When Eugene Dela Cruz came out as gay at just 12 years old, his world fell apart. His own family threw him out of their home. With nowhere to go, Eugene ended up living on the streets of Manila—alone, hungry, and unsure if he would survive another day.
Now, at 21, Eugene is a proud graduate of Ateneo de Manila University. And the story he shared on Facebook recently went viral, touching thousands of hearts across the country.
From Home to the Streets
“I wasn’t supposed to make it here,” Eugene wrote in his viral post.
At 12 years old, Eugene became homeless. He wandered the streets of Metro Manila with no food, no money, and no one to turn to. He begged for coins, shared a piece of bread across three meals, and washed up in public restrooms. During rainy nights, he slept under tricycles. When the skies were clear, he curled up in alleyways.
“No one asked where I went,” Eugene said. “And after a while, I stopped asking, too.”
He was out of school for four long years. Those years were filled with pain, silence, and survival.
A Second Chance
Things began to change when Eugene was given a chance to return to school. At first, he was scared. He felt behind, ashamed, and unsure of himself. But then something amazing happened: Ateneo believed in him.
“They didn’t ask for perfect grades or connections,” he said. “They just saw a kid who needed a second chance.”
He entered Ateneo’s Honors Program in Economics, and worked hard every step of the way. He danced in festivals to earn money. He tutored strangers to pay rent. He walked into class each day carrying not just books, but years of pain that most people never saw.
Some days, he felt like he didn’t belong beside his classmates. But what kept him going was the kindness of the people around him—professors, school staff, other scholars, and even strangers who showed they cared.
Finding a New Family
“I may not have a family cheering for me,” Eugene said, “but I found one at Ateneo.”
He thanked the Office of Admission and Aid, the Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association, Scholars United, and all the mentors and friends who supported him.
But most of all, he spoke of a deep faith. “God was not far away,” he said. “He was with me in every flooded street, every cold restroom, every single tear.”
A Message of Hope
Eugene didn’t just survive—he thrived. He graduated with honors. He received the Third Best Undergraduate Thesis Award in Economics. He now holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Honors Program) with a specialization in Financial Economics and a minor in Decision Science.
His journey is not just about hardship. It’s about the courage to choose a different path. To ask for help. To keep going even when the world says “no.”
One Meal and a Powerful Conversation
Last Saturday, I had the privilege to sit down and have a simple meal with Eugene. We talked about the truth behind the viral post—what it’s really like to be rejected by your own family, to go hungry for days, to feel invisible in a busy world.
But more than that, we talked about courage. About choosing education instead of giving up. About having hope when there seems to be none. About rebuilding your life, one small step at a time.
For Anyone Struggling
Whether you’re a student, a worker, a parent, or someone going through your own hard times—Eugene’s story is for you. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest moments, it’s still possible to hope. To try. To rise.
“If you are still fighting, still breathing, still daring to hope,” Eugene said, “then maybe, so will you.”
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