Camille Naredo

Ateneo graduate Eugene dela Cruz. Photo courtesy of Eugene dela Cruz

Article (news)

ADMU

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750609458614062325_Eugene Dela Cruz.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo graduate Eugene dela Cruz. Photo courtesy of Eugene dela Cruz"/>Ateneo graduate Eugene dela Cruz. Photo courtesy of Eugene dela Cruz</div>MANILA -- Just a few years ago, Eugene Dela Cruz was living on the streets, with no roof over his head and barely anything to eat.  On Saturday, the 25-year-old stood proud on the graduation stage of Ateneo de Manila University, finishing college with an honorable mention.At the age of 12, he was thrown out of his home in Tondo, Manila after coming out as gay. &quot;Pinalayas po ako ng tatay ko sa bahay po namin dahil sa aking sekswalidad. Ayaw po kasi ng tatay ko na magkaroon ng panganay na bading at that time,&quot; dela Cruz said.&quot;Nung pinalayas po ako, tinapon lang lahat ng damit ko sa labas ng sari-sari store tapos pinulot ko lang po siya, hiyang-hiya po ako,&quot; he added.His parents separated when he was just five years old. With nowhere else to turn to, he spent the next three years wandering the streets of Manila, sleeping on overpasses, in parked jeepneys and tricycles, on mall staircases, or anywhere he could find temporary shelter.He begged strangers for spare change just to afford a meal. On some days, he would split a single piece of pandesal into three meals just to survive.&quot;Kapag sinuswerte po ako sa isang araw inaabot po ng 25 (pesos). Kapag meron po akong more than 20 (pesos), minsan po bumibili po ako ng kanin, minsan pinapasabawan ko na lang sa mga paresan. &#x27;Yun na po &#x27;yung pagkain at ulam ko on a lucky day, pero on worst nights minsan po piso, minsan wala,&quot; he said.Due to living on the streets, he developed a chronic skin disease and struggled with hygiene, relying on public restrooms or a &#x27;poso&#x27; when available.&quot;There were a lot of moments that I just cry myself to sleep. And say to God na Lord, kung &#x27;di niyo man po ako gisingin bukas hindi po ako magrereklamo,&quot; he said.Most of the time, he found himself searching for a parental figure.&quot;Madalas ko pong nafi-feel inggit pag nakikita ko po &#x27;yung iba may magulang. &#x27;Yung mga bagay na di ko dapat iniisip nung bata ako, iniisip ko na siya. How life could be easier for me if I only have parents,&quot; he said.By chance, a relative saw him in Divisoria and asked if he wanted to work as a nanny for his half-brother in Leyte. Desperate to get off the streets, dela Cruz agreed. He moved in with his father and enrolled in a nearby public high school.Later on, his father asked him to choose between continuing his studies or working as a nanny in exchange for food and shelter. Eugene chose to study, and eventually, his father left.He started renting a bed space while relying on the kindness of teachers who supported him. When he could no longer afford the rent, his stepmother&#x27;s sister took him in and occasionally shared meals with him.To survive, he taught choreography for festival dances and offered math tutorials, using part of his earnings to give back to those who had helped him. Eventually, he graduated from high school with flying colors.He then applied to the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University, and was accepted into all three with scholarships. Ultimately, he chose Ateneo and took a degree in Economics.&quot;I just thought of a program na sabi ko, after graduating, gusto ko wide &#x27;yung market kasi kailangan ko magtrabaho, kasi wala po akong matutuluyan. Ultimately &#x27;yun yung decision ko, Economics para makapagtrabaho agad,&quot; dela Cruz said.Through Ateneo&#x27;s scholarship program, he was given a dorm and a monthly allowance to cover his basic needs. Still, he initially found it difficult to interact with his classmates and adjust to his new environment.&quot;Hiyang hiya po ako. &#x27;Di naman maiiwasan na isipin na, &#x27;Oh, Ateneo, maraming mayayaman,&#x27; tapos ako just barely getting by, umabot pa sa puntong pulubi,&quot; said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1750609487053viber_image_2025-06-22_21-59-26-024.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo graduate Eugene dela Cruz. Photo courtesy of Eugene dela Cruz"/>Ateneo graduate Eugene dela Cruz. Photo courtesy of Eugene dela Cruz</div>He admitted there were many times he wanted to give up, but he chose to keep going. His years on the streets, he says, shaped him into who he is today—stronger, tougher, and more determined.&quot;Kapag nahihirapan po ako at any point in my life after po ako mawala sa streets, iniisip ko lang po ano yung napagdaanan ko dati na parang &#x27;Ngayon ka pa ba susuko na may kama ka na, may natutulugan ka na, may makakain ka na?&#x27;&quot; he said.&quot;I&#x27;ll be doing myself a disservice kung ngayon pa po ako titigil. &#x27;You owe it to your 12-year-old self na tapusin to&#x27;,&quot; he added.Dela Cruz is grateful to everyone who helped him along the way and says will always carry that sense of gratitude with him.&quot;Ngayon na nandito ako, nagpapasalamat na lang ako na di ako pinabayaan ng Panginoong Diyos tska sa mga taong nagbibigay kasi papiso-piso nung pulubi ko, kasi &#x27;yun po ang nagtaguyod sakin,&quot; he said.

Just a few years ago, Eugene Dela Cruz was living on the streets, with no roof over his head and barely anything to eat.

Just a few years ago, Eugene Dela Cruz was living on the streets, with no roof over his head and barely anything to eat.

After being homeless for years, former street child graduates from Ateneo

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After being homeless for years, former street child graduates from Ateneo

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 23, 2025 12:28 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo de Manila University

Eugene dela Cruz

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homelessness

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