At six years old, Rodel Estaniel and his mother would go to the market to sell vegetables and spices to make ends meet. They would do their best as informal vendors, but they were always at risk of being shut down due to their lack of permits. No sales meant no money for the day for food or other basic needs. His father worked as a security guard, but their life was a matter of survival each day.
Long days at school followed by hard work in the market was hard for Rodel. The constant rejection and bullying took its toll on him, but he knew his family needed the income. When the sales were not enough, he would also go to the chicken market and offer to clean up the garbage and waste for the vendors there to help make money for his family. He never felt forced to work by his parents, but he knew his contributions were important for all of their survival.
Then, after many years of waiting, the opportunity for sponsorship arose at Little Children of the Philippines. Rodel and his family rejoiced because their patience paid off. Rodel was the perfect candidate for sponsorship because he was a hard-working honors student who just needed a hand up to be able to finish his education and be successful. Their sponsor provided monthly support for his education and even gave them electricity in their home for the first time. They were a gift from God, and they believed in Rodel!
Rodel and his family continued to be sponsored throughout his education even after his first sponsor had to drop. He was then sponsored by another kind soul who supported him through high school and college, even after she passed away because she left a gift for his support. Rodel attributes his height being over six feet, very rare for Filipinos, to the milk and food he received in food packages from his sponsor. After his second sponsor passed, he was matched with a third!
Throughout his struggle, Rodel developed a relationship with God and a spirit of gratitude; always thankful for guidance, sustenance, and the will to move forward. College presented new challenges. He was not accepted to civil engineering, which was his dream, but another door opened to pursue mechanical engineering, which he grew to love! He juggled his LCP scholarship with another scholarship from a local business called ECE. He worked very hard to handle everything, but he began to see the future he was working toward begin to come to fruition which fed his motivation.
Rodel graduated in June of 2025 with his BS in Mechanical Engineering from NORSU. He will sit for licensure to be a fully-fledged engineer this year. He credits LCP for the opportunity to reach this milestone and for empowering him throughout his education. He looks forward to the opportunity to give back. None of this would be possible without sponsorship and because someone like you gave to invest in his life and success. Congratulations, Rodel and the class of 2025!
