Pursue Your Dreams: Never Give Up.

First I was born in hand to mount Family. Mag sasasa ang Tatay (Nipa Hat Plantation farmer) at ang Nanay ko is kakanin verdor and fish vendor. Sometimes she would do part time doing the laundry of other people's clothes. Labing isa kaming magkakapatid you have to remember.

I would go to school 3 times a week and 4 days a week I would help my mum selling fish or I would spend full day with my dad's muddy, mosquito infested, cold and wet work place. I hated it. That's when I ask my dad, "Tay gusto ko pong mag aral" I was crying. My dad's answer was this "anak paano ka mag aaral eh mahirap lang tayo." He was crying too. I felt the frustrations. I felt the desire for him to send me to school but he can't do his job alone. That moment, I made the defining decision that changed my life forever at a very young age. I will finish my studies no MATTER WHAT.

I did everything I could. I worked for money. Nag kundoktor ako ng jeep while I was in high school. (Most of the time naakusahan ako na nagungupit sa kita ng jeep) but I just bowed my head and continue coz I know that it was not true. Sumama ako maging laborer ng construction at the age of 12-15. I sold Ice Cream and Ice candy sticks on the streets. My dad and I would go round the entire town buying and selling "bote-garapa at bakal-tanso-aluminum".

I spent all my summers doing summer jobs. I never grew up like a proper kid. If sometimes I managed to play a bit with my friends mapapalo pa ako.

Back in college, I was determined to finish my education. I thought if I could finish my studies, this is my ticket out of poverty. I could help my mum and dad getting out my siblings from hardships in life too. Last April 2018, my youngest brother finished college too. Thanks to the whole family.

I was blessed. God gave me countless opportunities to attain those that I prayed for. God gave me tools to make my dreams come true, I just utilised them. God gave me generous people whom I am forever grateful. I was given understanding formators. I was gifted with thoughtful and supportive friends.

Sa hindi nakakakilala sa akin, I am Anthony. I am the eldest amongst 11 siblings. I live in the UK. I have a beautiful family here, I have 2 lovely kids. I am studying full time nursing and on my last year in University this year at the age of 40. I studied bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and eventually took bachelor of Science in Secondary Education way back in the Philippines. We own our house, I drive a car from A to B. I am a vlogger and lastly I am a business owner.

My CV seems a lot. It is a lot. Not including various jobs I have worked here in the UK. But I to get where I am now is not a journey in the Park. It is not handed over to me. I have to work hard to attain where I am now.

Life is never easy. It is never fair. But I never blamed anybody. See, success is is taking full control of your life. I never doubted myself that one day I would hold that diploma. I would make my dad proud.

Have a Blessed Friday Everyone.

Don't Live your Life Based on what other people Says

When I was in high school, I was bullied.  Galing ako sa mahirap na pamilya.  Yung gusto lang makipagkaibigan sa akin is yung katulad kong mahirap lang.  

I get it because I was not as cool as them.  I begin to think that "they" were better than me.  That their definition of cool is different to mine kind of cool.  I made myself believe that what they say about me is right so I have to please them.  That was a messed up.  

I took that attitude in the seminary where I studied my college.  I realised that all I was doing was pleasing other people.  I volunteered  because I want to make people people think I am good at something.  I try and make the best out of my subjects (although it didn't work.  I still got low grades in some of them) just to convince myself and people around me I am good.  I felt sad when people says otherwise. I would barrow someones clothes just to look cool and decent.  I would wear someone's shoes or watch just to look nice.   I was very insecure though I could hide pretty good.  My life revolved on what people says about me.  I didn't care about who I am.  

Dude, that was pretty messed up.  My life was lonely.  My life was just a big lie until I seek for help and realised there is better me inside.  I started to appreciate myself a little.  I started to do things for myself not because others would want me to but because I wanted to.  And to my surprised, It was pretty cool.  I begun to feel joy.  Contentment of what I am and what I have.  

People who get messed up in life are those people who always rely what other people has to say. Today  look at that mirror before you go out tell to the person you in that mirror that is he blessed because God created him the greatest person in the world.  Have a good day.