Inspiring
Kid Who Can’t Even Afford Shoes, Grows Up to Become NCAA Season 95 MVP
A kid who can’t even afford shoes, grows up to become the NCAA Season 95 Most Valuable Player (MVP)! And he admits to not even liking basketball as a kid!
Becoming a Basketball Star
Sharing his story on Facebook page “Im a Baller”, San Beda University’s forward Calvin Oftana wowed netizens as he narrated the challenging road he took before becoming a basketball star.
With Calvin earning the distinction as the Most Valuable Player award for the NCAA Season 95, everyone assumed that he breathed basketball even before he learned to walk! That’s how so many athletes began, anyway.
But Calvin admits that basketball was the last thing on his mind while growing up.
Back in his hometown in Siaton, Negros Oriental, he represented Bonbonon Elementary School in Track and Field, winning the 100-meter dash at the District Meet back in Grade 5. His school adviser urged him to play basketball because his height is a great advantage.
He began playing basketball and later became part of the town’s Siaton Basketball Team. They finished fourth after playing against many teams all over the province of Negros Oriental. But he didn’t think much about it. He didn’t really like basketball, anyway.
In high school, he left basketball to focus on volleyball. He and his friends would even make letters to ask permission so they could borrow a ball to play with.
One day, he and his friends thought about making a makeshift basketball ring using steel bar and a water hose. His love for the basketball anime series ‘Slam Dunk’ plus the makeshift basketball ring would soon help him develop an interest in the sport.
He began watching YouTube tutorials and videos about playing basketball. He began joining games for ‘Liga ng Barangay’.
“That time may mga league na sa town namin which is naglalaro ako both senior and junior. Sa junior team namin sobrang saya na nakakapagod dahil we need to solicit pa para magkauniform. 😅 Naghahakut kami ng buhangin para lang sa jersey. Haha yun yung dko makakalimutan sa mga tropa ko,” Calvin shared.
“Pinapahiram pa ako ng sapatos ng isa kung teammate dahil wala akong masuot that time thanks to you HARDISK ANQUE at hindi ko pa nabalik sapatos nya ay nasira na 😅Shoutout sa BONBONON KUROKU BASKETBALL hahaha.”
He was picked to join the team that represented Negros Oriental in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVRAA) meet. Although the team didn’t win, he got the attention of Asian College head coach, Michael Villahermosa. He was offered full college scholarship. He studied for 2 years at Asian College before his journey led him to San Beda College.
For someone from the province, it was a huge challenge for Calvin to adjust with his life in the big city. But he found a father figure in Coach Boyet Fernandez. His teammates would also become good friends.
For NCAA Season 95, the team failed to win the championship trophy but Calvin went home as the season’s MVP!
“Getting the MVP award is Nothing to Me, oo REWARD sya sa pagpunta ko ng maaga sa court, pag eextra work, pero that MVP award is NOTHING WITHOUT MY TEAMMATES and my COACHES. They work so hard para makuha ko yun at nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila talaga. Ang GOAL talaga namin noon is to WIN THAT TITLE,” Calvin explained.
Just like other athletes, he hopes to play pro. And that might be within his reach soon…
What’s the NCAA?
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is an athletics association of ten colleges and universities in the Philippines. It is not affiliated with the NCAA of the US but is often the place for scouts to find players for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the Philippines’ professional basketball league.
Inspiring
SHS Student Brings Photos of Late Parents on Graduation Day
A senior high school (SHS) student brought framed photos of her late parents on her graduation day, touching many hearts and making netizens cry.
Her story has gone viral, with many netizens cheering her on and praying for her success in life…
SHS Student Brings Photos of Late Parents on Graduation Day
Graduation day is one of the best days in a student’s life, but it’s not always the happiest for all.
Some also experience a bittersweet moment because their loved ones aren’t with them. While many are due to having OFW parents who can’t be home for the special, others are because the parents have already passed on.
SHS student Juvelyn Dela Torre Eugenio, 18, of North Cotabato made netizens cry after she carried her parents’ framed photos as she marched and posed on stage to receive her diploma.
She explained that during recognition days and other special events when she was younger, it was always her mother who would accompany her on stage.
She wants to share her success and milestones with her parents, but they’re no longer around.
They lost their father to heart failure in July 2020.
In 2022, the siblings decided to let their mother enjoy a vacation with her older children in Manila, only to discover that she was sick and already in the terminal stages of a stage 4 battle with the Big C. They lost her shortly thereafter.
Juvelyn shared that losing their parents took a toll on her mental health, especially because she had to stand as a parent to her younger brother.
On graduation day, she vowed that she wouldn’t cry despite seeing all the other students with their parents.
But she broke down on stage when a concerned teacher asked her about her parents and offered words of consolation after she showed her their photos.
Despite the challenges, Juvelyn plans on continuing her journey as she dreams of becoming a lawyer someday.
How to Become a Lawyer in the Philippines
- Complete a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Arts or Sciences.
- Pass the PhiLSAT (Philippine Law School Admission Test)
- Complete law school.
- Complete the law internship.
- Pass the bar exams.
Did you know that lawyers in PAO (Public Attorney’s Office) with an entry-level position (Public Attorney I) earn a basic salary of Php95,000 (salary grade 25)?
Inspiring
Elementary Students Praised for Playing “One Day” Using Ukuleles
Elementary students at a school in Mindanao earned praise online after playing “One Day” using their ukuleles for a presentation.
Many netizens were impressed about their skills, with some commenting that it’s a difficult piece to play on a ukulele, yet most of them nailed it! Wow.
Elementary Students Play “One Day” Using Their Ukuleles
A lot of people these days have this mistaken notion that kids are only fond of using cellphones and no longer enjoy playing with traditional toys or learning how to use a traditional musical instrument – because you can find lots of options for those online or with their phones.
But a group of students from Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School impressed netizens with their skills in playing the ukulele as they presented “One Day” for the school’s 100-year celebration.
Seated on the steps of their school, the kids played the musical instruments seamlessly, except for a few issues.
And while some netizens pointed out that one of the kids appear to be struggling with the proper chords and kept shifting around during the entire performance, the overall presentation is still quite impressive!
Many netizens even commented on the post of the Facebook page “Kung Taga-Oroquieta City Ka” that they were deeply touched by the kids’ presentation and were crying while watching. Awww.
A lot also praised the coaches who made this possible – and others felt proud of the children even if they had no idea who these little ones are.
It’s also quite impressive to see that the class had so many ukuleles. It is unknown whether the kids own the musical instruments or if the school provided them, but what’s clear is that their presentation is truly admirable.
What’s a Ukulele?
A ukulele is a type of string musical instrument that’s smaller than a guitar. It usually has nylon strings as opposed to the metal used in standard guitars.
The instrument also has four strings but isn’t considered a “kid’s instrument” only. Instead, it can be played by kids and adults alike.
Inspiring
Proud Vendor Dad Offers Free Taho after Daughter Passes Board Exams for Teachers
One proud vendor dad offered free taho for everyone when his daughter passed the LET (Licensure Examination for Teachers).
Netizens were even more impressed to learn that the young lady passed after doing a self-review.
Truly amazing, right?
Vendor Offers Free Taho after Daughter Passes Teacher’s Board
Passing the board exams is truly a milestone that everyone can be proud of – and most of the time, the parents are their children’s proudest cheerleaders!
Of course, spouses and kids also feel the same thing. For example, a taxi driver offered free rides after his wife passed the LET.
The proud parents of a student who passed that same LET are also offering free taho to their customers.
Bobby and Rose Torallo happily got a tarpaulin up to celebrate the success of their daughter, Rosebel Cielo Torallo. The young woman had graduated cum laude from Baao Community College in Baao, Camarines Sur.
Apparently, based on her mom’s post on Facebook, she had also self-reviewed for the licensure exams – and this made her success even sweeter for the family.
In the post of her mom, Rose, it showed that the family’s main source of income is from selling taho. It was through this that the parents were able to send their kids to school.
Rose lamented that there were times when people looked down on their because they are “just” taho vendors.
Thankfully, the family didn’t mind what these people are saying. Instead, they persevered and put their faith in God.
She thanked all her kids for cooperating and striving hard to succeed in their studies even if their parents are only supporting them by selling taho.
How to Celebrate Passing the Board Exams
There are many ways to celebrate passing the board the exams. Some of these are:
- Throwing a party
- Buying cake
- Going on a trip
- Treating your family, friends, or even strangers to something (such as a free rides from taxi drivers or free taho from vendors)
SHS Student Brings Photos of Late Parents on Graduation Day
Elementary Students Praised for Playing “One Day” Using Ukuleles
Supermarket Goes Viral for Flag-Inspired Instant Noodle Display to Honor Independence Day
Proud Vendor Dad Offers Free Taho after Daughter Passes Board Exams for Teachers
