Hi, I am Ivan Jhec Orbiso, people often call me Joshua Garcia as my nickname, I don’t know why, we must’ve had the same face, I was born on September 3, 2006, in one of Barangay Health Centers in Cebu City, which
is in the Barangay Pahina Central, where every corner in the places always has laughter and danger at the same time, well because it’s a squatter area, and danger always exists.
I am youngest among five children. My mother, Evangeline Barro, and my father Jesselito Orbiso, who lived and met in our province in Medellin,
Northern part of Cebu. Both my parents are working together as sidewalk vendors here in Colon, Cebu, selling some famous accessories including
sunglasses, wallets, and also reading glasses, which is what older customers need.
I would say that I have five destinations that I would always go at the time, in home, school, computer shop, in our neighborhood and in our sidewalk store in Colon, when there’s no classes, I wouldn’t go to home straight up, I
would go in our store, but when I have money I would go to the computer shop and play my favorite offline and online games, where I was addicted, I wasn’t paying money just to scroll on Facebook and I also wasn’t exposed to social media at the time.
As I grew up, I don’t really have close friends, because I always thought that I am slightly below average to anything I do. I think I am only good at playing one sport, which is chess, but only a few people I know plays that
sport, I don’t even know how to play basketball or anything physical, because I was always in a computer shop every day, playing computer games was my favorite thing to do, eating and sleeping was an obvious answer.
Then came my high school days, I studied in Abellana National School, On my high school life, it wasn’t really great as most people around my age’s stories, I wasn’t focused on students and classes, I felt like I was lonely and alone on my grade 7 and 8 moments, I failed most of my classes, I didn’tknow any ways to improve myself, I also couldn’t rely everything to my parents as they’re also doing everything to give us what we need.
Then COVID-19 pandemic came, I was in my grade 9 and 10 at that time, I don’t even know my classmates as I came from another section, I don’t know where I can ask for help as I am a very shy person (it’s up to you if
you don’t believe me). I failed more classes than my grades 7 and 8 grades. But I still graduated, thanks to my adviser.
Then pandemic was over, it wasn’t finally strict, I was finally on my senior high school life, I finally found myself in a very comfortable and awesome circle of friends on my class, there I found my abilities and skills on studying, and other things too, I was one of the honor students on my
class, when I reached grade 12, I was also voted to be a group leader for our research, there I became more focused, resilient, and have finally found my happiness. Then I graduated as one of the honor students in the school.
I finally reached college life, I focused on applying for the Cebu City
scholarship, thinking it would help me financially in my studies, but then a
friend of mine offered me the KFF foundation scholarship, I didn’t really
think much of it, thinking it was just the same as Cebu City scholar. But as
time went by, KFF scholarship was somewhat different and out of ordinary
experience, I never thought I would be in a foundation where I felt belong
and always having someone everywhere and every time.
It made my college life complete; I don’t even need a girlfriend to
accompany me, as I found myself surrounded by unbounded and
dependable friends. But it wouldn’t be perfect without Sir Kenneth
Kennerhoff, the founder of KFF Foundation, which is our guide, and our
teacher here, and is also the reason why we’re here in this place right now,
the reason why I met these wonderful people, he’s the one teaching us how
to be a great leader and teacher in the future.
I can’t imagine my college life without the KFF foundation scholarship. I am
proud of being accepted here. It unlocks some of my skills and improves
my confidence as a person. And I could even say that I found my passionfor teaching. I improved here not just as a student, but also as a son,
teacher, leader, and someone who will bring a bright future to anyone I’ve
met.
I will leave this story of mine on a two quotes, one of which, I heard on one
of my close friend here in KFF, “If you’re scared of doing something, then
do it scared”, and the other one, which is I brought since in my senior high
school days, “Work in silence, let your success be your noise”.
