"I was born a poor man, the son of a school teacher
in one of the smallest towns in the Philippines--Baler.
My father had, besides his salary, a two-hectare
rice-land which he cultivated. While I was a boy and
during my early youth, my father saved as much as he
could from his meager salary and from what he could
get from his rice-field, only to have a few hundred pesos
with which to give me an education. During those
Spanish days, a Filipino family could live in a small
town on four pesos a month and a supply of rice. Thus,
did my family live for years. When I was at the age of
five, an aunt of mine started to teach me to read and write. My own father
and mother, and the priest of the town later gave me my primary
instruction. At the age of nine, I was brought by my father to Manila and
began my secondary education at the San Juan de Letran College. First, I
lived in the Convent of San Francisco serving as a room-and-mess boy for
one priest, receiving no salary, except board and room. Then, my father
moved me to the house of an aunt where for some pesos, I roomed and
boarded. The house was located in Paco, too far from the Walled City for
him who could only use his own feet as a means of transportation. My
classes started at seven o'clock in the morning and I had to get up very
early to reach my classes on time. Again, this impaired my health, and the
following year, I was taken by my father to San Juan de Letran as an
intern. I remained as an intern until I graduated as A.B. with the highest
honors. By this time, the savings of my father had all been spent on my
education. He owed money, and simply told me that I had to stop my
studies unless I could work my way through university education. I came
to Manila and spoke to my Dominican professors, who, by this time, had
become very fond of me, and told them of my situation. I wanted to be a
lawyer, but could not pay for my expenses. They secured a position for me
as one of the helpers in the University of Santo Tomas with room and board
and free tuition. Thus, I was able to take up the study of law.”
1. Are you inspired by his journey in the pursuit of his dream?
2. What do you think was his purpose in sharing this part of his life to
his audience?
3. How did his story affect your personal views about your studies and
your dreams?​