In the heart of Sta. Cruz’s bustling fish market, where the scent of saltwater clings to the air and vendors raise their voices over tubs of fresh tilapia and bangus, a young boy once made a quiet promise to himself. That boy was Mustufa R. Ali.
As his mother labored to sell fish under the tropical sun, he watched and dreamed, not just for himself but for his entire family.
“I wasn’t born with much, but I was born with a purpose,” Mustufa said.
That purpose began to take shape when his family was supported through the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a social safety net initiative by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). For many families, 4Ps meant financial aid but for Mustufa, it meant something deeper.
“Hindi lang cash ang binibigay ng 4Ps. They also gave us knowledge of family planning, saving money, and how to become better people. That gave my parents tools to grow. It gave me something even more powerful– motivation.” he said.
He remembers trudging to school with worn-out slippers and a meager “baon,” watching his mother stretch every peso to make ends meet. But instead of being discouraged, he turned adversity into drive.
With the program’s support, Mustufa completed both elementary and high school— milestones once beyond reach.
But his ambition didn’t stop there. When he tried to enter his dream university and study electrical engineering, he faced rejection.
They told him, “Kung ang STEM nga bumabagsak, ikaw pa kaya na TVL?”
It was a blow to his spirit, but not a defeat, reminding himself “I told myself, if no one will accept me, I’ll find a place that will.
Eventually, Rizal Technological University opened its doors. There, Mustufa didn’t just find a place— he found his voice.
He earned a spot on the Dean’s List, became a campus quizzer and graduated cum laude. He is named as the university’s Most Outstanding Student. With all these, his success was undeniable. Still, nothing prepared him for what came next.
It was an ordinary day. A message popped up in a group chat: “May result na raw.” The results of the electrical engineering licensure exam have been released.
He rushed to check the Professional Regulation Commission’s website— it crashed. Then came another message, then another. His heart pounded.
“Nakita ko pangalan ko. TOP 2. Napahiga ako sa sahig. Napaiyak. Salamat po, Lord,” he shared.
Mustufa Ali had placed second in the entire country.
For him, it wasn’t just a number. It was the culmination of every late-night study session, every vacation sacrificed, every fish his mother had sold. He often draws comparisons between his story and his profession.
“Light brings clarity and hope. I want to be that light for my family and for others who think poverty is a full stop. It’s not. It’s a comma,” Mustufa said.
Behind his triumph is the support of his family— his parents Zahid and Maribel, his Nanay Lourdes and Tatay Ente, and a community that never stopped believing in his potential.
“Sabi nga ng principal ko noong high school ako, ‘Ikaw ay bayani ng Marinduque,’” he added.
Now, Mustufa is looking ahead. His dream is to begin his career in the Philippines, to give back to his province and help students from low-income backgrounds find their own light.
“To those who are still walking the path I’ve walked,” he says, “Don’t ever let hardship silence your dreams. Poverty is not shameful— it’s just your starting point.”
And for the youth under 4Ps? Mustufa advised, “Take the help, make it matter. Gawing gasolina ang kahirapan. You don’t just owe it to yourself— you owe it to the people who helped light your way.” (AS/PIA MIMAROPA/With information from Jason Eco Oliverio)
