A video about the problems of female students
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#dailymotion
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LifestyleTranscript
00:01in the Philippines there's a secret dating culture foreigners rarely talk
00:06about the world of tuition girls who are tuition girls they're students who date
00:14men sometimes foreigners to help pay for school fees why because tuition is
00:21expensive poverty is real and dating with financial support is normal in
00:26Filipino culture some are like sugar dating others are real relationships
00:32with financial help the big question is what are you willing to sacrifice for a
00:38diploma I'm going to tell you a story a story about a girl named Alyssa a story
00:47about ambition poverty and the invisible economy that preys on desperate students
00:53this is not a story about right or wrong this is a story about survival and it
00:59starts with a promise a promise she made to herself at 17 years old standing in
01:07front of a broken mirror in a house with walls made of corrugated metal I will be
01:13the first no matter what it takes she had no idea what those words would cost her
01:21Alisa Mercado grew up in Barangay San Isidro Laguna a small town with a
01:27population of approximately four thousand an average monthly household income is
01:33about eight thousand five hundred pesos her mother Neneng woke up at 4 a.m. every
01:40day to sell vegetables at the Palenque her father Tatai Ben worked construction
01:46jobs when he could find them which wasn't often they lived in a two-room house with
01:52a leaking roof and no running water but Alyssa Alyssa was different she was the
02:00kind of student that teachers remember always raising her hand always staying
02:05after class always reading borrowed books under a dim bulb while her parents
02:10slept in grade 11 she ranked fifth in her entire school in grade 12 she applied to one university just
02:19one the most prestigious university she could imagine in Metro Manila when the
02:26acceptance letter arrived her mother burst into tears her father went silent because they
02:33all knew the same truth getting in was one thing paying for it was another for her
02:40tuition per semester she'd need about forty two thousand pesos the dorm deposit is
02:46four thousand five hundred pesos monthly rent would cost three thousand two
02:51hundred pesos the feeding daily budget of 150 pesos adds up to four thousand five
02:58hundred pesos per month in addition to all of these there is
03:02transportation school supplies projects books and miscellaneous items all these would total
03:10to about eight thousand two hundred pesos per month this is a total of eighty five thousand
03:15pesos barely one fifty hundred dollars for just her first semester here is the shocking
03:22reality her father's monthly income is between six thousand to nine thousand pesos an average
03:29of two hundred while her mother's monthly income four thousand to six thousand pesos which is less
03:36than two hundred dollars do you see the gap that's not a gap that's a canyon her father sat at
03:46the table that
03:47night staring at the acceptance letter like it was a death sentence with a broken voice he said a knock
03:55maybe this is not for people like us maybe you try again next year
04:02or find work Muna Alyssa didn't cry she didn't argue she just folded the letter went to her room and
04:12made a decision
04:13three days later she left for Manila with five thousand pesos her parents scraped together
04:21two bags of clothes a notebook full of dreams and a promise she whispered to herself in the dark
04:31kahitano I will finish she had no idea what kahitano would actually mean
04:40manila doesn't care about your dreams within a week Alyssa learned three lessons her first lesson
04:48was how five thousand pesos disappeared in a city like smoke the second one hunger is louder than
04:56ambition and the third lesson no one will save you after paying her dorm deposit she had five hundred
05:05pesos left she skipped breakfast she skipped lunch dinner was a 15 pesos pack of crackers and water from
05:13the dorm hallway she walked 45 minutes to school every day to save 20 pesos on jeepney fare her roommate
05:21a
05:22girl from Quezon City whose parents were both doctors asked her once why don't you just get an allowance
05:28from your parents like everyone else Alyssa smiled and said nothing she tried everything applied for seven
05:38scholarships rejected at six waitlisted for one got a part-time job at a 7-eleven 350 pesos per shift
05:48fired after two weeks because she fell asleep during inventory she even tutored high school students online
05:56made 200 pesos hour but clients were inconsistent sold thrifted clothes on Facebook made one I'm 500
06:04pesos in three weeks it wasn't enough it would never be enough here is the sad part her tuition deadline
06:12was
06:1214 days away and she needed about 42,000 pesos for it she only had 3,700 saved at night
06:22lying in her bed
06:23staring at the ceiling Alyssa did something she never thought she'd do she opened Facebook and typed
06:31into the search bar student financial help Manila what happened next is something thousands of Filipino
06:40students experience every single semester the algorithm knew exactly what she needed it suggested a private
06:48group tuition angels ph helping students achieve their dreams the group had about 14,000 members she clicked the
07:00posts were careful coded but clear kind sponsor needed for tuition willing to meet serious only looking for a generous
07:12Tito who
07:12understands the struggle DM for details I'm a second year nursing student I need 25k pesos by Friday I can
07:22offer companionship and good conversation
07:25Alyssa felt her stomach turn but she kept scrolling and scrolling and scrolling then she saw it a post from
07:36a girl who looked just like her
07:38same age same desperation in the caption to everyone judging us in the comments you have no idea what it's
07:46like to choose between
07:47your education and eating so before you type your sanctimonious opinions ask yourself
07:53what would you do the post had 247 reactions 89 comments most of them were from other girls saying
08:03same sis kaya natin to walang choice a Alyssa closed the app she cried for 20 minutes then she opened
08:14it again and this time she posted the reply came in four minutes his name was Roberto Reyes 48 years
08:25old verified
08:27profile photos of him at corporate events playing golf and sitting in a luxury car married two children his
08:38message was polite hi Alyssa I saw your post I'm a businessman and a father I believe in supporting
08:46students how much do you need Alyssa stared at the screen for five full minutes her hands were shaking she
08:56typed
08:5620,000 pesos po for tuition that's no problem but I'd like to meet you first dinner let's talk I
09:05want to make sure you're
09:06genuine she knew what this was she wasn't stupid but she also knew her tuition deadline was in 11 days
09:15and
09:16desperation makes you believe lies you wouldn't normally entertain the next evening she stood outside a restaurant in
09:25Makati she'd never been to Makati before she wore the nicest dress she owned a 250 pesos
09:34ukai ukai find and borrowed makeup from her roommate inside mr. Reyes was waiting he smiled stood up pulled
09:45out her chair you're even lovelier in person please sit order anything you like she couldn't even read the menu
09:54everything was in French he ordered for her steak pasta wine she was too nervous to drink he talked about
10:04his
10:04business his children how proud he was that young people like her still valued education and then after dessert he
10:15she said she said she had to go to the table she had to go to the table she had
10:16to go to the table she had to go to the table
10:16she had to go to the table there's 25,000 pesos in there a little extra for your expenses
10:23Alyssa's heart pounded the thank you Poe I'll pay you back no need but nothing in this world is truly
10:31free Alyssa you understand that don't you
10:35she understood an hour later she was in his condominium in BGC and two hours after that she left
10:47she walked back to her dorm in the rain clutching the envelope crying so hard she couldn't breathe but
10:55when she got to her room and counted the money the tears didn't stop because she felt two things at
11:02once
11:03disgust and relief and that relief it was the most dangerous thing she'd ever felt
11:12let me tell you what happens when survival becomes a transaction you stop seeing yourself as a person
11:19you become a commodity a service a solution to a problem and the worst part you get used to it
11:28Alyssa paid her tuition she stayed enrolled she attended classes took notes and participated in discussions
11:37but at night she became someone else Mr. Reyes became a regular once a month sometimes twice 15,000 pesos
11:47each time
11:48then there was Tito Gregg a businessman from Alabang 20,000 pesos for weekends
11:56then Kuya Dan younger mid-30s worked in tech 10,000 pesos for dinner and overnight
12:03she kept a notebook coded names amounts dates she told herself this is temporary just until I graduate
12:13just until I'm stable just until but just until has a way of stretching into forever
12:22one night Alyssa met another girl at a coffee shop near campus her name was Janine 21 years old nursing
12:31major Dean's Lister they recognized each other immediately not from class from the way they both looked around
12:39nervously before sitting down from the expensive bag that didn't match the tired eyes from the smile
12:46that didn't reach the soul Janine said quietly how long have you been doing this
12:52Alyssa responded eight months Janine replied two years for me they didn't judge each other
13:01they didn't need to Janine was supporting her younger brother's high school tuition her mother had stage 3 cancer her
13:11father left when she was 12
13:13another girl may was paying off family debt after her father's failed business
13:19another Kath simply wanted to afford the lifestyle her classmates had to not feel poor anymore
13:27they all had reasons and they all had the same question does it ever get easier the answer was no
13:35but they kept going anyway
13:39there comes the boy who saw his name was Miguel Santos 21 years old political science major
13:49quiet thoughtful the kind of guy who noticed things he noticed Alyssa not in the way most guys did
13:57he noticed the way she flinched when someone touched her shoulder the way she zoned out in the middle of
14:05conversations
14:06the way she walked home at 2 a.m. alone in heels she wasn't used to wearing one Tuesday afternoon
14:14after their
14:15result class he approached her Miguel spoke carefully hey Alyssa you okay you seem I don't know tired
14:26Alyssa replied defensively I'm fine just busy Miguel said yeah I get it but if you ever need someone to
14:37talk to
14:37you Alyssa cut him off I said I'm fine but Miguel didn't stop noticing and one Friday night he saw
14:46her
14:46getting into a silver fortune or outside a hotel in ermita the man driving was older married Miguel
14:55recognized him from the news some local politician the next day Miguel didn't say anything but Alyssa knew she
15:03she could feel his eyes on her in class and it terrified her two weeks later Miguel finally said something
15:11they were alone in the library late evening rain hammering against the windows
15:17Miguel said softly Alyssa I know Alyssa replied panically you don't know anything
15:25Miguel insisted I saw you that night and I've seen you other nights too Alyssa's voice broke
15:33then what are you going to judge me report me tell everyone Miguel responded calmly no I just want you
15:44to
15:44know you don't have to do this Alyssa shouted don't have to you think I want to do this you
15:53think I enjoy it
15:55you don't know what it's like to go to bed hungry to see your classmates casually spend 500 pesos on
16:02coffee
16:02while you're rationing 50 pesos for the entire day you don't know what it's like to call your mother and
16:09lie
16:09about how great everything is while you're selling yourself just to stay enrolled so
16:15don't you dare tell me I don't have to do this a great silence ensued Miguel said quietly
16:23you're right I don't know but I do know this you're destroying yourself and one day you won't
16:32recognize who you've become Alyssa sat down and for the first time in months she broke it happened on a
16:41Wednesday morning Alyssa woke up to 47 missed calls and a message from an unknown number I know who you
16:49are
16:49I know what you've been doing with my husband stay away from my family or I will destroy you
16:56attached were screenshots of messages between Alyssa and Mr. Reyes photos of them together her full name
17:04school and dorm address the sender was Mrs. Reyes and she wasn't bluffing within 24 hours the screenshots
17:15were sent to three of Alyssa's professors anonymously posted in a campus gossip group forwarded to her
17:22dorm landlady her roommate moved out classmates whispered one professor pulled her aside and said
17:29I don't care what you do outside of school but if this affects your academic performance or the
17:34reputation of this institution you're out Alyssa stopped going to class she stopped answering calls she
17:42stopped eating for three days she stayed in her room staring at the ceiling she thought about quitting
17:50about going home about ending it all and then Miguel showed up he knocked on her door for 10 minutes
18:00before she finally opened it she looked like a ghost Miguel said with a gentle tone Alyssa let me in
18:09Alyssa responded coldly why so you can tell me you were right Miguel replied no so I can help
18:20she let him in and for the first time she told someone the entire truth every deal every lie every
18:30night she cried
18:32herself to sleep she waited for him to leave but he didn't Miguel said softly Alyssa you're not a bad
18:41person
18:42you're a person who was put in an impossible situation but you can't keep doing this not because it's wrong
18:49but because it's killing you and then he said something that changed everything you think you're alone but you're not
18:57let me help you for real this time recovery isn't cinematic it's not a montage with uplifting music it's slow
19:08it's painful
19:10it's two steps forward three steps back Miguel helped Alyssa find a legitimate part-time job at a campus cafe
19:19apply for a government scholarship she'd been too ashamed to pursue move into a cheaper safer boarding house
19:27cut off all contact with her previous clients the scholarship came through 30,000 pesos per semester
19:35the cafe job paid 400 pesos per shift it wasn't much but it was honest and for the first time
19:44in a year
19:45Alyssa could sleep without shame it took her an extra year to graduate
19:50she had to retake two subjects she worked double shifts to make up for lost income
19:57she faced judgment from people who heard rumors but she finished
20:04June 2024
20:06Alyssa Mercado stood in line wearing a rented toga holding a diploma she almost didn't earn
20:13cum laude bachelor of arts in communication her parents sat in the audience her mother cried her father held her
20:23hand silent proud
20:25they had no idea what their daughter had survived and Alyssa decided they never would
20:32as she walked across the stage she didn't think about the shame or the men or the nights she wanted
20:40to disappear
20:42she thought about miguel who saw her at her worst and stayed she thought about janine may and kath still
20:52fighting their own battles
20:53and she thought about the girl she used to be the one who left laguna with 5000 pesos in a
21:00dream
21:00as the dean handed her the diploma Alyssa whispered
21:05I survived and she had but at what cost
21:13Alyssa's story is a reality for thousands of Filipino students
21:17let me tell you something most people don't want to hear
21:21this isn't a story about morality
21:23this is a story about a system that forces young women to choose between their dignity and their future
21:30in the Philippines the average college tuition is forty thousand to eighty thousand pesos
21:36six hundred dollars to one thousand four hundred per semester in private universities
21:42the minimum wage is six hundred and ten pesos
21:45ten dollars per day
21:47sixty percent of Filipino families live on less than ten thousand pesos 170 per month
21:55do the math
21:56it doesn't add up
21:58so what happens
22:00students take out loans they can't repay
22:02they work three jobs and fail their classes
22:05they drop out
22:07or
22:07they find other ways
22:09there are private Facebook groups right now as I'm speaking
22:13with tens of thousands of members
22:16young women offering companionship in exchange for tuition money
22:20older men offering mentorship in exchange for other things
22:26and in the middle of this invisible economy
22:29are girls who just want to study
22:33so before you judge Alyssa
22:35before you judge any of them
22:38ask yourself
22:39what would you have done
22:42if it were your dream on the line
22:43if it was your family's hope
22:46if it were your only way out of poverty
22:49what would you have done
22:53if this story resonates with you
22:55then watch the next video on
22:57renting a girlfriend in the Philippines
22:59moving on
22:59it's not the same thing
22:59but this is not the same thing
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