i have often talked to his second cousin emmanuel over the past year and i know that he is a very diligent, hardworking young man who, unlike many of his classmates, is serious about his studies. he had told me that he wanted to go to college after graduating from high school -- a feat that seemed nearly impossible considering their family's financial background.

emmanuel's father is a farmer and her mother is a housewife. emmanuel is the third child among a brood of six. his two older siblings already have families of their own while his younger sisters are all in school.

i admired his courage to voice out his dream of pursuing a college education despite the apparent challenges he would face once he does. on the eve of his high school graduation, i encouraged him to try and take up entrance examinations at silliman university, arguably one of the best private institutions in the country. his family surrounded us while we were talking, and i understood how emmanuel's firm resolve to go to college at all costs frightened them. it was not that they are not proud of emmanuel's accomplishment and dream, it was simply anxiety that they would not be able to support emmanuel's education to the full, especially if he goes to silliman. i told them that he could always apply for scholarships and not to worry so much.

a few days ago i found out that emmanuel passed the silliman examinations. unfortunately, he only qualified for a 50% scholarship for the first semester. he has to work off (at PHP 20 or USD 0.50 an hour) the remaining 50% and would have to re-apply for a scholarship for the second semester and for the succeeding three years.

he has an option to take a full scholarship grant in a local university that admittedly does not have as good a track record as silliman and i feel that his family is urging him to do that instead of taking a big risk in silliman.

emmanuel understands that if he decides to enroll in silliman, he is endangering his siblings' education. they would have to sell one of their carabaos to pay for his expenses. the family would have to make certain sacrifices for him. he does not want that to happen -- but he really wants to study in silliman because he knows that he can have access to excellent education there, the kind of education that would also give him excellent opportunities in the future. he knowsthat studying in silliman would be beneficial to emmanuel's family in the long run.

but before he can think of his future, he has to think of the present.

i wish i could help him financially but i am in no position to do so. all i can do is pray for a miracle.