MANILA, Philippines – At 25, Eugene Dela Cruz stood proud, donning his toga and holding his diploma with honors from Ateneo de Manila University — a moment he once thought impossible.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Eugene Dela Cruz |
“I wasn’t supposed to make it here. Not to Ateneo. Not to any graduation. Not even to this very day,” he wrote in a now-viral Facebook post.
Eugene’s story is one of staggering hardship and relentless hope. At just 12 years old, he was thrown out of his home in Tondo, Manila after coming out as gay. His father, unable to accept his sexuality, forced him onto the streets.
"Pinalayas po ako ng tatay ko sa bahay po namin dahil sa aking sekswalidad. Ayaw po kasi ng tatay ko na magkaroon ng panganay na bading at that time," Eugene said.
With no family, no shelter, and no food, Eugene wandered the unforgiving streets of Metro Manila for years.
“I begged for coins, rationed a single stale bread across three desperate meals, and found refuge wherever night fell,” he recalled. From sleeping under tricycles during rains to washing himself in public restrooms, Eugene became what he described as “a ghost in the city.”
He stopped schooling for four years. Hunger, loneliness, and rejection became constants.
"Kapag sinuswerte po ako sa isang araw inaabot po ng 25 (pesos). Kapag meron po akong more than 20 (pesos), minsan po bumibili po ako ng kanin, minsan pinapasabawan ko na lang sa mga paresan. 'Yun na po 'yung pagkain at ulam ko on a lucky day, pero on worst nights minsan po piso, minsan wala," he told ABS-CBN News.
Living on the streets took a toll on his health—he developed a chronic skin condition and struggled with hygiene, relying on public restrooms or a poso whenever he could.
"There were a lot of moments that I just cry myself to sleep. And say to God na Lord, kung 'di niyo man po ako gisingin bukas hindi po ako magrereklamo," he said.
A chance encounter with a relative in Divisoria eventually pulled him from the streets. He was offered a job as a nanny in Leyte, which led to enrolling in a public high school. Though he excelled academically, his parents never attended his milestones. “I just wanted them to see me and accept me,” he said.
Despite setbacks, he graduated from high school with flying colors after 10 years of interrupted education. Later, faced with a choice between working or continuing his studies, Eugene chose education—leading to his father’s departure. But kind strangers, supportive teachers, and part-time jobs like tutoring and dance coaching kept him afloat.
Eventually, he applied to the country’s top universities and got accepted into University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University — all offering him scholarships. He chose Ateneo and pursued a degree in Economics, specializing in Financial Economics with a minor in Decision Science.
“By some miracle, Ateneo saw beyond my tattered story and took a chance on someone like me,” he wrote.
At Ateneo, Eugene not only survived — he thrived. He became an Honorable Mention graduate and earned the Third Best Undergraduate Thesis Award in Economics.
“Poverty can be a hindrance to success — only if you let it be,” he said.
Today, Eugene stands as a beacon of resilience and pride, living proof that with determination, compassion, and a second chance, even the most broken beginnings can lead to beautiful triumphs.
Congratulations, Eugene!
— The Summit Express