By Mikee Natinga Norico

CPU EMC Technical Staff Rodie Leysa (center) receives his certificate of recognition as guest speaker, alongside Ma’am Teresa P. Layawon, Principal I of Malag-it Elementary School (left), and Mr. Reino L. Legada, Principal I of Caninguan Central School (right).

Malag-it Elementary School in Calinog, Iloilo, celebrated a significant milestone on April 14, 2025, as it held its Moving-up and 70th Closing Exercises with the theme “Henerasyon ng Pagkakaisa: Kaagapay sa Bagong Pilipinas.” The event became even more memorable with the presence of Central Philippine University Educational Media Center (CPU EMC) Technical Staff, Mr. Rodie Leysa, who served as the guest speaker.

Standing before a crowd of bright-eyed completers, proud parents, and dedicated educators, Leysa offered not just words of congratulations but a heartfelt testimony that moved many in the audience. He reflected on his own journey—one that began right in the same town, in the same school where the graduates sat that morning.

“I remember back in my elementary days—I didn’t know what would become of me. I was hard-headed and stubborn,” Leysa began. He recounted being chased by teachers into the bamboo groves because of his refusal to attend class. “Some teachers even lost hope in me,” he said, with a chuckle that masked the hardship of those early years.

Born and raised in Barangay Balagiao, Lambunao, Iloilo, Leysa is the eldest of six children. As a child, he helped his mother with farm work—carrying palay, cutting bamboo, harvesting bananas, and even selling ice cream around town. He walked to school daily with just one peso in his pocket, clinging not just to survival, but to dreams that were greater than his circumstances.

From struggles to success: Rodie Leysa shares his inspiring journey of perseverance, faith, and determination with the graduating class of Malag-it Elementary School.

During the ceremony, he shared how poverty almost derailed his education. “On the day of our graduation, I cried—not out of joy, but because I didn’t know if I could continue to high school,” he told the crowd. His father, a construction worker, and his mother, a farm laborer, simply couldn’t afford to send him further. But a relative saw his potential and offered to support him. With nothing but determination, Leysa moved to the city and studied at La Paz National High School with a five-peso daily allowance.

The road was never easy. He faced loneliness, culture shock, and even bullying. Yet, through faith and perseverance, he held fast to his dream. “Even when I was far from home and bullied for my background, I didn’t give up,” he said.

After high school, the support stopped, and college seemed like an impossible goal. But Leysa refused to give in. “A friend encouraged me to apply as a working student at Central Philippine University,” he shared. Though he didn’t make it on his first try, he persisted. On his second attempt, he was finally accepted and assigned at the CPU Educational Media Center—a place that would become a turning point in his life.

Despite grueling schedules—doing household chores until 1 AM and fetching water at 4 AM—Leysa kept going. He originally enrolled in Civil Engineering, but later shifted to Environmental Management, seeing a broader mission ahead.

He recalled one of the most emotional moments of his life—when he finally handed his parents the ribbon that signified he would graduate. “They didn’t even know I was graduating. But when I gave them that ribbon, they were so happy,” he shared. Leysa also revealed a prayer he made during that time: “I asked God to give me a chance to work at Central Philippine University.” That prayer, like many before it, was answered—leading him to become a staff member at the CPU Educational Media Center under the Office of Communications.

Now a proud CPU staff member, Leysa uses his story to inspire others. “Whatever hardships you’ve been through, don’t let these stop you from dreaming,” he urged the Malag-it graduates. “Give your best in everything. That’s the greatest gift you can give to your parents.”

To the parents, he gave thanks for their sacrifices. To the teachers, he expressed gratitude for never giving up on their students. And to the graduates, he offered hope. “Today is your day. You’ve earned it. And this is just the beginning of the great things to come.”

Rodie Leysa’s presence at the 70th Closing Exercises was more than ceremonial—it was a homecoming, a testimony, and a torch passed on to the next generation. His life story, rooted in the same soil as the graduates, now blooms as a powerful symbol of resilience, faith, and triumph.