CAMIGUIN -- Amid the whirl of daily life, there exists a cohort of individuals in Camiguin straddling two distinct worlds—the academic realm and the workforce. These are the working students, quietly shouldering the dual responsibilities of education and employment, driven by ambition and necessity.

Among them was a young man from Cabuan, Guinsiliban, Camiguin—Jerick Salva Magallanes, a determined working student who supported himself through high school and college.

During his first year in college, Magallanes had to endure a minimal amount of allowance from his parents, which was never enough to pay for his boarding house, his food, and his school expenses. Because of this, he sometimes went to school without eating breakfast and could only eat at least once a day. His academic performance prompted his instructors to call for his attention one day.

Magallanes disclosed his present situation to his instructors, and they advised him to try TESDA courses because he will only have difficulty focusing his studies in college when his mind is fully occupied with thoughts of helping his parents improve their income. Thus, he enrolled in TESDA-Camiguin School of Arts and Trades, Lumad Mambajao, Camiguin, and obtained certifications in Cookery NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Housekeeping NC II, Bartending NC II, Massage Therapy NC II, and Trainer’s Methodology Level I.

All of these courses he took from TESDA helped Magallanes land a job and be able to support his family’s needs. Then Magallanes decided to go to Manila to work. With his salary, he was able to save money and build a house for his family.

Magallanes' determination and hard work did not end there. After working in Manila for a few years, he decided to go back home and finish his degree in education. However, his life was not without challenges. He has to continue earning so that he can support his studies. He worked as a student assistant, and after school or on weekends, he worked at other side jobs.

Magallanes' journey unfolds against a backdrop of holding mops at night and pens in the morning. There are days when he feels like he's running on fumes, but he knows he must keep pushing forward. His high level of intrinsic motivation and his love for his family pushed him to achieve his goals.

He has to take on the responsibility of helping his father augment their family income in order to feed his younger siblings and support their school needs. He was able to endure all the sleepless nights, school pressures, and work pressures in order to achieve his life goals. In 2016, he was able to graduate from college. Yet, as the second son and breadwinner, Mr. Magallanes's burden doubled after graduation.

Venturing into various opportunities, Magallanes seized the chance to become a trainer at Palawan Technical School Complex (PTSC) Asian Business Cabletow Cooperative Academy (ABCCA) before moving on to roles such as Lazada Warehouse Supervisor and later a dishwasher, then supervisor, at Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Qatar. He briefly worked as a crew member at KBOB in Croatia until the pandemic halted food operations. Magallanes then found himself caring for 1,000 sheep on a farm in Croatia, as well as gaining experience as a caregiver in Italy and a housekeeper in Sweden.

Currently, at 33 years old, Magallanes from Camiguin is thriving as a sushi chef at Touka Ouy in Finland. His journey as an older brother has been challenging but transformative, allowing him to explore the beauty of European countries while benefiting from life-changing investments he made. He aptly states, "Don't let the hurdles discourage you." Embrace the grind, and never lose sight of your dreams.

Ambition knows no bounds, even in the face of adversity. "Your hurdles and bustles in the busy streets and over-burning midnight candles will surely pay off. From the dream of one day on, I’ll be there until you step foot on day one of achieving your goals. It's a sweet journey," Magallanes said. (TESDA/PIA-10/Camiguin)