Rhudel Glenn Osigan

A TRAINEE'S JOURNEY

He just made up his mind that day: he doesn't want to become a habal-habal (hired motorcycle) driver anymore. He sold all his fighting cocks, broke his piggy bank, and packed up his suit. Today, he is ready to turn a new leaf and leave an aimless life back home.

Rhudel Glenn Osigan wanted just that. After graduating from high school in La Paz, Agusan del Sur, this soon-to-be-23-years-old is taking a detour from the usual road traveled by his peers. But who said the road was paved with roses?

It was a rainy Sunday when he left for Cebu. He just learned that he passed the entrance exam at CITE for a 3-year scholarship in a technician program and he was catching up on a five-day summer training which was slated on Tuesday. Rhudel, his mother and a friend named Joey got only P4,000 in their pocket, three bags of rice, and some stewed lambo-o (lobsters). They headed for Nasipit port in Butuan City to get a ferry ride to Cebu, only to get bad news: travels cancelled due to bad weather. The heavy downpour left them hapless. The bags of rice were damp and no way were they turning back to La Paz. They had to find shelter under a small eatery to spend the night. The next day, Monday, the advisory came out for the stranded passengers: the ferry boat is under repair. The delay had prolonged the agony and they were running out of budget. Running out of hope to make it before Tuesday.

Rhudel arrived in Cebu Tuesday afternoon. Falling two days behind the training, he had to pull some strings to get accommodated. The summer training is the crucial part of the screening. Students were given battery of tests to single out the best. Rhudel did not give it a rest. “This is my only chance to study. If I blow this up, I would disappoint my family." Being the eldest of four, he has a dream for them. "I want my brothers and sisters to finish their studies. I am willing to support them." Of course, it's still a long way to get there but for the meantime, this swimming and hardcourt athlete is willing to swim the tide.

He is staying in Cebu until April 28 for the announcement and to celebrate his birthday on the same day whatever the result is. "It's my birthday wish. I just prayed I get accepted."

Rhudel is signing up for Mechanical Technology and hopes to get his wish come true just like the rest of 500 young aspirants who took the road to CITE in the hope of finding a journey.