We found joy in simple things—'law-oy' and ginamos were feasts in our eyes.

Today, I fully embrace adulthood—not just by age, but by heart, spirit, and understanding. I come from a life of poverty and hardship, where survival was a daily challenge. Yet, despite the struggles, our father taught us to move forward, to dream bigger, and to never lose hope. We found joy in simple things—'law-oy' and ginamos were feasts in our eyes. We didn’t have much, sometimes just one or five pesos for school, and I often skipped recess, choosing instead to train my mind and imagine possibilities beyond our reality. I studied not just what's in the books, but even those topics that no one paid attention to—because I knew knowledge would someday be my way out. Poverty made me shy, made me feel like an outcast, and turned academic success into a far-fetched dream. But today, I realize: despite it all, I have arrived. Not yet at the finish line, but far from where I started. This is adulthood—with scars, wisdom, and unshakable resilience.

Christian Jay Laya currently serves as the Municipal Information Officer and Senior Tourism Operations Officer of Alabel, Sarangani Province. A proud graduate of Mindanao State University – General Santos City, he holds a degree in History and has completed the academic requirements for master’s degrees in both Philippine Studies and Public Administration from the same institution, reflecting his deep commitment to public service, heritage, and governance.