Ramir Calingacion: The Strength to Overcome
As an 8-year-old child, Ramir was acutely aware of life’s difficulties. His mother was suffering with breast cancer, and his father would leave their one-roomed home in the poorest community before the sun came up to scavenge for food and income. Ramir then became the keeper of the house, responsible for cooking and cleaning to help his desperate parents. They had no electricity, running water, or bathroom facilities. Despite these seemingly insurmountable difficulties, he was determined to overcome.
As an 8-year-old child, Ramir was acutely aware of life’s difficulties. His mother was suffering with breast cancer, and his father would leave their one-roomed home in the poorest community before the sun came up to scavenge for food and income. Ramir then became the keeper of the house, responsible for cooking and cleaning to help his desperate parents. They had no electricity, running water, or bathroom facilities. Despite these seemingly insurmountable difficulties, he was determined to overcome.
After the loss of his mother, sponsorship carried Ramir and his father through and truly made a difference in their lives by helping meet their basic needs. Ramir was supported in his education from elementary school until he earned a high school diploma and later a college scholarship. At LCP, he grew his faith in God through worship and engaging in children and youth activities. He found a tribe of people at LCP who supported his growth and encouraged his relationship with God. He maintained good grades throughout his struggles. Without LCP, he wonders what would have happened to him.
In 2023, Ramir also lost his father to complications resulting from tuberculosis. Today, Ramir is a college student scheduled to graduate later this year with a bachelor’s degree in IT. He is a testimony of having strength to overcome. His sponsors, Patsy and Brian, invested in making sure he is safe, fed, and supported. They wrote in a note to LCW last year how amazed they are by his toughness and resilience. Since his father passed, Ramir has been on his own to support himself through the final years of his education. His sponsors became a vital lifeline for food and housing. But glory to God and thanks to investment from people like you, in just a few short months, his dream of a college degree will be a reality.
Ramir writes: “My journey has not been easy, but it has taught me how strong I can be. I lost my father, and my world changed in ways I never expected. I am living alone, facing each day without his guidance. There were moments when the pain and loneliness felt too heavy, and continuing my studies seemed impossible. But I chose not to stop. I pushed myself to move forward, step by step, believing that my father would want me to keep going. I completed my OJT despite the struggles, and today, I stand as a graduating student. Looking back, I see not just the hardships, but the strength I found within myself. My story is not only about loss, but about hope, perseverance, and the courage to keep walking even when the road is hard.”
