As a token for his victory, the nine-year-old Jayson Maghirang was given a chance to dine in one of the most famous fast-food chains in the Philippines. For the very first time in his childhood, Jayson found himself inside the restaurant that he used to look from a far.

Venus Sulit, Jayson’s Adviser did not realize that her simple social media post will go viral. Their photos on facebook in a fast-food chain with a short story of admiration for her student had caught the attention of over a hundred thousand netizens. Jayson’s story was shared forty thousand times and re-published in several social media platforms. Instantly, their town, province and the social media world had recognized him as the “Math Champion.”

A family of farmer is where Jayson grew up. They reside in a remote area in Canda, Sariaya, Quezon Province where his parents work as lot caretakers and vegetable planters.

The team drove to Quezon Province and through Teacher Venus, we met Jayson. He is meek; he barely speaks and merely glances and smiles while we are not looking at him. Indeed, a simple boy, yet his heart which was surely known by his teacher had never had an ordinary pursuit. 

Jayson’s young mind knows it all. He knows that his family is not in a decent economic status. He knows that he has lesser things compared to others. He knows that his life is plentiful of substantial matters that his family is lacking. Jayson is on the point of his life, craving for some changes and he only entrusts it in education.

“Gusto ko po laging pumasok para po makapagtapos po at matupad po ‘yung mga pangarap ko—maging Sundalo po at maka-ahon po sa hirap.” (“I always wanted to go to school so I can finish my studies. I want to fulfill my dreams—to be a Soldier and to escape from poverty.”)

Teacher Venus as Jayson’s second mother in school fully supports his goals. She was one of the first people who believes in Jayson’s academic capacity, especially in Mathematics. The boy’s exceptional skills in numbers had caught her attention and made her recommend him to the School Head to compete for “Mathrathon”, a mathematics competition in their town.

“One time po kasi meron pong mga barya doon sa table ko tapos pinabilang ko po ‘yun dun sa isang bata na classmate niya. Sabi niya, Ma’am mali naman po ‘yung kwenta. Sabi ko, hala sige ikaw ang magbilang. Pagkabilang niya doon sa barya, tama po, exactly ‘yung pagkakasabi niya kung magkano ‘yung barya.” (Once, there were coins on my table and I asked one of Jayson’s classmates to count those. Jayson said that the counting was wrong. I told him to count then. He was right.”)

“Sinabi po sa amin ng aming principal na meron nga raw pong Mathrathon na magaganap dito sa Sariaya East which is sa Grade 1 ng iba’t-ibang school po ang kalaban. Sabi ko bigyan naman po ng opportunity ‘yung bata kasi feeling ko baka manalo.” (The School Principal informed us that a Mathrathon would be held at Sariaya East where First Grade Students from different schools would compete. I requested for Jayson’s opportunity to join because I knew that he could win.”)

Teacher Venus learned more about her student during the review sessions. She shared that it was challenging for Jayson to study at night because his family has never experienced a well-lighted house since they lived in Canda, a remote village. The gas lamp has been their source of light every night as he and his other siblings do their homeworks and school projects.

Jayson’s family is among the over two million Filipino homes that still has no access to electricity based on the latest figures of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

But the absence of electricity and scarcity in material things have not lost Jayson’s heart to pursue his studies. Her teacher’s pieces of advice had ignited his young burning dreams.

“Pagdating ko po sa school nakita ko agad siya. ‘Pag tingin ko po sa baba, as in yung sapatos niya, as in naka-nganga na, tapos ‘yung medyas wala pong garter. Ginawa ko, niyakap ko nalang siya, tapos sabi ko po, galingan mo ha, para sa iyo itong labang ‘to.” (“The day of competition came. I met him in school, and I looked down—his shoes were totally worn out and his socks were loose. I just hugged him and said that he must do his best and he should dedicate this battle for himself.”)

Jayson competed with seventeen Grade 1 Students from different schools. At the end, he clutched the first place. Teacher Venus revealed that his student’s joy while walking towards the stage and receiving his medal could not be described. But she did not know that Jayson could be happier in having the reward that she prepared. A treat in a famous fast-food chain exposed the happiest child in Jayson. The little treat which could be normal for children in his age, is a precious and rare moment for this young Math Champion.

“Masaya po ako noong pumunta po ako sa Jollibee. First time ko pong makapunta.” (“I am happy to dine in at Jollibee. It was my first time to be there.”)

It was also a surprise for Teacher Venus, seeing Jayson’s absolute joy in that simple token.

“Noong dinala ko po siya sa Jollibee, manghang-mangha siya kasi ang daming tao, ang daming pagkain. Sabi niya, ang sarap pala sa feeling kapag kumakain sa ganitong klase ng kainan.” (“When I brought him at Jollibee, he was really amazed to the crowd, to the amount of food. He told me that it felt good to eat in a place like that.”)

Jayson Maghirang represents a lot of students from many corners of today’s society, who has blessed with intelligence, yet been limited to various opportunities. Battling against poverty might be a pro-longed journey, but it must not be lay-down for the sake of children’s better destiny.

Gasera (Gas Lamp) is first aired on Alapaap Media’s YouTube Channel.

Written by Ricca Joice Adrada