An old adage goes, “Dreams do come true to those who work hard while they dream.” This rings true for 17-year-old dreamer Eman Bagual, who at a very young age was exposed to the harsh realities of life, but came out triumphant.
Growing up in a poverty-stricken part of Cavite City, Eman’s life was peppered with trials. His dad Emiliano Bagual was a jeepney driver, while his mom Clarita did odd jobs just to make both ends meet. But their earnings were simply not enough to buy the brood even a decent meal.
At six years old, Eman knew that his future was bleak. His mom would drag his fragile body out of bed at 5 a.m. so he could help her wash passenger jeepneys at the terminal. Eman didn’t complain. He knew that once the chore was done, he and his brother Erwin could have a bowl of hot porridge that would warm their tummies.
He also looked forward to spending the rest of the day with his friends in their playground — the cemetery.
“Our house was only 15 meters away from the cemetery. That’s where my friends and I played. We basically grew up there,” relates Eman.
Neighborhood kids would hang out in the cemetery. Some either bullied him, enticed him to pick-pocket or join gangs.
“Poverty drove me to commit petty crimes. At that time, all I wanted was to help my parents earn a living. When my mom found out about it, she scolded me. She explained that stealing wasn’t the answer to our problems. And for change to happen, it should start with me,” says Eman.
That conversation inspired Eman to change the course of his life. He attended classes during the week, then spent his weekends selling corn from a kariton (pushcart) on the roads.
Heroes in waiting
In 2009, Eman met CNN Hero of the Year Efren Peñaflorida who introduced him to his mentor Harnin “Kuya Bonn” Manalaysay, founder of Club 8586 Inc., a non-profit, non-sectarian and non-denominational organization helping the less fortunate in Cavite City.
“Kuya Bonn opened our eyes to reality. He explained the things that drove kids to commit crimes or why they ended up at the cemetery. He showed us — through example — that there’s a better way out and that a lot of kids are in dire need of help,” explains Eman.
Eman joined Efren’s Dynamic Teen Company, which aims to prevent kids from joining gangs and notorious fraternities.
“I joined in their volunteer work and jail outreach programs,” adds Eman.
Soon, Eman founded another spin-off group, Mind Your Rights (M.Y. Rights), which educates the young and their parents on children’s rights, and aims to put an end to the cycle of abuse especially in marginalized communities.
Today, Eman is one of the top five nominees for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Awards for Children’s Rights.
“It’s such a big honor to be nominated to this prestigious award. Credit goes to my mom, who loves me unconditionally and believes that I could be a catalyst for change,” notes Eman.
Mommy knows best
Mothers play a crucial role in shaping a kid’s dream and nurturing his full potentials. Nothing beats a mom’s touch in setting a larger-than-life playing field for kids where they can be their own mighty heroes like Kuya Eman.
“As a mom, it’s important to build your child’s self-worth. Always affirm their positive qualities, and acknowledge their efforts and achievements. Doing so will definitely boost their self-confidence,” shares Maribel Sison-Dionisio, a relationship and parent expert, and co-founder of the Love Institute.
Mother-kid bonding is essential so that moms can steer their kids towards the right direction. Proper guidance is a must because it enables kids to get a realistic perspective about the world around them without, of course, curbing their youthful imagination and enthusiasm.
One way to instill fervor in their hearts is to give them refreshing ideas on how to take part in daily activities. Encouraging kids to contribute to the day-to-day activities whether at home or in the community shapes their character and brings out the greatness in them. It may take a little coaching at first, but by showing them a good example and coaxing them with an equally refreshing reward such as the fruit-sarap goodness of Tang, kids will easily be on the right track.
A daily serving of Tang livens up any activity and may help stir kids’ imagination. With its Fruit Power 7 nutrients, Tang provides the right nutrition in a flavorful way, helping kids to stay aleart and be active community members in their own delightful ways.
Tang galing mo, kid!
To encourage more kids to become involved in their communities like Kuya Eman, Tang launched the Search for Tang Galing Kids.
The search is open to organizations whose members may nominate as many kids as they want. Only one child per organization member is allowed. Each kid corresponds to one entry.
“Each entry must have a one-pager story on the life of the kid and the small steps that the kid makes or has made which are inspiring and worth emulating,” explains Alex Dan Tacderas, Kraft Food Philippines category manager for beverages.
An official nomination form may be mailed to 5thP Advertising at 55 D Matahimik St., Teacher’s Village, West Diliman, QC. Entries may also be sent via e-mail through tanggalingkids@gmail.com with the subject Tang Galing Nomination Form.
Entries may be sent until Aug. 6. Seven winners will be chosen as Tang Galing Kids. The Seven Tang Galing Kids will be announced on Aug. 23. Each kid will receive a cash prize, which they can use to implement a project of their choice. The winning kids and their nominating organizations will each garner a P100,000 cash prize.
Tang Galing Kids lets your kids shine and show how their little steps can transform into big strides. You can do it kid, just like Kuya Eman!