At 23, Jayco Bianes should be enjoying the usual things that come with being young: family, fun, and a future full of dreams.
But life had different plans.
From a small town in San Policarpo, Samar, Jayco has known hardship for as long as he can remember. His mother died when he was just five years old. His father, now nearly 70, does his best to fish when the sea is calm. But on most days, there’s barely enough to eat.
Still, Jayco dreams.
“There were times I didn’t eat for two to three days. I’d cry quietly at night and ask God, ‘Will I ever finish school?’”
Jayco wanted to be a teacher or an engineer. But when his cousin offered to help him enroll in Agriculture course, he took the chance. It wasn’t his first choice, but over time, it became his passion.
Then, his cousin, the one who once helped, had to stop supporting him.
Jayco was suddenly on his own. To survive, he cleaned the boarding house in exchange for shelter. He took odd jobs like sweeping yards, running errands, or anything just to afford his school projects and food.
“One night, I told God, ‘Even just one scholarship, please.'”
That prayer was answered when Operation Blessing stepped in.
Since becoming a scholar, Jayco has been able to focus on school without worrying where his next meal would come from.
But his journey isn’t just about poverty. Jayco also lives with the effects of polio. He walks differently, and growing up, he was often bullied.
“I didn’t fight back. After all, what they said was true. But it really hurt.”
Jayco learned to ignore the noise, push past the pain, and hold on to hope. Now, he has graduated from senior high and is currently reviewing for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists (LEA) board exam, which he plans to take in November.
“Thank you to everyone who supports Operation Blessing. Because of you, I was able to finish school. Because of you, I still believe I have a future.”
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Help us support more aspiring students through our Back-To-School Project. To give, please call 09399215543 or 09189067753 or give to www.operationblessing.ph.
DSWD-SB-PSP-S-2025-000059