A Farmer's Son

PhilDev Foundation

3 Jun 201504:35

Summary

TLDRD, Bata shares his inspiring journey from a rural Cagayan Valley upbringing without luxuries to becoming an engineer. His father's unwavering support and his own determination led him to study at Stanford University and eventually start a successful company. Bata's story highlights the Filipino spirit of resilience and the power of education, as he establishes 'Filev' to provide internet access and scholarships to students, envisioning a prosperous Philippines where success is within reach for all.

Takeaways

🌱 D, Bata grew up in a rural area in Cagayan Valley without modern amenities like electricity and telephones.
📚 His father was a farmer who prioritized D's education over helping with farm work, instilling the value of studying.
🏫 D faced challenges in high school, feeling inferior to his urban peers, but focused on his studies and developed a passion for engineering.
🎓 After graduating from UPUA, D moved to America to pursue a master's degree in engineering at Stanford University.
💡 He was initially intimidated by the perceived intelligence of others but compensated by studying harder and identifying opportunities in computer chip design.
🔄 D's first attempt at starting a company failed, but he didn't let that deter him; he tried again and succeeded.
💪 He attributes his success to the same will and determination that every Filipino possesses, highlighting the potential within the Filipino spirit.
🌐 The Philippines is recognized as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, yet a significant portion of the population still lives in poverty.
🏢 D started 'filev' with a vision to provide internet access to every school and scholarships to deserving students to ensure continuous learning.
🚀 The initiative aims to inspire thousands of young Filipinos to start companies that can create millions of jobs, fostering economic growth.
📈 D emphasizes that while he is not special, his determination is a trait shared by Filipinos and is key to achieving success and overcoming hardship.

Q & A

What is the name of the person narrating the transcript?
-The person narrating the transcript is named D, Bata.
What was D, Bata's father's occupation?
-D, Bata's father was a farmer.
How did D, Bata learn math in his early years?
-D, Bata learned math by moving bamboo sticks, as there were no luxuries like modern educational tools.
What challenges did D, Bata face in his early education?
-D, Bata faced challenges such as the lack of electricity and telephones, as well as the pressure to stop schooling after the sixth grade to help in the fields.
Why did D, Bata's father not want him to help in the fields?
-D, Bata's father wanted a better life for him and made it clear that his job was to keep food on the table, while D, Bata's job was to study.
What was D, Bata's experience like in high school compared to his classmates?
-D, Bata felt inferior in high school because his classmates were from the city, and he was the son of a farmer.
What did D, Bata do while his friends played basketball during high school?
-While his friends played basketball, D, Bata studied, as he fell in love with engineering and wanted to build things.
Why did D, Bata move to America after graduating from UPUA?
-D, Bata moved to America because there were no design jobs for engineers in the Philippines at the time.
What did D, Bata do after moving to America?
-D, Bata applied for a master's in engineering at Stanford University.
What was the outcome of D, Bata's first attempt to start a company?
-D, Bata's first attempt to start a company failed, but he did not give up and tried again.
What is the name of the initiative D, Bata started to support education in the Philippines?
-D, Bata started an initiative called 'filev' to support education and entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
What is the vision behind the initiative 'filev'?
-The vision behind 'filev' is to create a Philippines where every school has internet, deserving students are given scholarships, and thousands of young Filipinos start companies that hire millions more.
What does D, Bata believe about the potential of Filipinos based on his story?
-D, Bata believes that his story could be anyone's story, emphasizing that Filipinos are not special but determined, and that success is possible despite hardships.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 From Humble Beginnings to Aspiring Engineer

D.Bata shares his origin story, hailing from a rural area in Cagayan Valley where modern amenities like electricity and telephones were absent. His father, a farmer, instilled in him the importance of education over manual labor, despite the hardships. D.Bata's dedication to studying, especially math, which was taught using bamboo sticks, set him apart from his peers who often left school after the sixth grade to work in the fields. His father's unwavering support and his own determination led him to pursue higher education and become an engineer, despite feeling out of place in high school among city students.

🎓 The Struggle and Triumph of Higher Education

D.Bata's journey to higher education was marked by feelings of inferiority in high school, but his love for engineering and desire to build things propelled him forward. After graduating from UPUA, he faced the harsh reality of a lack of design jobs for engineers in the Philippines, prompting his move to America. There, he applied for and was accepted into a master's program in engineering at Stanford University. Despite feeling intimidated by the intelligence of his peers, D.Bata's hard work paid off, and he saw an opportunity in the field of computer chip design.

💼 Entrepreneurial Spirit and Overcoming Failure

With a vision to improve computer chip design, D.Bata started a company, which unfortunately failed. However, this setback did not deter him; instead, it fueled his determination to succeed. He believed in his own abilities and decided to give entrepreneurship another try. This time, his efforts were rewarded with success, demonstrating that perseverance and self-belief are key to overcoming failure.

🌟 The Impact of Personal Success and Philanthropy

D.Bata's success is attributed to his humble beginnings and the same will and determination that he believes every Filipino possesses. Despite the Philippines being one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, over 30% of its population still lives in poverty similar to his own upbringing. This realization inspired him to start 'filev', a venture aimed at providing better educational opportunities for deserving students. His vision includes a Philippines where every school has internet access and scholarships are readily available to support continuous learning, fostering an environment where young Filipinos can start companies and contribute to the nation's growth.

📚 Embracing Hardship as a Catalyst for Success

D.Bata emphasizes that while he may not be special, his determination is something every Filipino can relate to. He sees his story as a testament to the fact that success is possible despite hardships. He encourages others to view their struggles as a stepping stone to success, not just for themselves but for the collective story of the Filipino people.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Engineer

An engineer is a professional who applies scientific principles to design, build, and maintain structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes. In the video's context, the protagonist identifies as an engineer, which is central to his story of overcoming adversity and achieving success. The script mentions, 'I fell in love with engineering, I wanted to build things,' illustrating the passion that drives him to pursue a career in this field.

💡Cagayan Valley

Cagayan Valley is a region in the northern part of the Philippines known for its agricultural productivity. The protagonist's upbringing in a typical barrio in Cagayan Valley is significant as it sets the backdrop for his humble beginnings and the lack of modern amenities like electricity and telephones, as mentioned in the script: 'I grew up in a typical bario in Cagayan Valley back then there was no electricity no telephones.'

💡Determination

Determination refers to the firmness of purpose and the resolve to continue despite obstacles or difficulties. It is a key theme in the video, as the protagonist's life story is a testament to the power of determination in achieving one's goals. The script states, 'My Success is a direct result of my Beginnings it is the same will and determination that every Filipino possesses,' highlighting the importance of determination in the face of hardship.

💡Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. In the video, education plays a pivotal role in the protagonist's life, as his father's insistence on him studying despite their circumstances sets him on a path to a better life. The script mentions, 'my job was to study,' emphasizing the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something or a chance to improve one's situation. The protagonist sees an opportunity in designing better computer chips, which leads him to start a company. The script says, 'I saw an opportunity to design better computer chips and I started a company,' showing how recognizing and seizing opportunities can lead to success.

💡Failure

Failure is the inability to achieve a goal or the termination of an attempt due to a mistake or obstacles. In the video, the protagonist experiences the failure of his first company, but it does not deter him from trying again. The script mentions, 'That company failed,' which is a crucial part of the narrative showing that failure is a stepping stone to eventual success.

💡Success

Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The protagonist's story is a journey from humble beginnings to achieving success, which is a central theme of the video. The script states, 'My Success is a direct result of my Beginnings,' indicating that success is not just about the end result but also about the journey and the values instilled from the start.

💡Philippines

The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia and the protagonist's homeland. The video discusses the country's economic growth and the challenges faced by its people, with the protagonist's story serving as an inspiration for change. The script mentions, 'our country is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia,' yet acknowledges the hardships faced by many Filipinos.

💡Stanford University

Stanford University is a prestigious private research university in the United States known for its academic excellence and innovation. The protagonist applies for a master's degree in engineering at Stanford, which is a significant step in his educational and professional journey. The script says, 'I applied for a master MERS in engineering at Stanford University,' highlighting the importance of higher education in his pursuit of success.

💡Inferiority

Inferiority is a feeling of being less valuable or less capable than others. The protagonist feels inferior to his peers when he goes to high school far from home, as they are from the city and he is the son of a farmer. The script mentions, 'I felt inferior to the other students,' which is a common feeling among those who come from different backgrounds but is overcome through determination and hard work.

💡Filipino

Filipino refers to a person from the Philippines or the Tagalog language spoken in the country. The protagonist identifies as Filipino, and his story is meant to inspire other Filipinos to overcome challenges and achieve success. The script states, 'as Filipinos it must be our story,' emphasizing the shared identity and potential for success among Filipinos.

Highlights

D, Bata's origin from a rural area in Cagayan Valley without modern amenities.

His father's profession as a farmer and the lack of luxuries in his upbringing.

Learning math through the unconventional method of moving bamboo sticks.

The majority of classmates leaving school after the sixth grade to work in the fields.

D's father's insistence on education as a means to a better life.

Feeling inferior in high school due to his rural background.

D's dedication to studying despite the lack of extracurricular activities.

Falling in love with engineering and the desire to build things.

The absence of design jobs for engineers in the Philippines post-graduation.

Pursuing a master's degree in engineering at Stanford University.

Overcoming intimidation and studying twice as hard at Stanford.

Identifying an opportunity to improve computer chip design and starting a company.

Experiencing the failure of the first company and the determination to try again.

The success of the second attempt at starting a company.

Attributing success to one's beginnings and the inherent will and determination of Filipinos.

The establishment of a vision for a Philippines with internet in every school and scholarships for deserving students.

The aspiration for young Filipinos to start companies that employ millions.

D's self-assessment as determined rather than special, and the belief in the potential of every Filipino's story.