GMA’s ‘Magpakailanman’ to feature math whiz street kid solving college-level equations

Abandoned by both parents on the streets, Gerald Tamayo had to stop school to sell sampaguita and food to feed his mute brother Justin and grandmother Baby.

 

But selling his wares to students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University (FEU) opened the way for Gerald to return to schooling.

 

GMA 7's "Wish Ko Lang" got him in touch with a concerned citizen who now funds his education, after a video that went viral on July 25 showed Gerald casually solving square roots with UST students.

 

Now, "Magpakailanman" will air the full story behind the "square root kid".

 

Things even magic can't fix

 

Gerald is the eldest Rod Tamayo and Nene Dela Cruz's three children. They had him when they were 20 and 15, respectively.

 

He lived a quaint life with his brother Justin and sister Rachel, with Rod teaching him magic tricks after working his craft at Star City as a magician and his mother tending to them at home.

 

But all illusions of normal life disappeared when, at age eight, his father was discovered having an affair with a fellow magician.

 

Nene took a man for herself out of anger after Rod chose the magician, who bore him another child. Gerald's father abandoned them shortly thereafter, leaving them with no income to sustain themselves.

 

Because they lacked the means to pay for their meager accommodations in the Recto slums, Gerald and his family were eventually kicked out to sidewalks of Avenida with his grandmother Baby.

 

Broken bottles and highway robbery

 

Gerald's family's belongings were now out on the streets with no walls to secure them. While they made a living off trash and sampaguita, their belongings were plundered by random vagabonds.

 

Gerald's earnings were also considered open season by "solvent boys" and homeless persons, who would chase him and other vendors down for their cash.

 

At what passes for their home, Baby did her best to take care of Justin and Rachel, who was eventually taken away by Nene.

 

Nene never came back for Gerald or Justin—neither did Rod, whose death did not motivate Nene to care for her remaining children.

 

Strangers and students from nearby schools soon replaced Gerald's parents in his mind. He then learned to dream about the future.

 

'Square Root Kid'

 

Most of the students Gerald encountered on the streets were Engineering or Architecture students from the UST, who eventually inspired him to yearn for a degree in Civil Engineering.

 

His curiosity one day landed him in a conversation with Becca, a girl whom he often saw at an eatery off Tolentino Street.

 

Of her appearance, he only remembers her white shirt and shorts. But all the math she taught him has stayed with him. She started him on simple math, but Gerald urged her to teach him tougher material.

 

For an hour each meeting, Gerald was walked through the basics of square roots before moving on to algebra, topics which grade school and high school students alike have difficulties with.

 

A few months later, UST commerce student Chelsea Lazanta and a friend saw Gerald using his newly-acquired knowledge and shot the video which would change the boy's life.

 

Since being featured by "Wish Ko Lang", Gerald and his family now receive a monthly allowance from a healthcare company to help pay for their rented house at San Francisco del Monte in Quezon City.

 

He's also back in school, studying as a grade 4 student at Antonio Regidor Elementary School, while selling sampaguita in Espana.

 

Gerald's college fund was also secured by a UST graduate, the daughter of the CEO of the healthcare company helping him, his sickly brother, and grandmother get through life. — Rie Takumi/VC, GMA News


Catch Gerald's story on "Magpakailanman" on Saturday, 7 p.m.