Prologue

I learned to preserve the value of silence as years passed by. It wasn't easy – not as easy as everyone thought it would be for me. People looked up to me as a humble, intelligent and modest man – even up to this point. Clearly, most of them had no idea who I was and what I was made of.

To me, life was difficult – at least as hard as I made it sound like. Considering all the opportunities I eschewed, a "failure" is likely the best description I came up to myself. I was the complete opposite of what my family, especially my parents, expected from me. Supposedly, all the potential they saw in me could have "saved" us from these latches of dearth. That doesn't sound too familiar, eh? Typical Filipino household?

A bit of good fortune saw me working for one of the most-renowned Business Process Outsourcing companies in Manila for almost five years. It was a bittersweet experience. But, upon realizing that I spent an ample time working without a diploma, I had to buckle up.

After receiving a timely invitation from one of the Community Colleges in our province, I decided to return home and finally realize an elusive goal – to finish my studies. Nevertheless, lots of hindrances already appeared barricading my path.

Little did I know that everything will change because of an unexpected arrival.