Arnel Laparan grew up in Rosario. After his father died in 1970, five-year-old Arnel had to work in a small shop to help his family. The boy insisted on going to school and his mother finally sent him to a nearby public school. “I was happy to study but my life became harder because I had to wake up earlier to do all my jobs before I went to school,” says Arnel. Worn down by all the work, he was ready to give up by the time he reached the fifth grade. Then his teacher’s words changed his life and made him study harder. Arnel finished high school at the top of his class, received a scholarship (奖学金) from the Philippine Normal University in Manila and got a degree in education in 1985. He took a job teaching math at a Manila private school and did volunteer teaching at the school’s adult class in the evening. “The adults were from poor families and had to work when they were very young,” he explains. “It was touching to see how they tried to get a high school education at their age.” As time passed, he realized that helping needy students was his true calling. In 2004 he left his well-paid job and returned to Rosario. “My goal was to educate street children for free.” He began holding classes under a large tree. Slowly, more and more street children became interested in his teaching. “I taught them the basics of reading, writing and math,” says Arnel. He worked harder, walking to nearby villages, where he would give classes in parks or on playgrounds. To make ends meet, he began teaching children from rich families. In June this year Arnel borrowed a bicycle with a large sidecar from a neighbour. The sidecar holds a small wooden desk, textbooks and school supplies, and a blackboard set to the front bears