At just 20 years old, Eddie Boy Paduhilao has already overcome hardships that would shake even the strongest hearts. Growing up in a low-income household in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, Eddie was one of five children striving to continue schooling in the face of poverty. When his father passed away, the burden of hardship deepened, and yet, a promise made in the quiet grief of loss became the fire that fueled his determination: his father’s dream for him to work abroad and buy the family a home and a car.
That dream brought Eddie to the doors of Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban, Inc., with barely enough money to travel. But through the Community-Based Training Program of CFC ANCOP Global Foundation held in Hinigaran National High School, Eddie received a scholarship that covered everything — tuition, formation, accommodation, meals. More than just a school, Don Bosco became a lifeline.
Within the nurturing discipline of Don Bosco — from daily evening rosaries to constant guidance by dedicated instructors — Eddie not only learned Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NCII, he was formed in faith, responsibility, and resilience. The struggles of being far from his family and the weight of inexperience pushed him to the edge. There were moments when he felt like giving up — the physical exhaustion, the homesickness, and the nagging fear that his dreams were too far-fetched. But every time, he remembered his father’s words before he died — to never give up, to strive to work abroad, to make something more of his life. That memory became his anchor.
With perseverance and a heart full of purpose, Eddie completed his SMAW NC II training. But he didn’t stop there. Fueled by ambition and the confidence he gained, he pursued further training and achieved Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) certification — proving that when one door opens, it leads to another. His skills were soon put to the test when he was hired by JSA Engineering Services, a reputable company known for placing quality Filipino welders in competitive worksites.
Today, Eddie is deployed at HERMA Shipyard in Mariveles, Bataan — an industrial shipbuilding zone known for high standards. He is no longer a student learning the ropes but a CLASS Welder, fully certified and professionally recognized. From his humble beginnings in Negros Occidental to the shipyard grounds of Bataan, Eddie’s journey is nothing short of a triumph over circumstance.
With his earnings, he has begun to provide better meals and clothing for his family. But more importantly, he has ignited hope — not just for himself, but for his siblings who now believe that dreams can come true. The house and car his father once imagined are no longer distant possibilities. They are now goals within reach.
Eddie continues to draw strength from his family, calling them his “inspirasyon,” the reason he fights every day to succeed. He now urges other youth: “Mag-aral kayo ng mabuti. Pumunta kayo sa Don Bosco. Libre lahat, at tutulungan pa nila kayo abutin ang pangarap niyo.”
His story is one of faith, discipline, and the power of community-based education. It is a living testimony to the mission of CFC ANCOP Global Foundation — to answer the cry of the poor— and to Don Bosco TVET Center Balamban’s vision to form the young, especially the poor, into good Christians and upright citizens through Evangelization, Education, and Employment.
What Eddie has forged is not just metal — it is his future, his family’s future, and the promise of a better life through education, faith, and hard work.
