There was once a little boy who stood beside a window, looking at a world much larger than himself. He was only four years old, but inside his young mind was a house waiting to be built: “May sariling kwarto sina Mama at Papa, may garden para kay Mama, at may garahe para sa motor ni Papa.”
In his imagination, every corner had a purpose. He would run across the room, disappearing into a home that held everything in one small space: a living room, a bedroom, and just enough of a kitchen. Then, a blaring sound would break through the dream.
He would wake up. The first architect he ever knew was that little boy—and that little boy was me.
A Foundation Carried Through Change
Growing up, I learned quickly that a home is much more than just an address. My family moved from Pasig to Makati, and eventually to North Caloocan. With each move came the bittersweet experience of leaving behind familiar streets and watching the places we once called home disappear as development reshaped our surroundings.
Though physical houses can be taken away by time and change, I learned that the memories built inside them remain. My ultimate dream was constructed out of those very experiences: I wanted to become an architect to design buildings and create spaces where people could tell their own stories.
Choosing Passion Over Uncertainty
Following that dream, however, was far from an easy decision. There was a time when I stood at a crossroad, forced to choose between the practical path my family encouraged and the calling of my own passion. My family gently pushed me toward medicine because they believed it offered stability, especially when a relative offered to sponsor my education.
Deep inside, though, architecture was the dream I had carried since childhood. Choosing it meant choosing uncertainty. Compounding this, my father was facing serious health struggles that required surgery, continuous care, and heavy maintenance medications. Paying for college on our own seemed nearly impossible.
Determined to keep moving forward, I applied for various scholarship opportunities—and one pivotal opportunity completely changed the course of my path: the SM Foundation Scholarship.
Constructing a Future Through Grit
The scholarship became the solid foundation that allowed me to keep building my dream. It eased the immense financial burden on my family and gave me the space to focus entirely on becoming an architect.
Still, the journey was not without its structural tests. College became my true construction site. The foundation was laid through sleepless nights, demanding subjects, and moments when I deeply questioned whether I could keep going. To cover extra expenses, I took on commissions for architectural plates and renderings, juggling them alongside my rigorous school requirements. Whenever I needed to stay closer to campus, my scholarship allowance also helped support my dormitory needs.
Just when everything seemed to be falling into place during my fifth year, another storm hit: my father was diagnosed with cancer. Once again, my family had to gather every ounce of strength to carry the weight together.
The Pillars That Held It Together
There were moments when the weight felt too heavy to bear. But every time I wanted to stop, I remembered the people who had helped build my foundation. My family and friends became my unbreakable pillars, and the SM Foundation served as one of the core beams holding my dream together.