There was a mixture of excitement and nervousness in the air as 47 scholars showed up for their orientation day at the fourth floor of the Every Nation building on May 30, 2008.
We had new scholars who needed introduction, but most of the young men and women present knew each other from either school or their neighborhood. The morning started out with a game which helped break the ice and everyone’s initial shyness – the rest of the morning was spent listening to Doc Joey Castro, our Programs Director, lay down the guidelines and expectations of Real LIFE. If Doc Joey’s role was to challenge them, the role of Real LIFE’s Executive Director, Lynn Nawata, was to encourage the scholars to do their best and to not give up in the face of adversity.
After a filling lunch of fried chicken and rice, our scholars spent the afternoon taking two tests given by the Center for Educational Measurement. The first test given was to measure preferences for various types of occupation; the second test was to help identify specific abilities for the purpose of educational and vocational guidance.
These tests were sponsored by Real LIFE in order for us to more effectively guide our scholars in making the right decisions for their career choices.
After a long day, each one went home with a kit that was prepared especially for them. The kit included items they would need to keep track of their expenses and their experiences as a Real LIFE scholar. We said good bye to tired but happy faces, saying a silent prayer over each one, hoping that we would see the same faces next year indicating their success and readiness to go through yet another year of LIFE.
Held at the building’s covered terrace, the evening started with Real LIFE’s newly appointed executive director, Lynn Nawata, welcoming the graduates and congratulating them for their hard earned achievement. Victory Fort Bonifacio’s senior pastor and a Real LIFE partner, Pastor Joey Bonifacio, said the opening prayer before dinner was formally served.
After the banquet, Dr. Joey Castro, recognized each scholar with a limited edition Real LIFE watch as a gift. Selected Real LIFE scholars shared their stories and testified how God touched their lives and accomplish the dream of finishing school. They ended their talk by honoring their parents and thanking the donors.
Recording artist Christian Bautista, who is also a Real LIFE partner, gave an inspirational speech. He then honored the scholars with a song number, which was followed by the awarding of the exclusive edition Real LIFE watch to David Bonifacio, Real LIFE’s former executive director. Dr. Jun Escosar capped the evening by praying for the scholars and challenging them to further excel into the next chapter of their lives.
Real LIFE started in 2003 with Dr. Joey Castro organizing the support coming from Every Nation Leadership Institute and Victory churches to provide educational assistance to the poor students in Pasig City. The initial educational support grew and has opened doors to develop the LIFE Scholarship Program that will support more students in need of help in Metro Manila.
With more than 150 students benefiting from this program, the organization will continue to provide scholarships and educational assistance to children of poor and marginalized families. It will continue to honor God in this manner and further develop men and women of character who will eventually serve as leaders of communities and of their respective profession.
The students took home bag-full of gifts courtesy of Real LIFE Foundation and donors such as Nike Philippines that gave shirts, a gift item from Fully Booked, and a box of treats from GoNuts Donuts. Every Nation Events Manager, Mae Perez and Crystalle Henares of the Belo Medical Group gave thermal bags for the young men and beauty kits for the young women, respectively. The gifts were packed in a rustic cloth bag crafted by Real LIFE’s Donor Relations Director, Sony dela Calzada.
One day, she met with her teacher who invited her to a Youth Service. She accepted and was surprised to see a room full of students raising their hands and singing praises. Reyshell could not forget the feeling she had that night, she started to feel a happiness she knew she had never felt before.
“That night, I prayed to God, I told Him that I wanted to have the joy that the students have, that even during difficult times, I could still be happy and thankful”.
Reyshell received Jesus in her life and from then on developed a personal relationship with God. She has learned to forgive her father and take the blame off from God for what happened in her family.
Reyshell is one of the first scholars of Real LIFE. “I am so blessed and privileged to be part of the scholarship program. Because of Real LIFE my school needs were provided for including my daily allowance. I believe God uses the scholarship program to help students like us to not just finish school but prepare us for the future as well.
Testimony of Raquel Bag-o:
“Since nursery class up to first year high school, I was a consistent student of the star section. But during those years, I wasn’t really studying, I cheated in my exams. The reason why I want to have high grades was to gain attention from my parents. I grew up feeling rejected because I was the second and middle child. I became proud, boasting my grades to my family and friends.
God said in His Word, For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. On my second year of high school I was removed from the honor section and placed in the second section, this got me depressed. This was also the time I came to know Christ and accepted Him as my personal Lord and Savior. Since then, my life started to change.
God changed my heart. To please God I started to really study without cheating and started thanking him for my new found intelligence and confidence.
God is so faithful that He provided for my college. He blessed me with a Real LIFE Scholarship. For the S.Y. 2004-2005 I was awarded by the Department of Banking and Finance in Polytechnic University of the Philippines as the Finance Contender and by the College of Economics, Finance and Politics as Academic Excellence Awardee in S.Y. 2005-2006. Now, I’m in my last year in college. I’m studying really hard and be able to deliver my Valedictory Address where I can share with my class how faithful and alive God is and glorify His Name!!”
The kids, who were from different barangays and have been reached through the regular Barangay Kids Outreach Program, are regular attendees of our 10am, 2pm, and 4pm Kids Church Services.
The Christmas party, organized by the Real Life Foundation in cooperation with Victory Pasig Kids Church Team, led by Ptr. Anthony Ong, was made even more exciting as games, food, gifts, and holiday cheers filled the four corners of the center.
The party has always been a yearly much-awaited event as everyone looks forward to bless and celebrate the most important day of the year – the birth of Jesus, who have showed and taught us to love and appreciate the children.
Thank you so much for making the Christmas Spirit alive in these young children by sharing your blessings with them. We know that more than the gifts they’ve received, they appreciate the time, effort, and love you’ve given them this season. Your generosity will definitely make a lasting impact in their precious lives!
They say that before, they were quite financially well-off. Their father had his own jeep that he was driving while their mom was a seamstress-- and income was good. Last year however, the jeep’s engine bogged down, and they were unable to have it repaired. Jenny’s father then resorted to driving for other jeepney owners as an extra driver. Daily income however was even less than the amount he needed to pay for “boundary”. They started getting into debt. MJ, the eldest child had to stop schooling to help with the family needs.
When asked how much they needed to have the jeep fixed, they said they needed P35,000. We prayed for them and taught them to also pray as a family. We told them to write down their requests and paste them on a conspicuous place in the house so that all of them would be reminded to pray about it. A week after that, when we paid them a visit, we saw sheets of paper with P35,000 written on them, scattered and posted all over their 10 sq m house! –a whole family praying for provision!
The prayed for amount has not yet been provided, but today, the family has since been regularly attending the Sunday service.
*Because of their inspiring story of household salvation, the Viloria Family was given the Acts 16:31 award at the E412 Awards held at the ENLI Fort last November 24.
It is in this environment that Michael Vincent Garcia grew up in. When he was born, his father left their family for another woman. His mother also went for someone else and left him under the care of his aunt.
When he was 5 years old, and already settling to a life without his parents, Michael’s father took him from his aunt (maternal) and brought him to live with another aunt (paternal). This cycle of temporary stay continued when he would be passed on from one relative to another, passed around by his parents. The cycle finally stopped when he lost contact with his mother, and while this allowed him to stay in one place physically, this still left him feeling resentful and confused. It was during this time of being unsure that God touched Michael while still a student in Rizal High School.
“The past had hurt me so much that I lost my identity and self-confidence. I used to regret being born to a dysfunctional family, and sometimes, having been born at all. But when I got to know Jesus, everything changed. Now, I know who I really am in Christ, and I have learned to forgive my parents.”
“I have also learned to trust God for provision. My aunt didn’t have much, and I am quite timid to ask her for my needs. But I have consistently prayed and asked God to bless them.”
Michael is graduating 4th year highschool this April and is one of over a hundred LIFE Scholars being trained to become leaders. “I am very thankful that there were people who cared enough for our generation to reach out and share God’s Word. My life has changed so much that God’s love has inspired me to live my life to the fullest and for His glory. I’m also excited to see my classmates have the same hope and love that He has blessed me with.”
LIFE Scholarships is the flagship program of the Real LIFE Foundation. An important of part of the program is Faith (the “F” in L.I.F.E.), and we believe that with God all things are truly possible for our scholars. As much as we do our best to provide for the financial needs for our scholars, we never fail to remind them that ultimately all blessings are from God, and that it is important they learn to trust in Him.
Note: After years of separation from his parents, Michael had a chance to be reunited with his mother again last Christmas and his father early this year.
His father, Emitiro, 52, declined the invitation, saying that he didn’t have anything decent to wear. Garry insisted that what he wore was not important and that he would be very happy if his father saw him march. They ended up arguing about this and left it unresolved.
Early the next morning, while Emitiro was walking down the stairs, he slipped and hit his head on the floor. They rushed him to the hospital where he quickly lapsed into a coma. Emitiro passed away less than 36 hours later. Emitiro was a technician who fixed umbrellas and electric fans, while his wife does laundry to help supplement their income.
Garry is the youngest of four children, and has been a LIFE Scholar for a year now. He finished his freshman year in Accountancy at Jose Rizal University.
Of the four siblings, only Garry has completed high school. He supported himself by working as a “kargador” or carrier in the local wet market. Garry started going to the Every Nation Youth Center in Pasig “dahil sa merienda” (because of the snacks), and later became a scholar of the Real LIFE Foundation’s LIFE Scholarships Program. Garry is an example of Leadership, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence not only to his peers, but to his family as well, even as they rely on him to help change their story.