Success is sweetest to those people who have worked so hard and struggle to reach their goals in life.
Just like the inspiring story of this student who was able to support his studies by selling sponges in the streets of Makati City for the last 13 years.
In a Facebook post, Melvin Chua happily and humbly shared that he finally earned himself a degree.
Aside from his success, Melvin also shared that he has been selling the said kitchen cleaning items since he was in grade school to help his family with their expenses and to support his schooling.
Recently, this sponge vendor already earned his diploma with a degree in Office Management from the University of Makati. Right after his graduation practice, Melvin took time to visit his ‘suki’ customers to personally thank some of them for all the help and their contribution to his success.
Unfortunately, he was not able to visit them all on the day before his graduation that’s why he took his gratitude through social media.
In a lengthy post, Melvin Chua wrote on Facebook:
“After ng graduation practice namin, nagtinda ako with hope na sana makita ko ang karamihan sa mga suki ko. I really wanna tell them how thankful I am to all of them as they really contributed a lot and played a big role in my life for almost 13 years.”
Yes!! They witnessed my elementary, high school, and now my college Graduation. Sila yung mga taong kahit anong antas sa buhay- bumibili ng tig 5,10,15 20 kong paninda na panghugas ng plato.
Luckily, I was able to meet and thank personally some of them. At yung mga hindi pa, dito na lang.”
According to the young man, these people used to take care of him since he was a kid, sometimes they even give him food and they also worry about him whenever he stays out too late or continue selling in the rain.
Melvin wrote: My heart filled with so much love and joy after hearing all their “Congratulations!” and “So Proud of You”. I know to myself I was able to thank them and show them my gratefulness for their kindness. Naiiyak iyak lang din ako habang ngumingiti sa kanila.
Sila yung mga taong-
Oh! gabi na, naglalako ka pa! Ingat ka dyan sa daan.
Naulan bakit nagtitinda ka? Nagpapahiram ng payong para di ako mabasa.
Mahal na araw, naglalako ka pa din.
Balik ka dito sa pasko may regalo kami sayo. Etc.
Tuwing naglalako ako, hindi ko naisip na kailangan kong magtinda to survive kundi dahil masaya ako sa ginagawa ko at nakakatulong ako kay Mama.
He also shared how grateful he is for their kindness and thanked all the people who used to buy his sponges.
“And as I end this remarkable journey, ito yung araw na hinding hindi ko kayo malilimutang pasalamatan. From the bottom of my heart. SOBRANG MARAMING SALAMAT PO. Dahil sa pagbili nyo ng paninda ko, isang araw, isang linggo, isang buwan at isang taon ang nadadagdag para mapagpatuloy ko ang pag aaral ko at matulungan ko ang pamilya ko,” he added.
As of this moment, the viral post has already reached over 40,000 likes and 12,000 shares and thousands of comments from netizens who wished him luck in all of his future endeavors.