Toga

1996… A boy was born on a secluded poor barrio. At a very young age, he already faced the miserable fate and the reality of belonging to a financially-handicapped family. Despite being poor, he showcased good fighting spirit toward all life’s difficulties.

Inspiration came from his father’s dream to leave the slums. He was his ideal man, valuing that his father endured both the tiring construction and farming jobs to feed and support his family. Also, there was Karen, a childhood friend, who was always there on his ups and down in school and life.

With the lessons learned and experiences earned from his poor background, his dreamer father as an inspiration and a diploma at hand, he left the barrio hoping to find success in an urban city. City life… full of struggles… required him to exert twice of all the efforts he already provided in his early age.

Showcasing life’s reality is what this story depicts, just like a cup of coffee, which tastes differently. Bitterness and sweetness will have to depend on personal preference or taste and how it is made. Once your coffee is too bitter just like life’s bitterness, you will no longer try to taste it ever again. This is a story which will help all of us understand that no matter how bitter your coffee at first sip is, there are still ingredients (i.e., families, friends and even our selves) that will make the coffee special.

A story about a cup of coffee’s ingredients and Adong, the boy who will capture your heart, your desire to dream on and be inspired. Success of the main character will be determined by a TOGA (graduation gown), his riffle to use in life’s battles.