Inspirational Story of Mr.

Ian Casapao
 
Continuing the journey towards a dream destination in the face of adversity
demonstrates great bravery. Not everyone has the guts to go against the odds, to
overcome anxiety towards rejections and failures. However, the first episode of a
documentary drama titled "The Courage to Continue: Champs of Resiliency," featured
someone who can overcome the challenges that life throws at him. His name is Mr. Ian
Zachary Casapao.
Mr. Casapao was born into a normal, happy family. However, we all know that
reality does not consist solely of happy moments. The majority of the time, it brings up
sad situations. And in his case, the year 2017 marks the beginning of one of the most
difficult challenges he has faced in his life. It was during this time that his father
experienced a severe stroke. But by God's grace, his father escaped that situation.
Then after that, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mr. Casapao had to give
up a lot of things as a result of those circumstances. His time for himself, studies, and
other activities were instead primarily devoted to assisting with his family's expenses.
Not long after that, they were subjected to natural disasters such as earthquakes
caused by the Taal volcano. Despite these unfortunate events, he never stops going
forward. He didn't let those things get in the way of his goal, and instead of being
depressed, he even helped other disaster victims. He founded an organization called
Bayan-i with the sole purpose of assisting others rather than focusing on recovering
himself. Because of his effort, together with his friends, they are recognized by a lot of
people.
What I took away from his story was that he was not alone on his journey. Aside
from his family, He has someone he considers to be true friends. No man, no matter
how strong or good they are, is an island. No one can do it on their own. Mr. Casapao
received assistance from his family, friends, teachers, and even from the University of
Batangas. Whether it's monetary or emotional, they didn't leave him to deal with the
situation alone. As a result, he gained the confidence to confront the problems. And as
everyone has said, kindness can produce ripples. It begins as a simple act but quickly
spreads to affect many more. Just like Mr. Casapao, because of the kindness he
received from those around him, he decided to return the favor by assisting others in his
way. And because of that, I realized how important it is to always be kind. We don't
know everyone's backstory. Our simple kindness, ear, and smile can make a big
difference in their lives. By doing so, we can assist them in carrying the weight on their
shoulder.
If Mr. Casapao, who has faced difficulties challenges in his life, can overcome
them and even complete his studies, a student like me who has faced fewer challenges
should be able to do the same. Yes, we are all born differently. But there is one thing we
all have in common: if we give up, nothing will happen. You can't change your life, and
you can't change the lives of others.
Inspirational Story of Ms. Geny Fajilan
 
Education has always been regarded as the most valuable gift we can bestow
upon ourselves. It is our right and privilege to strive for and obtain. That's why nothing
can determine who deserves it. Not even age. Education has no age limit. It's for
everyone who wanted to acquire knowledge and skills. And with the second episode of
the documentary drama "The Courage to Continue: Champs of Resiliency," showed
how Ms. Geny Fajilan, a 40-year-old woman, overcame the challenges of modern-day
education.
Ms. Fajilan, as a returnee, experienced the difference in the style of education
from before to now. As we all know, education, particularly during this pandemic,
revolves around technology. That was one of the difficulties she encountered today
while studying. She is perplexed as to how social media platforms such as Facebook
and other applications can be used for academic purposes. Because of the drastic
change, she has had thoughts of giving up. But, because of the encouragement he
received from his family and friends, she decided to give it a shot. Her family is her
primary motivator, her foundation. He wished to assist her family, particularly her
brother, who is currently ill.
What I took away from her story is that when you have God and your family as
your foundation, you are more than prepared to face anything. You find it far too easy to
make sacrifices. And working harder than ever before comes naturally to you.
Furthermore, age is not a barrier to success. It will never be. That is why we should not
be bothered by what others have told us. We deserve to have it. We should not limit
ourselves simply because we are different or, in her case, older than others. Nothing is
out of the question. Anyone can have a dream. However, only you can achieve your
own goals.