FAITH and friendship allowed a San Lorenzo Ruiz scholar to endure college and the demands of an independent life after he lost of both his parents at a young age.
The 22-year-old John Peter Asiño said he could not believe he accomplished such a milestone despite his struggles, especially after the passing of his mother in 2007 due to gallbladder cancer.
“[P]arang doon nag-start ‘yong pagiging independent ko, nine years old pa lang I [needed] to do this for myself,” he told the Varsitarian. “Ito [na] ‘yong bagong buhay na kailangan kong yakapin.”
Due to his mother’s untimely demise, Asiño dedicated most of his time serving at his parish in Biñan where he developed an interest in priesthood. After graduating from high school, he entered the seminary in 2013.
After three years in the seminary in San Pablo, Laguna, he went out and studied philosophy in UST.
Asiño was granted a working scholarship in 2017, assigned 20 hours a week at the Office of Public Affairs.
The day after he got his scholarship, he learned his father passed away due to lung cancer.
Being the youngest, he was left under the care of his seven siblings.
“Pagdating ko wala na si tatay tapos ang tahimik na sa bahay. This is another adjustment [at] parang hinintay lang ni tatay na ma-stable ako sa UST, makuha ko ‘yong scholarship,” he said.
Since he did not want to become a burden to his siblings who already had their own families, he strived to maintain his scholarship and used his work allowance to finance his daily expenses.
“Dahil ayoko talaga maging burden sa bahay, sinikapan ko talaga ‘yong scholarship para makuha ko [ito] all throughout hanggang makatapos ako,” he said. “Ayoko na maghingi, ayoko na maging burden sa kanila.”
Asiño admitted he felt like there was something lacking as he grew up without his parents but affirmed that his faith in God, service in the Church and the support from his academic parents, Asst. Prof. Jeric Albela and Assoc. Prof Fleurdeliz Albela and the good relationships he had helped him in overcoming such loss.
“Isang malaking kakulangan sa akin ‘yon na mawalan ng magulang. Wala akong naging takbuhan, wala akong naging sandalan, walang unang dapat makikinig sa mga pinagdaraanan ko sa buhay,” he said.
Asiño juggled all his responsibilities as a working scholar while fulfilling his duties as a member of Becarios de Santo Tomas, Marian Evangelization Community, Chorus of Arts and Letters and as president of the Faculty of Arts and Letters’ Pax Romana.
He remains open to priesthood.
“Hindi ko siya tinatanggal sa options ko kasi nung lumabas ako, kahit ang daming nangyari, hindi ko pa rin siya tinatanggal sa mga plano ko sa buhay ko [so] kapag naramdaman kong ito talaga o meron pa rin vocation––nararamdaman ‘yon––anytime puwede akong bumalik,” he said.
