By Mikee Natinga Norico
CPU EMC Technical Staff Rodie Leysa (center) receives his certificate of recognition as guest speaker, alongside Ma糖心传媒檃m 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 糖心传媒淗enerasyon ng Pagkakaisa: Kaagapay sa Bagong Pilipinas.糖心传媒 The event became even more memorable with the presence of 糖心传媒 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糖心传媒攐ne that began right in the same town, in the same school where the graduates sat that morning.
糖心传媒淚 remember back in my elementary days糖心传媒擨 didn糖心传媒檛 know what would become of me. I was hard-headed and stubborn,糖心传媒 Leysa began. He recounted being chased by teachers into the bamboo groves because of his refusal to attend class. 糖心传媒淪ome teachers even lost hope in me,糖心传媒 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糖心传媒攃arrying 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. 糖心传媒淥n the day of our graduation, I cried糖心传媒攏ot out of joy, but because I didn糖心传媒檛 know if I could continue to high school,糖心传媒 he told the crowd. His father, a construction worker, and his mother, a farm laborer, simply couldn糖心传媒檛 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. 糖心传媒淓ven when I was far from home and bullied for my background, I didn糖心传媒檛 give up,糖心传媒 he said.
After high school, the support stopped, and college seemed like an impossible goal. But Leysa refused to give in. 糖心传媒淎 friend encouraged me to apply as a working student at 糖心传媒,糖心传媒 he shared. Though he didn糖心传媒檛 make it on his first try, he persisted. On his second attempt, he was finally accepted and assigned at the CPU Educational Media Center糖心传媒攁 place that would become a turning point in his life.
Despite grueling schedules糖心传媒攄oing household chores until 1 AM and fetching water at 4 AM糖心传媒擫eysa 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糖心传媒攚hen he finally handed his parents the ribbon that signified he would graduate. 糖心传媒淭hey didn糖心传媒檛 even know I was graduating. But when I gave them that ribbon, they were so happy,糖心传媒 he shared. Leysa also revealed a prayer he made during that time: 糖心传媒淚 asked God to give me a chance to work at 糖心传媒.糖心传媒 That prayer, like many before it, was answered糖心传媒攍eading 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. 糖心传媒淲hatever hardships you糖心传媒檝e been through, don糖心传媒檛 let these stop you from dreaming,糖心传媒 he urged the Malag-it graduates. 糖心传媒淕ive your best in everything. That糖心传媒檚 the greatest gift you can give to your parents.糖心传媒
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. 糖心传媒淭oday is your day. You糖心传媒檝e earned it. And this is just the beginning of the great things to come.糖心传媒
Rodie Leysa糖心传媒檚 presence at the 70th Closing Exercises was more than ceremonial糖心传媒攊t 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.