Habal-habal driver Leo Abella on graduation day.
(CDN PHOTO/RENE F. ALIMA)
Habal-Habal motorcycle driver Leon Abella didn’t let poverty stop him from achieving his dreams.
Abella, a 22-year-old resident of barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City graduated top of his class as valedictorian at the Don Andres Soriano National High School last Friday.
It was a sweet vindication for Abella who dropped out of school at 9 years old when his parents died in 2002.
Two of his sisters were unable to support him since they have their own families in Pinamungajan town. This left Abella to find work to survive on his own.
He was a helper in the meat section of the Toledo City public market, earning P300 a month.
Abella saved some money in order to resume his education. At 15 years old, Abella went back to school and enrolled in Grade 2. When he finished elementary school, he worked as a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver to pay for his high school education.
A teacher, Loella Cal, saw how he struggled to finish his education, and went out of her way to support him.
Abella said he worked hard everyday to prove that he deserves every chance he’s given to better himself.
“Mensahe nako sa mga estudyante nga magtarong lang sa eskwela bahala ug lisod. Maningkamot lang. Sa akong edad nga 22 wa ni igsapayan makabot lang ang pangandoy (No matter how difficult it is, one should work hard. At my age of 22 years old, there was no letup so long as I achieved my dreams),” Abella said.