TESTIMONIES

In the remote village of Salog, tucked within the town of Esperanza in Agusan del Sur, Philippines, lives Jonard, the youngest of six siblings. His family, descendants of indigenous hunter-gatherers, endures the harsh grip of poverty. Each day, Jonard’s parents trek into the forest in search of food—digging for root crops like taro, and setting traps for wild boars and small animals. On good days, they manage three meals. More often, though, they survive on just one—or none—quelling their hunger with nothing but stream water.

Despite these hardships, Jonard’s parents held fast to one dream: that their children would receive the education they never had. Though illiterate, they firmly believed schooling was the only path out of poverty.

Jonard and his siblings enrolled in the local public school. It was far from easy. He often went to class hungry and without basic school supplies. Yet he persevered, completing both elementary and high school against the odds.

Next came an even steeper climb—college. Through one of his siblings, Jonard learned of a school that offered free tuition. The main challenge lay in covering expenses for food, transportation, and lodging. Determined, Jonard began gathering and selling whatever he could from the forest—abaca fiber, bananas, and other natural resources. When he had saved enough, he set off on a 16-hour bus ride from his isolated mountain village to the town where the college was located.

Upon arriving in Tupi, South Cotabato, Jonard was welcomed by the Adopt a Student Ministry (ASM), a small charity organisation that offers him a lifeline. In exchange for light duties—cleaning the church grounds and assisting elderly community members—ASM provided for his food, lodging, transportation, and other school essentials.

College life remains a daily struggle, but Jonard presses on. What sustains him is an unshakable hope—and the steadfast belief that education is his key to a brighter tomorrow.

He now believes that God has led him to this place where he can be equipped for a better future, not only in this world but in the world to come. 

Not only do we support with school fee, we also support student that come from the local community that are from low income families, were the student find themselves with no lunch. Generally we get these student to do some sort of work around the school.