MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday urged students who are living in poverty not to lose hope and strive to get a degree in education, saying it is their only way out of their present situation.
In his live address, Moreno also assured the students that the city government, in it own little way, will try its very best to help those who are virtually penniless to somehow survive. Apart from education from daycare to college being free in Manila, the city is also providing P500 monthly allowance for Grade 12 students and then P1,000 monthly for Pamantasan ng Lungsod Maynila and Universidad de Manila students.
Moreno cited his very own case as a student who went to school everyday without a penny in his pocket or food to eat during recess.
Instead of blaming his parents for their status in life and his lack of basic necessities as a student, Moreno said he used their situation in life as a motivating factor to strive for excellence.
Moreno also said that poverty pushed him all the more to aim for a college degree, also citing the relentless effort of his mother to ensure that he did not miss his classes.
“Edukasyon, edukasyon, edukasyon… will bring you somewhere better. Imbes na sisihin ko ang nanay or tatay ko dahil mahirap kami, wala akong baon sa pagpasok sa eskuwela, pinilit kong maging magaling na estudyante,” Moreno said.
The mayor said he is living proof that while there is life, there is hope as long as determination to achieve something is there.
Meanwhile, Moreno suspended classes yesterday owing to weak internet connectivity, a requisite in online classes.
