Denver was born with polio. He grew up disabled and found it difficult to run with the neighborhood kids. Yet Denver Sinay did not allow his disability to discourage him from studying until he finished college.

The minimum wage in the Philippines is about 300 pesos per day ($6.67). Rebecca and her daughter have been in the rag making business for the last several years to supplement the family income.

Dario has long sold puto maya, a traditional Filipino delicacy made from sticky rice, banana leaves, ginger, sugar, and coconut milk. Puto maya is often enjoyed by itself or with a delectable cup of rich hot chocolate.

Rodgen Luciaja, a pastor’s kid, set his eyes on crossing the sea and earning it big like many young Filipino seamen. He studied hard and finished a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering.

Julius Campo was raised in a brood of 6 children. His father worked for a copper mining company in Toledo City, Cebu. A work-related accident caused his untimely death, which triggered untold economic difficulties to his wife and children.

Diana dropped out of school as she had to feed her family as a higher priority. She and her husband raised 2 kids, until her husband left her in mid-life. Running out of options, she tried to grab what was available for her.