- A Facebook netizen named Robin Lee Metiam shared how a twenty-peso bill helped him survive college.
- According to him, the said amount was his daily allowance for the whole five years he spent in college.
Not all students are born with a silver spoon.
There are some who can at least afford to eat three times a day, and there are also a few who could barely afford the tuition fee.
In most families that aren’t well-off, some of the family members make a sacrifice by taking some time off in college to support their younger siblings. Moreover, they would even apply for part-time jobs just to be able to survive each day and help lessen their family’s expenses.
One of the students who made a huge sacrifice during his college days is Robin Lee Metiam.
He took a five-year course in college carrying a measly amount of twenty pesos for his daily allowance. Metiam endured this kind of setup until he finally graduated in college.
Metiam shared his experience in his Facebook account to serve as an inspiration for the students who are thinking that poverty is a hindrance to success.
Read how he survived his journey:
“Hanggang saan aabot ang 20 pesos mo?”
20 pesos…
marahil halos lahat tayo hindi kayang mabuhay sa araw araw na 20 pesos lang ang pera…lalong lalo na sa mga estudyante na kung titignan ehh parang sa pamasahe palang ehh ubos na…
20 pesos…dyan sa halagang yan umikot ang limang taon ko sa kolehiyo…
First year college ako nung tuluyang mawalan ng trabaho ang aking Papa. Pito kaming magkakapatid at anim sa amin ang nag aaral pa dahil si ate pa lamang ang nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Napilitang maparaya ang kuya ko dahil hindi talaga kaya ng pamilya namin. Pinili nya na ako na lang muna ang mag aral kesa sya dahil mas mahal ang matrikula nya kesa sa akin.
Ang unang taon ko sa kolehiyo ang pinaka mahirap na parte. Dahil mag mula sa 50 pesos na baon ko nung ako’y hayskul ay naging 20 pesos na lang…at yung ng pinilit kong pinagkakasya sa araw araw.
7 pesos pamasahe papuntang eskwelahan
7 pesos pamasahe pauwi ng bahay
6 pesos ang natitira na aking inuunti-unting ubusin sa buong araw…(presyong pang palamig at isang pirasong kendi lang)
Nagugulat ako kasi kahit na parang imposibleng mabuhay sa ganung sitwasyon ay nakaraos kaming buong pamilya...”
Metiam wondered how he survived his college days with only twenty pesos in his pocket, considering how expensive the fares are.
According to him, it was during his first year in college when their family faced a huge financial crisis in their family. Due to their situation, he had no choice but no endure his hunger just to make his allowance enough for the whole day.
“Dumating ang pangalawang taon ko sa kolehiyo, mas humirap ang buhay dahil mas nagmahal ang bilihin at mas dumami ang gastusin…napilitan akong maging isang working student, mag aaral sa umaga, MATH at SCIENCE TUTOR sa gabi. Pero eto din yung time na NAKILALA KO SI LORD kaya nagkaroon ng PAGBABAGO sa takbo ng buhay ko…
Kahit papano’y gumaan ang bigat na pinapasan ng aming pamilya dahil hindi na ako binibigyan ng baon, dahil ako na ang nagbibigay nun sa sarili ko…hahahaha 20 pesos pa din ang baon ko araw araw (tipid mode pa din syempre) para makaipon ako…at kapag nakakaipon ako’y binibigay ko sa aking mga magulang upang kahit papano’y makatulong na din sa kanila…at dahil Kristyano na ako…eto na ang budget ko.
7 pesos pamasahe papuntang eskwelahan(Wala ng pauwi kasi nag lalakad na lang ako)
2 pesos for Tithes(Syempre matik na yan)
11 pesos ang natitira (Isang palamig at isang tinapay na ang nabibili ko sa mag hapon hahaha)
nabigyan ako ng CHANCE na makapagQUALIFY for DOST Scholarship pero sa kinasamaang palad, HINDI AKO PUMASA! Hahahahaha.”
Things got even harder when he reached on his second year. The budget was getting smaller and smaller by the time, and he had no choice but to work as a tutor while he was studying.
He felt a bit relieved since he was already supporting himself through his sideline. However, he decided to stick to his twenty-peso budget to save more money.
“Third year College ako, same problem pa din…pero mas dumami lalo ang gastusin dahil papasok na sa kolehiyo at hayskul mga kapatid ko…Pero ang nakakamangha dito…For the second time around nabigyan ako ng ulit ako ng CHANCE na makapagQUALIFY for DOST Scholarship…this time hindi ko na ito pinakawalaan…PINAG PRAY AND FAST, AT PATULOY AKONG NAG TAPAT SA LORD! Kaya hindi na ako nagulat nung malaman kong PASADO ako!Isa na akong Iskolar para sa Bayan
Nag open ito ng opportunity na mas makatulong sa pamilya at syempre makatulong din para sa iba(sa mga Inaalagaan sa CellGoup, sa mga kapatid na nagkukulang sa pinansyal, sa gawain para sa Panginoon through Campus Ministry and Outreach, at sa kung sino pang nangagailangan)
Pero syempre kahit nag level up man…hindi pa din ako nagbago ng Lifestyle…
20 pesos is real kaso iba na ang budgeting ko..
20 for food allowance sa isang buong araw(nakahiwalay na ang budget para sa pamasahe, other gastos, at syempre pati ang Tights and Offering for the Lord sa tuwing matatanggap ko yung allowance ko sa DOST)”
As if their problems were never ending, their loads got heavier once more because his siblings were began moving up and they needed a bigger budget.
Surprisingly, Metiam got another opportunity to get a scholarship and passed after failing the same back when he was in second year. Moreover, his budget improved as the twenty-peso limit only applies for his food for the day. Since he began receiving allowance from DOST, he could already spend for his fare, other expenses and offerings to the church.
“Pinagpatuloy ko itong lifestyle na ito hanggang sa makaabot ako ng 4th year at 5th year college at ngayon na Grumaduate ako last June 15,2017…
Grabe kase ang tinuro ng Panginoon sa akin gamit ang 20 pesos na yan…Tinuruan akong magtiyaga, mas lalong pahalagahan ang mga bagay bagay na meron ako, at higit sa lahat ay mas lalo akong naturuang mas Kumapit at mag tiwala sa Panginoon sa lahat ng Oras.
Ikaw…
Hanggang saan kaya aabot ang 20 pesos mo?
Kase ako…
ito ang inabot ng 20 Pesos ko with the Lord…”
Metiam said that his faith brought him to the finish line even though he didn’t have much.
After all his hardships, he finally graduated in college and his family is also doing well in the present.
“Sa Ngayon…
Nagkaroon ng Regular na trabaho si Papa, si kuya, yung asawa ni kuya, at si ate. Si mama naman hindi na nasosobrahan sa pagkastress dahil hindi na nahihirapang magbudget hahahahah xD
Graduating na sa College yung isa kong kapatid..Grade 10, Grade 7, at Grade 5 yung aming mga bunso! Konti na lang talaga at maaabot na ang pinapangarap na namin mas magandang buhay J
At ako naman…
Mr. Robin Lee N. Metiam
Degree Holder (Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering)
Working Student
Electrical Plan Designer
DOST Scholar
Regional Math Wizard
2-Term President of Campus Movers for Christ-TSU Chapter
Youth Leader
Cell Leader
Worship Leader
At lahat ng eto ay hindi mangyayari sa buhay ko kung hindi dahil sa ating Panginoong Hesu-Kristo! Kaya sa Kanya lamang ang pinaka mataas na Papuri, Pasasalamat, at Pagsamba!
Sya ang dahilan ng katagumpayang nararanasan ko sa aking buhay ngayon…
Totoong totoo talaga ng bawat pangako Nya sa Jeremiah 29:11; “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Hinding-hindi tayo mahahadlangan ng Kahirapan dahil Mararanasan at mararanasan natin ang the best na buhay kasama ang Panginoon! Tayo ay MATAGUMPAY NA!
#MiracleIn20Pesos
#GreatPlanOfTheLord
#BreakingThePovertyMindset
#AllGloryToGod
Sa lahat ng nakatag at hindi man nakatag dito Maraming maraming salamat sa buhay nyo! Hindi ko man kayo mapasalamatan ng isa-isa pero sa puso’t isipan ko’y sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa inyo. Mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat! God Bless Us More and more and more!”
He shared that his measly twenty pesos brought him to where he is right now – a degree holder ready to apply his knowledge in the field he had chosen.
Metiam also shared that if it wasn’t for the Almighty, he wouldn’t have been a successful man today.
Meanwhile, the netizens who had read his post were amazed by the kind of attitude he showed during his college days.
The kind of perseverance and determination he had fueled him to continue his journey to the top – and there he was, holding his hard-earned degree.
Metiam proved that success is based on the mindset a person has, and not through his family’s wealth. Poverty is not, and never will be a hindrance to those who want to succeed.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Share your opinions with us!