Self-supporting Grade 11 student inspires netizens as he juggles online classes with driving tricycle

A self-supporting Grade 11 student has inspired many netizens after he was caught on video answering his assignments while taking a break from ferrying passengers as a tricycle driver.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras," Michael Jabal, 21, was spotted by MMDA and traffic enforcer Markiel Monreal in a terminal on Congressional Avenue.

At that time, Jabal had a pad of yellow paper, ball pen, and a bag with him as he sat on his tricycle.

"Biniro ko po siya," Monreal said. "Sabi ko, 'Parang magpapataya ka ata.' Sabi niya, 'Hindi, online 'to gagawa akong assignment."

["I joked with him. I said, 'It seems like you're taking bets.' He said, 'No, this is for online (class), I'm going to do my assignment."]

Jabal, who dreams of becoming a police officer or a soldier someday, said his parents live in Aklan and both of them are already advanced in age so he has to support himself and his studies.

He earns as low as P200 per day with the reduced movement of people amid the pandemic, but even so, he does his best to make a living while making time for his education.

"Habang nagkaklase po ako namamasada po ako. Kapag may time po na wala pong pasahero sumasagot po ako sa mga assignment ko," he said.

["While attending class, I'm plying routes and making trips. At times when there are no passengers, I answer my assignments."]

Awed by Jabal's dedication to his studies, Monreal decided to take a video of him studying on his tricycle and post it on social media.

"Nakaka-amaze naman itong batang ito kasi sa kabila ng nararanasang kahirapan sa buhay nakukuha niyang pagsabayin 'yung online class then namamasada po siya," he said.

["This child is amazing because despite experiencing difficulties in life, he is still able to juggle online class and drive a tricycle."]

—MGP, GMA News