In His Lowest, He Dreams

I wrote a story of an orphan I interviewed over the phone which was published in our website in Operation Blessing Philippines. The published story was shortened and the title was changed to 'At His Lowest, He Dreams'. 

The editor and I both want the longer version and the original title (though the only word changed in the title was the first word). But we needed to abide by the story guidelines specifically on the maximum characters we only need to publish. I am posting here the original draft (honestly) to not 'waste' some of the (for me) necessary details that makes the story more appealing and because I am especially fond of this child (and I know God too). Read to know why.

In His Lowest, He Dreams

Source: www.obphil.com

We are privileged to dream. No boundaries are set on the hopes we should reach for. However, we often let our environment dictate what we should dream of, until we are left merely daydreaming.

The challenge for children today is dreaming without limits and being able to achieve their goals eventually. In the case of John Dave Galangue, 14, the latter’s the one he needs to brave – and he is doing this alone. John Dave faces each day with hope that when he grows up, he’ll either be a seaman or a computer engineer.

“Kung may mag-aalok lang po sa’kin magtrabaho para lang makapag-aral, kahit ano po’ng trabaho tatanggapin ko (If ever someone would offer me work in exchange for the chance to study, I’ll accept whatever that work is),” said John Dave, showing that his desire to finish his studies is genuine. His struggle at the lowest point of his life did not discourage him, but rather drives him to persevere all the more.

He lives with his 19-year-old cousin, Ramban Malisi, who’s also an orphan. Ramban’s father left them for a new family when his mother became addicted to illegal drugs. He earns money by selling fish but cannot support John Dave through it. “Bawat isa po kasi sa amin kailangan maghanap [ng pera] (Each of us needs to find money),” said John Dave, in sympathy for his cousin.

Source: www.obphil.com

He tries to act as both a mother and a father to himself while striving to fulfill his role as a child. John Dave’s parents got separated. His mother left them, and he can no longer remember what she looks like. And in 2014, John Dave’s father died in a motorcycle accident. This forced him to be dependent on his grandmother and auntie when his oldest brother also had to leave to the city to find a living at 19. However, when both got sick, John Dave had no choice but to live on his own.   

John Dave and Ramban fit themselves in a small room with no ventilation in one of the bunkhouses the government built for the family-survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Brgy. Bangon, Basey, Western Samar. Education is free in the country, but sustaining it demands a lot, especially for a boy like John Dave. “Grade nine na po dapat ako pero ngayon grade six pa lang. Isa o dalawang beses sa isang linggo lang po kasi ako nakakapasok sa school (I’m in grade six but I should be in grade nine by now. I am only able to go to school once or twice a week, that’s why),” John Dave disclosed.

Source: www.obphil.com

When not in school, he drives a pedicab (cycle rickshaw), cleans the bunkhouses and draws water for other residents in order to earn. What John Dave earns only allows him to buy one meal a day; the other necessities, he can’t afford. “Meron lang po akong bag at papel ‘pag pumapasok. ‘Pag dating po sa classroom, nanghihiram na lang po ako ng ballpen sa classmates ko (I only bring a bag and paper to school. When I get to the classroom, I just borrow a pen from my classmates),” John Dave explains.

Source: www.obphil.com

John Dave and Ramban are among the residents who fetch water from the well Operation Blessing Philippines (OB) drilled in Brgy. Bangon after Yolanda’s devastation. John Dave explains that they don’t like the water from the bunkhouse because it tastes like chlorine.

OB wants to give him more than the water he needs daily. Help us in alleviating John Dave’s hardship everyday, which may worsen if it remains unaided. “Kaya ko po ‘yung pang-araw-araw kong ginagawa. Ang pinakamahirap lang po talaga ‘yung wala kang pamilya na pwede kang pag-aralin (I can endure what I am doing every day. The hardest part, though, is when you don’t have a family who can send you to school),” John Dave said.

Join us in reaching John Dave and a thousand more children to prevent their hopes from fading. Each day, we don’t know how many dreams are dying. John Dave is among those who kept dreaming even in their lowest points. Help him and more today and let us see successful children in the future! Visit http://obphil.com/home, or call us at 477 7802 to 06 to find out how.