A Bosconian Story of Resilience, Renewal, and Remarkable Hope
“I still remember that night. I only had two pesos in my pocket. I sat there with barely anything to eat. I cried—not because of hunger, but because I realized how empty I was. Yet in that moment, I reminded myself I still had God… and a dream.”
Robert Duane Balalitan, a 23-year-old from Bacolod City, has walked through the darkest valleys of despair and come out on the other side, not just surviving—but transformed. His journey to Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban wasn’t one of privilege, but of pain, persistence, and ultimately, purpose.
Raised by his maternal grandparents after growing up in a broken family, Robert never had the kind of stability most young people count on. He didn’t meet his father until he was twenty, and though his paternal family tried to support him, the emotional distance had already carved a void. Thankfully, a priest who believed in him stepped in and guided him through high school—becoming the father figure he needed.
But when the pandemic struck, so did despair. “That was my greatest setback,” Robert recalls. “It was like reality slapped me. I lost my grip on life’s steering wheel and started groping in the dark.”
Trying to survive, Robert took whatever “racket-racket” jobs he could—helping carpenters, electricians, and doing odd work. Still, he longed for something more. “I wanted to be a lawyer,” he admitted. “But dreams are expensive. And during the pandemic, I learned just how expensive they could be.”
Against all odds, Robert heard of Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban and decided to pursue technical training in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II. It wasn’t a decision met with encouragement. “My family didn’t really support me,” he said. “Before I left, they told me, ‘Puli ka lang di pag di mo na kaya didto.’” The only unwavering support came from the priest who raised him—coincidentally related to a Salesian priest who served in Don Bosco.
Arriving at Don Bosco was like stepping into a new world—one filled with structure, spiritual growth, and self-discovery. But the road wasn’t smooth. “The hardest part was leaving behind my vices and forgiving myself,” Robert said. “It’s easy to be chained to your past, to your pain. But I learned to let go.”
Inside the walls of Don Bosco, Robert wasn’t just trained in welding. He was shaped into a man of faith, discipline, and direction. He attended daily Mass, prayed the Rosary, joined recollections, and absorbed life lessons from Salesian mentors. “They taught me to love God and Mama Mary above all,” he said. “To value myself, and to avoid sin whenever possible.”
More than skills, Robert gained virtues—discipline, leadership, resilience, responsibility, and volunteerism. And through it all, he clung to his dream—not for wealth, but for a life of meaning and dignity.
One of the most unforgettable moments in his Don Bosco journey was when he hit absolute rock bottom. “I had only two pesos left. I ate what little I could afford. That night, I cried. I felt like nothing. But I realized I still had God. I still had my dream. So I pushed on.”
His perseverance paid off. Robert now works in Manila as a Service Maintenance for CHEMREZ Product Solution Inc. It’s not the end of the road—but the beginning of a new chapter. “I’m euphoric,” he shared. “I can now buy food I want. I can help my family. I told myself—this is only the beginning. I’m willing to pay the price of the life I dream of through hard work and faith.”
He credits Don Bosco not just for his employment, but for his transformation. “It was a life-changer,” he declared. “Don Bosco gives more than skills—it gives values, purpose, and hope.”
Robert’s message to those who walk the same dark roads he once did is simple but powerful:
“Once a Bosconian, always a Bosconian. Don’t give up. Your dream is worth it.”
Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.
