00:00 Even though Ramil's eyes are already blinded by the sight of a knife,
00:05 and he has to clean and do laundry,
00:09 he knows that being a janitor is not enough to cover his family's needs.
00:17 That's why Ramil became famous, and now he's a famous lawyer.
00:23 But that's not all, the law firm is also asking him to find out his story.
00:30 Ramil is only 7 years old, and he's already planting seeds.
00:36 I see my mom planting, she's also doing the laundry, she's also weaving.
00:42 So, if there's anything I can do to help her, I'm helping her.
00:46 Even though he grew up without his father's support, his mother's support is enough.
00:52 For me, everything is normal because my mom provided love and care.
00:57 I don't have a vacuum that I need to fill because my mom was there growing up.
01:03 She provided love.
01:06 Because he has no one to rely on, his mother is the one who supports his six siblings.
01:12 But for my mom to be able to weave, that means she has to carry heavy wood.
01:20 She's also helping out when there's a party.
01:23 She helps and pays for it.
01:27 Even though he doesn't have a permanent job, his mom finished all his high school.
01:33 But because he's a busy man, he can't afford to pay for his college tuition.
01:40 To help his mom, Ramil went to Manila from Catanduanes.
01:47 He was lucky to get a good job.
01:50 When I got an offer to go to Manila, I grabbed it.
01:54 Hoping that I can help my family because it's really hard to earn money in the province.
02:01 Ramil is very thankful that he was accepted as a merchandiser in a furniture company.
02:07 But his life in Manila didn't become that easy because he couldn't find a job.
02:15 Ramil returned to the province but he didn't give up on his dream of becoming a merchandiser.
02:21 When I had an opportunity to go to Manila again, I went to a furniture company.
02:27 Because he wants to improve his life, Ramil took a civil service exam to get a better job.
02:35 I took advantage of my free time from 12 to 1.
02:38 I just quickly ate, took a nap, and I was immediately read by the reviewer.
02:45 I was very fortunate to get the job in the first take.
02:50 I passed the civil service exam.
02:52 Even though he got a job in the government, he was given the position of janitor because he didn't finish his college.
03:03 He also had a communication with his former classmate.
03:07 They got along well and became a couple.
03:10 He also gave them a child.
03:13 In 2007, I was already in the community as a janitor.
03:16 And my wife is already an engineer.
03:20 Aside from love, he also had a realization in life because of his wife.
03:26 This is where he saw the importance of education to find a good job.
03:31 That's why Ramil didn't stop. He decided to return to study and take a public administration course at the University of the Philippines.
03:41 Janitor in the morning, student at night.
03:44 All of the hardships in the face of dreams.
03:48 For me, my faith in the Lord is strong.
03:51 Hard work and lots and lots of prayers.
03:56 It's worth it because he was able to graduate and get promoted as a clerk.
04:01 But if you thought it was over, you're wrong.
04:05 Ramil continued and studied law at the age of 30.
04:11 When I entered law school, I already had a body that this is it.
04:15 I already gave my heart.
04:17 Whatever hardships I went through here, I'll continue.
04:20 I have a job, I have a family.
04:22 So I have to balance everything.
04:25 And my strategy is to move slowly but surely.
04:32 The wait and the burning of his eyebrows as a law student paid off.
04:37 When he graduated and passed the bar exam in 2017.
04:45 From cleaning the house, Ramil became a good lawyer at the age of 35.
04:52 We can continue the cycle of hardship.
04:55 It's up to us what we're going to do to mediate the current situation.
05:03 The former janitor now has his own law firm that also helps people who can't afford to pay their lawyer.
05:11 I was so emotional at that time.
05:13 All the hardships flashed back.
05:17 And the idea that everyone is changing.
05:22 Case closed.
05:24 Ramil's story is proven that as long as we don't stop,
05:28 we can still achieve our dreams if we work hard together.
05:34 We are one.
05:37 We are one.
05:39 We are one.
05:42 [Music]
05:55 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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