“Kuya”

PHOTO 1He stands a little over 5 feet dressed up in coveralls. You can barely put a name to his face as he drowns himself in the pack of employees inundating the gates of PASAR, a smelting company in Leyte. He looks ordinary, but there is more than what meets the eye.

Simply put, there is really nothing ordinary with Marvin Almia. Being the eldest of 6 siblings, Kuya Marvin augmented the income of his family as a tricycle driver round Cambinoy, a small barangay outlaying an area of Palompon, Leyte.

His father left home to work as a taxi driver in Manila and his mother stayed home tending the younger members of the family.

An opportunity came to Marvin in 2010 when he, among 7 scholars, received a scholarship grant from PASAR Foundation, Inc.

Marvin, 25, claims no advantage in his academics. But, as Mechanical Technology graduate, he made sure he equipped himself with the most relevant technical skills. His talent in computer-aided design led him to a productive training at Energizer Philippines as operator and subsequently now as a refrigeration and air conditioning technician at PASAR.

Marvin stands to believe that he can only do so much if he shares his blessings with his brothers and sisters. He sent his young sister to college to finish a degree in education who became a licensed teacher. Two of his siblings are in college because of him. His brother Jhon is taking up BS in Mechanical Engineering while her sister Janice is a student in AB Communications.

Being a big brother to his charge may sometimes trickle down inexplicable disappointments in life.

“I pity myself because I was not able to see the fruits of my labor for myself. It came to a point that I cried alone. I felt I was lost. But what I realized is that, I should do this for my siblings, for my family, because if not, who else will? They won’t be assured of a good future.”

Marvin confesses to not being the touchy-feely type, but when it comes to matters of the family, he is more than willing to put their needs ahead of his own by whatever means necessary.

While still holding up the end of his deal until their graduation, Marvin plans to look after himself starting off with an Engineering course in mind and passing the licensure board examination.