Have you ever seen the boy who has been roving in the campus selling peanuts and beans? If no, then I might ask you, are you a real student of Bulacan State University that you haven’t seen him? If yes, then this is the time you can know more about him.
His name is Michael John B. Balicot, 15 years old, and currently studying his second year at Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School under the “Open High” program.
This program means going to school once a week preferably Tuesday according to Michael. A module was given to them as study books to read it and comprehend what is inside so when Tuesdays come, they will understand the lessons their teacher will tackle about.
“Every Tuesday lang yung pasok namin. May binibigay na module para mapagaralan. Para kasi ito sa mga working students gaya nung mga hindi kayang mag-aral ng regular na five days a week so ito yung kinukuha nila na program,” said Michael.
Because his school day is only Tuesday; Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are his “selling days” to produce income for his family. This self-reliant boy is the youngest and he has three siblings. His father is a construction worker at the age of 54 while, his mother, 50 years old, is a housewife who is currently helping him to sell the peanuts and beans.
Unlike what the others usually think, aside from his small business while studying, Michael has also past time playing games on the internet. Actually, he likes to play “Tetris” and “Four Pics in One.”
“Masaya po ako, meron naman po akong oras. Nakakapaglaro din po ako ng Tetris and Four Pics in One po…”
Then, he shared that the number of his classmates were 20 before but reduced to fifteen. He wasn’t sure if he will go back as a regular student because of other expenses as a regular one like the PTA (Parent Teacher’s Association) he needed to shoulder unlike in Open High Program that there was no other expenses but to go to the class once a week.
“Mababait naman po yung mga kaklase ko. Minsan nga lang po ay may isa po akong kaklaseng pumasok na lasing, pero pinauwi naman po kagad ng guro, ‘wag daw pong papasok ng lasing,” he described.
Michael, through his diligence by selling to earn a living, could sell up to P1000 a day depending on the number of his buyers. His beans range to almost 15 pieces a day while 75 pieces are the garlic and spicy peanuts. He sells ten pesos each.
“Yung mani po ay binibili ni nanay, siya na po yung magluluto. Mga nasa 3 kilos lng po kami kung bumili araw-araw. Yung beans ay binibili, din rerepack po. Kadalasang nga lang pong natitira yung mani dahil mas marami to kumpara sa beans.
Like any other individual, he has goals dreams also. He has four career choices: Engineering, Business Administration, Medicine, and Information Technology. He was asked if which of the four he prefer to choose, he answered the second one.
“Malamang po na piliin ko yung business administration dahil gusto ko din po ituloy yung naumpisahan ko na pagtitinda at mas alam ko na din po kasi,” Balicot explained.
He was asked what his goals are and why he keeps on continuing selling peanuts and beans.
“Pangarap ko po na matulungan ko yung mga magulang ko at yung dalawa ko pong kapatid ay mapagaral ko po.”
Lastly, he was asked if what he wants to tell the others and to serve as an inspiration to finish studies and to continue achieving dreams.
“Ano, unahin po muna nila yung pagaaral para… makatulong sila sa pamilya nila. Magfocus sila pagaaral , mahirap po kasi talaga ang buhay eh,” he ended.
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