In the sugarcane fields of Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, before dawn even breaks, a young boy trudges barefoot across muddy furrows, guiding a carabao through rows of cane. That boy is Arnel N. Bacosa, just 17 at the time, already shaped by hardship. The blisters on his feet were not enough to stop him—rain or shine, itchy grass or open wounds—because he knew that every peso he earned from tilling the land brought him a step closer to his dream: to finish school and help his family rise from poverty.
Arnel’s mornings began at 3 AM, plowing fields alongside his father. By 7 AM, he was already in his senior high school classes, struggling to stay awake, fighting hunger, and pushing through fatigue. There were no shortcuts. Just pure grit, resilience, and faith.
“Naiiyak ako kapag naaalala ko kung gaano kahirap noon,” Arnel shares. “Pero kailangan eh. Walang ibang aasahan kundi sarili at tiwala sa Diyos.”
Even with the weight of financial challenges and academic hurdles, Arnel never wavered. He understood early that education was the only bridge out of poverty. Despite limited access to school materials and internet for assignments, he persevered—driven by the sacrifices of his parents and the dream of a better life.
That better life found its spark through Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban, and its fuel through CFC ANCOP Global Foundation, whose mission to answer the “Cry of the Poor” through evangelization, education, and employment aligned perfectly with Arnel’s deepest desires.
Through ANCOP’s Community-Based Training Program, in Hinigaran National High School, Arnel became a scholar of hope—receiving not only technical skills in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II but more importantly, values formation that anchored him during moments of weakness.
“Hindi lang ako tinuruan kung paano mag-welding,” he smiles. “Tinuruan din ako kung paano maging disiplinado, paano manalangin, at paano magmahal sa trabaho at pamilya.”
The daily Masses, evening Rosaries, and formative sessions with the Salesian priests were moments that redefined Arnel’s sense of purpose. When homesickness hit, when his mother fell ill and he could only pray from afar, it was his faith and training that gave him strength. “May mga araw na gusto ko nang sumuko. Pero sabi nga ni Father, ang hirap ay daan sa grasya. Doon ako kumapit.”
Arnel’s family, though miles away, never ceased to believe in his potential. “Kahit mahirap kami, kahit ang nanay ko minsan nagtatrabaho rin sa tubuhan, alam ko suportado nila ako.” That belief became his inner fire.
Graduating from Don Bosco wasn’t just a milestone—it was a breakthrough. Immediately after completing his training, Arnel was hired as a Ship Fitter at JSA Engineering Services, proof that the promise of Don Bosco and ANCOP is not just hope, but tangible success.
“Noong unang araw ko sa trabaho, hindi ako makapaniwala. Trabaho agad pagkatapos ng graduation? Parang panaginip. Pero may kaba rin—baka magkamali. Kaya doble ingat at doble sipag.”
His earnings now allow him to support his family, buy their needs, and slowly fulfill long-held dreams—dreams that were once beyond reach while trudging through sugarcane mud.
More than a job, Arnel found dignity. He found self-worth forged through discipline, critical thinking, responsibility, and a heart ready to serve. He dreams now not only of working abroad, but of giving back to his community and sharing his journey with other youth.
“To those who are still in the fields, who feel hopeless—don’t give up. Everything worth having comes from sweat and sacrifice. Huwag isipin ang hirap, isipin ang pangarap.”
Arnel’s journey is a living testimony to the vision and mission of Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban—to form young people, especially the poor, to become good Christians and upright citizens, equipped with skills for life and hearts ready for service. It also embodies the core mission of CFC ANCOP Global Foundation—a life changed through holistic formation, community support, and faith-driven opportunities.
His success is not his alone. It is the success of a system that believes in empowering the youth, of a partnership between Don Bosco and ANCOP that plants hope where there once was despair.
“Ang tagumpay ko ay tagumpay ng pamilya ko. Ngayon, ang kwento ko ay inspirasyon ng iba,” Arnel proudly declares.
Indeed, from araro to arc welding, Arnel’s ascent is proof that with perseverance, prayer, and the right people who believe in you, any life—no matter how humble—can shine with purpose.
