My story
My parents are Mrs. Brenda Felwa Andaya and Mr. Gabriel Sacgaca Dup-et, who were married on October 30, 1981, at Santa Rita Church in Bontoc, Mountain Province. A year later, I was born on June 20, 1982, in Sabangan, Mountain Province, Philippines. I am the eldest of seven siblings, with one sister among us.
I completed my kindergarten at Little Flower Children’s School, my elementary education at Tacdian Catholic School, and my secondary education at San Jose High School. Before earning my degree in BS Biological Science in 2004 and completing my diploma in Special Education, I pursued BS Aviation (Flying) at Airlink International Aviation College from 1999 to 2001.
Being the Firstborn Son
Being the firstborn son comes with its own advantages and responsibilities. To me, being firstborn represents the beginning—the moment when parents dream, hope, and make promises for the future they want to build together.
As I grew old enough to consciously understand my surroundings, especially my family, I realized that I was being shaped for leadership. My parents trained me to be responsible, not just for myself but also for my younger siblings. They trusted me to step up, make decisions, and react wisely when they were not around.
These early life experiences molded me into who I am today. I became more adventurous, responsible, and decisive in many situations. I learned how to stay calm, think ahead, and act with purpose.
My goal has always been to protect my family—not necessarily in fun or playful ways, but in thoughtful, defensive, and caring ways. Being the firstborn taught me that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about responsibility, awareness, and putting others first.
My Life as a student
Being a student was part of a long journey filled with ups and downs that molded me into who I am today. I don’t remember much from my kindergarten days, except going to recess to buy snacks, playing outside, and making drawings. One memory I will never forget is when I picked up a bird from our playground and gave it to one of my female classmates. She had suffered injuries from a car accident, and today, she is already a dentist.
During my elementary years, my experiences were quite similar—recess, playing with schoolmates, and hiding around the campus. I remember that teachers were allowed to discipline us using sticks, but I was never traumatized, unlike what many students experience today. Fighting back then was mostly for fun, and doing hard labor for the school was considered normal. All of these were ordinary parts of school life, aside from learning lessons in the classroom.
My high school days were when I realized that I wanted to be noticed. I remember how students formed groups based on their interests—rockers, hip-hop fans, country music lovers, and even by the way they dressed. As for me, I liked all of them combined. That period was crucial in my life because I learned to stand on my own. I didn’t just prove myself by playing basketball or getting into fights, but also by expressing and explaining my opinions in class. During these years, I also had to learn how to balance my responsibilities as the eldest child while being a student, which challenged me greatly.
During my college years, I need to be honest—these were some of the most challenging and life-changing years of my journey. I started with an Aviation major in flying and eventually finished with Biological Science and Diploma in Special Education. The constant changes taught me the true value of perseverance and hard work. I had to learn how to adjust to new environments, adapt to different communities, and find ways to connect with people to my advantage.
College also taught me practical lessons in life, such as budgeting money for tuition and daily allowances, while dealing with family issues at the same time. There were moments when everything felt overwhelming, but my main goal kept me going—to finish my education and secure a job that would help me fulfill my dreams.
Along the way, relationships also became both a challenge and a lesson for me. Girls were often a source of distraction, confusion, and growth. Each experience, however, taught me something valuable about myself, responsibility, and emotional maturity. In the end, every struggle and lesson during my college years shaped me into a more determined and grounded person.
My Life as a worker
The words worker and responsibility have always felt connected to me, even though I sometimes find them confusing to define separately. Looking back at my childhood, I realize that responsibility is what shapes a true worker.
As early as I can remember, my parents—especially my mother—trained me to do household chores such as washing dishes and cleaning the house. Before going to school, all chores had to be completed. There were no excuses. Through that training, I learned that responsibility comes first before anything else.
When my parents started their business, I was already in sixth grade. As the eldest child, they trusted me to deal with business transactions—from the beginning of negotiations to finalizing agreements. That experience taught me accountability, confidence, and how to communicate with different types of people.
While studying Biological Science and later Special Education at the University of Baguio, I was also a Class A athlete. I represented the university in Taekwondo competitions, which allowed me to receive a full scholarship and tournament allowances. Being a student-athlete taught me discipline, time management, and perseverance.
After graduating, I chose to coach Taekwondo at the same university while also working as a food handler at Andok's Food Corporation. At that time, I felt proud of what I had achieved. However, I eventually realized that growth requires moving forward and seeking new challenges.
I began teaching at a private school, starting with science before fully committing to Special Education—what I now consider my life’s calling. I have been teaching Special Education since 2005 up to the present.
When I moved to a public school, I immediately noticed the differences compared to private education—the physical structure, the student norms, and even workplace dynamics among colleagues. Working in a public school is one of the most challenging experiences because you serve a truly diverse and heterogeneous society. However, I believe this challenge is also what makes me stronger. Greatness, for me, comes from finding solutions that create balance among many differences.
Through all these experiences, I have learned that being a worker is about performing tasks—but responsibility is about ownership, commitment, and integrity in everything you do. Responsibility gives meaning to work.
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