A polio survivor has become an inspiration to many after sharing the story of how he cycled 77.8 km a week and worked as a housekeeper during school days so he can go to college.

All these sacrifices made his graduation photos even more inspiring… Isn’t he awesome?

Polio Survivor Cycled 77.8 km a Week to Go to College

These days, we rarely hear news of people contracting polio – that’s thanks to the readily available vaccines that are provided by the government for free.

Many of those who were affected by polio experienced leg paralysis. There were even fatal cases, particularly if the virus affected their breathing muscles. Many ended up with deformed legs.

What’s inspiring is that there are people who didn’t take their situation stop them from reaching for their dreams.

One of these is Jay-Ar Abuda, a graduate of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Guiuan campus. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology majoring in Food Technology even with the many challenges.

He’s a polio survivor.

At the end of the week, he would cycle 38.9 kilometers to go home to Quinapondan in Eastern Samar. Then, he would cycle back another to Guiuan where he was studying, Rappler reported.

That’s certainly a challenging feat for the polio survivor, yet he persevered.

Determined to go to school, he works as a housekeeper at the boarding house of a certain “Lola Teldeng” while he’s in Guiuan. This gave him the chance to have free board and lodging while he studied.

Amazingly, this young man also drives a pedicab during his free time so he can support his 70-year-old mother back at their hometown and his younger sister’s studies (she recently finished a tourism course in Tacloban City).

Now that he was able to graduate from college, he plans on finding a job soon so that he can support his mother and sister.

Polio in the Philippines

Thankfully, polio was declared by the WHO (World Health Organization) as officially eradicated in the Philippines since 2000 (although there was an outbreak in 2019-2021).

The son of a sidewalk vendor and tricycle driver went viral and became an inspiration to others after graduating from an engineering course in La Salle, known to be a “rich kids’ school.”

His journey to reaching his dreams inspired netizens to also try their best to achieve their goals in life…

Sidewalk Vendor & Tricycle Driver’s Son Graduates from La Salle

There are schools in the Philippines that are famous for being really expensive and are dubbed as a “rich kids’ school.”

La Salle and Ateneo are two of these schools, known for having tuition fees that are worth an ordinary worker’s 1-year salary.

So, how did the son of a sidewalk vendor and tricycle driver study in such an expensive school?

The answer is really a no-brainer: a scholarship.

Joshua Mahilum, 22, graduated from the University of St. La Salle (USLS) in Bacolod City as a scholar of the DOST (Department of Science and Technology) and the prestigious school.

He earned his chemical engineering degree from the university’s College of Engineering and Technology – and he did it with flying colors, having been awarded as an Outstanding Student.

You might be surprised to learn that it was Joshua’s parents who encouraged him to study at La Salle.

Joshua’s mom, Jennifer, sells food to drivers outside the school. She had only completed Grade 2, and wanted to ensure that her son wouldn’t experience the hardships that she went through because of her lack of education.

However, the family couldn’t afford to send him to college. Joshua’s dad, Ramil, used to be an electrician but became a tricycle driver after losing his leg in an accident. He wears a prosthetic leg.

Despite the financial constraints, his mom encouraged Joshua to seek scholarships from La Salle because he completed junior high school as first honor.

“I was hesitant at first because, first and foremost, it is very, very expensive, and I did not know how to interact with rich kids, but my mother was persistent and made it possible,” he admitted.

Thankfully, he passed the rigorous selection process and was able to get a full scholarship from the Liceo De La Salle SHS (senior high school).

When he was in Grade 12, a classmate lent him Php200 to take the DOST scholarship – and he passed.

Since the scholarship only covered half the tuition fees, his mom sought the help of the school’s Admissions Scholarships Office.

Thankfully, he got a scholarship that covered the rest of the amount. He also received a monthly allowance from the DOST, enabling him to buy a laptop and get a WiFi connection at home.

“Poverty is not a hindrance to success as long as there are opportunities,” he shared.

DOST Scholarship Privileges

Some of the privileges enjoyed by DOST scholars:

• Tuition and other school fees (in private schools) – Actual fees up to ₱40,000.00 per year
• Learning materials and/or connectivity allowance – ₱10,000.00 per year
• Monthly living allowance – ₱7,000.00 per month
• Clothing allowance – ₱1,000 (first semester of first year only)
• Transportation allowance (one economy-class roundtrip fare; only for those studying outside their home province)
• Group accident and health insurance – Premium payment
• Thesis allowance – ₱10,000.00
• Graduation allowance – ₱1,000.00

A school janitor dad and his daughter have become an inspiration to many after graduating from senior high school together.

It proves that it’s never really too late to start working on your dreams, even if you’re at the same pace as your own children.

School Janitor and Daughter Graduate from Senior High School

Many school janitors stay in this position because, despite working in a learning facility, they’re unable to finish their studies and find a better, higher-paying job.

But Tatay Eleazar Begornia recently went viral after he graduated from senior high school alongside his daughter, Jenalyn Begornia.

A janitor at Immaculate Conception Institutions where his daughter also studies, Tatay Eleazar was encouraged by his superiors to go back to school.

He happily acknowledged that even with his “lowly” position, the school officials never looked down on him or told him to focus on his job rather than his studies.

Instead, they were the ones who encouraged him to study.

Since he’s older than most of the students in the school and it had been a long time since he last went to school, he admits to feeling “rusty.” Thankfully, his daughter was there to help him out.

Jenalyn became Tatay Eleazar’s private tutor.

Aside from being father and daughter, Jenalyn said that they also became good friends. They studied together. During school breaks, they also spent time talking and eating together.

It was also advantageous to the young student because someone, well her dad, paid for her food.

Thankfully, the two of them managed to make it and they graduated together – definitely a double celebration for the family.

Jenalyn plans to take hospitality tourism in college.

Considering their finances, Tatay Eleazar didn’t have plans at first to go to college – but the school surprised him with a scholarship! So, he’s planning to take up Physical Education so he can be a PE teacher.

Inspiring Janitors and School Workers

Tatay Eleazar isn’t the only janitor to have completed his education.

Some years ago, Emmanuel Ricalde also went viral after graduating with the course of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration diploma, major in Business Management, from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) where he worked as janitor.