the Earth.
The Guardian of Israel never slumbers or sleep! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Forward this speech to the whole community,
🏆and to people around the world.
🏆they are part of our strength

Share this Post with your family, friends and colleagues. 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱

23/06/2025

𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 - a scholar, educator, and visionary philanthropist

👩‍🏫 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 & 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫
• Born in 1930 (née Ruth Levy), she earned her BA from Barnard College and her MA and EdD in educational psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University
• In 1968, she began working at Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center (CERC), developing pioneering methods to identify and treat learning disabilities in children.
• She founded the Adult Literacy Program in 1992 and the Emily Fisher Landau Center for the Treatment of Learning Disabilities in 1998
• Over decades, she rose to Clinical Professor Emerita of Pediatrics, profoundly impacting educational diagnostics and interventions
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🏛️ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 & 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲
• Joined the Einstein Board of Trustees in 2002, served as vice-chair and chair (2007–2014), and resumed as chair in 2020
• Married to financier David “Sandy” Gottesman in 1950; they had three children and six grandchildren
• Together, they funded a $6.5 M gift to Teachers College for its "Library of the Future" and a $3 M scholarship fund, among other academic causes _
_______________________________________
🎓 𝐓𝐡𝐞 $𝟏 𝐁 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭 & 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭
• After Sandy's passing in 2022, she inherited a substantial Berkshire Hathaway stock portfolio.
• On February 26, 2024, at age 93, Dr. Gottesman announced a $1 billion gift to Albert Einstein College of Medicine—aimed at funding tuition-free medical education in perpetuity
• This gift is the largest ever to a U.S. medical school, immediately reimbursed current students’ spring 2024 tuition and launched tuition-free education starting fall 2024
• With annual tuition around $60–100 K and median U.S. med school debt over $200 K, the gift is expected to attract more diverse, mission-driven students, particularly from underserved communities
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💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Reddit users enthusiastically celebrated the announcement:
“Free medical school tuition for all Einstein Medical school students… in perpetuity.”
“THE BRONX… received a $1 billion donation… My mom’s been a physician for 30 years… this is really… life changing.”
Students at the announcement reportedly cried, cheered, and hugged—emotionally overwhelmed by the news .
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🧭 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 & 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
• Dr. Gottesman’s gift embodies her lifelong dedication to education, social equity, and community health.
• By eliminating financial barriers, she hopes to empower future generations of physicians to serve underserved communities like the Bronx
• She stipulated that the school retain its name, honoring its legacy while reshaping its future



CTTO

23/06/2025

“𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆."

Just a few years ago, Eugene Dela Cruz was living on the streets, with no roof over his head and barely anything to eat.

On Saturday, the 25-year-old stood proud on the graduation stage of Ateneo de Manila University, finishing college with an honorable mention.

At the age of 12, he was thrown out of his home in Tondo, Manila after coming out as gay.

"Pinalayas po ako ng tatay ko sa bahay po namin dahil sa aking sekswalidad. Ayaw po kasi ng tatay ko na magkaroon ng panganay na bading at that time," dela Cruz said.

"Nung pinalayas po ako, tinapon lang lahat ng damit ko sa labas ng sari-sari store tapos pinulot ko lang po siya, hiyang-hiya po ako," he added.

His parents separated when he was just five years old. With nowhere else to turn to, he spent the next three years wandering the streets of Manila, sleeping on overpasses, in parked jeepneys and tricycles, on mall staircases, or anywhere he could find temporary shelter.

He begged strangers for spare change just to afford a meal. On some days, he would split a single piece of pandesal into three meals just to survive.

"Kapag sinuswerte po ako sa isang araw inaabot po ng 25 (pesos). Kapag meron po akong more than 20 (pesos), minsan po bumibili po ako ng kanin, minsan pinapasabawan ko na lang sa mga paresan. 'Yun na po 'yung pagkain at ulam ko on a lucky day, pero on worst nights minsan po piso, minsan wala," he said.

Due to living on the streets, he developed a chronic skin disease and struggled with hygiene, relying on public restrooms or a 'poso' when available.

"There were a lot of moments that I just cry myself to sleep. And say to God na Lord, kung 'di niyo man po ako gisingin bukas hindi po ako magrereklamo," he said.

Most of the time, he found himself searching for a parental figure.

"Madalas ko pong nafi-feel inggit pag nakikita ko po 'yung iba may magulang. 'Yung mga bagay na di ko dapat iniisip nung bata ako, iniisip ko na siya. How life could be easier for me if I only have parents," he said.

By chance, a relative saw him in Divisoria and asked if he wanted to work as a nanny for his half-brother in Leyte. Desperate to get off the streets, dela Cruz agreed. He moved in with his father and enrolled in a nearby public high school.

Later on, his father asked him to choose between continuing his studies or working as a nanny in exchange for food and shelter. Eugene chose to study, and eventually, his father left.

He started renting a bed space while relying on the kindness of teachers who supported him. When he could no longer afford the rent, his stepmother's sister took him in and occasionally shared meals with him.

To survive, he taught choreography for festival dances and offered math tutorials, using part of his earnings to give back to those who had helped him. Eventually, he graduated from high school with flying colors.

He then applied to the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University, and was accepted into all three with scholarships.

Ultimately, he chose Ateneo and took a degree in Economics.

"I just thought of a program na sabi ko, after graduating, gusto ko wide 'yung market kasi kailangan ko magtrabaho, kasi wala po akong matutuluyan. Ultimately 'yun yung decision ko, Economics para makapagtrabaho agad," dela Cruz said.

Through Ateneo's scholarship program, he was given a dorm and a monthly allowance to cover his basic needs. Still, he initially found it difficult to interact with his classmates and adjust to his new environment.

"Hiyang hiya po ako. 'Di naman maiiwasan na isipin na, 'Oh, Ateneo, maraming mayayaman,' tapos ako just barely getting by, umabot pa sa puntong pulubi," said.

He admitted there were many times he wanted to give up, but he chose to keep going. His years on the streets, he says, shaped him into who he is today—stronger, tougher, and more determined.

"Kapag nahihirapan po ako at any point in my life after po ako mawala sa streets, iniisip ko lang po ano yung napagdaanan ko dati na parang 'Ngayon ka pa ba susuko na may k**a ka na, may natutulugan ka na, may makakain ka na?'" he said.

"I'll be doing myself a disservice kung ngayon pa po ako titigil. 'You owe it to your 12-year-old self na tapusin to'," he added.

Dela Cruz is grateful to everyone who helped him along the way and says will always carry that sense of gratitude with him.

"Ngayon na nandito ako, nagpapasalamat na lang ako na di ako pinabayaan ng Panginoong Diyos tska sa mga taong nagbibigay kasi papiso-piso nung pulubi ko, kasi 'yun po ang nagtaguyod sakin," he said.

CTTO

27/04/2024