11/07/2025
This story hits me 😭
SANA HINDI N'YO NA LANG AKO PINANGANAK
(Graduation Speech from a Magna Cum Laude UP Grad)
A recent graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Baños with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Jaynard began his viral graduation post with a line no parent ever wants to hear:
“Sana hindi n’yo na lang ako pinanganak.” His raw and honest post, which he permitted Smart Parenting to share, has since garnered over 99,000 reactions and 39,000 shares. “I just wanted to show the other side of the story,” he said.
Jaynard admitted that discussions with his friends about generational trauma influenced his decision to open up publicly. He hoped his words could spark a much-needed conversation around responsible parenthood and the struggles children born into poverty often face.
•Growing Up With Less, Yet Trying to Dream Big
In his post, Jaynard painted a clear picture of his upbringing—being the eldest in a household that had no college graduates, raised by hardworking parents doing everything they could to survive. His father worked multiple jobs as a tricycle driver, mechanic, and driver-for-hire, while his mother juggled roles as a housekeeper, seamstress, health worker, and dishwasher in a catering business.
Despite their financial hardships, Jaynard was an exceptional student, often topping his classes and joining academic competitions. He described himself as “the hopeful child” who believed education would lift their family out of poverty. But reality hit hard.
“Why do they have things we don’t?” he recalled asking himself as a child. “Why could my classmates afford full meals while my brother and I had to share one egg between us?” He even joked about how he would give his brother a side-eye if he took the larger yolk portion.
He added, “At a young age, I learned that life was unfair. Some kids like me were forced to ignore their hunger and focus on school, because we simply didn’t have a choice.”
•The First Time He Said It
One of his earliest memories of deep frustration happened when he was just 11 years old. During a local fiesta, he wanted to try a ride with his friends but had no money. He asked his mom, already exhausted from working as a house helper, if she could spare anything. She told him, with rapid-fire explanation, that what little they had left was for food.
Overcome by disappointment, he threw a tantrum, and his mother disciplined him. In the heat of the moment, he blurted out, “Sana hindi n’yo na lang ako pinanganak.” That was the first time he uttered those words—but not the last.
•The Second Time: As a College Scholar, Still Struggling
Years later, while studying at UP and benefiting from scholarships, Jaynard found himself in a similar emotional pit. Although he was receiving stipends, they were all going toward his family’s debts and basic expenses. He still couldn’t make ends meet.
During one particularly tough time, with bills piling up and no financial help available, he reached out to his mother again. She had nothing to give. That’s when, out of exhaustion and despair, he repeated those painful words: “Sana hindi n’yo na lang ako pinanganak.”
He clarified that his intention was not to blame his parents but to express the emotional toll of growing up under such conditions. “I love my parents deeply,” he said. “But sometimes, I wonder how different their lives could have been if they had the chance to chase their own dreams—if poverty hadn’t held them back, or if they didn’t have to raise a child amid it.”
•What If Things Had Been Different?
Jaynard reflected on the possibilities that might have unfolded if his parents had the freedom to live for themselves first. “What if my father, who is so skilled with his hands, had studied engineering? What if my mother, who was top of her class, went to college and became a professional?”
He imagines an alternate life where his parents pursued passion over survival. “Maybe in that world, I wouldn’t have been born—but maybe that would’ve been better for them.”
He emphasized that this wasn’t about regret but about encouraging future parents to think critically before starting a family. “DON’T LET YOUR CHILD BE LIKE ME,” he wrote in all caps—his plea to adults to be emotionally, mentally, and financially prepared before bringing life into the world.
•A Message to Future Parents: Think Before You Create Life
“Parenthood isn’t just about love—it’s about readiness,” Jaynard said. “It may come off as cruel, but the truth is, if having a child means exposing them to the same—or worse—pain and deprivation that I endured, it might be best to wait, or rethink the choice altogether.”
He believes that parents must consider not just whether they can have a child, but whether they are equipped to nurture, support, and raise one in a healthy environment.
“The future of your child depends on the foundation you give them,” he said plainly.
•A Glimpse of Hope and a Mother’s Love
Despite everything, Jaynard still holds onto hope. He dreams of a time when no child has to carry the burden of poverty or question why they were born. “I know it sounds impossible, even like reaching for the stars—but I hope someday, no child will ever have to say, ‘Sana hindi n’yo na lang ako pinanganak.’”
His mother, Jennifer, also responded publicly. She expressed nothing but love and pride for her son:
“I may not have been able to give you the comforts others enjoy, but I’ve never regretted having you. Your father and I love you so much. You are a blessing to us.”
•To Students Who Relate: You Are Not Alone
Jaynard, now preparing for his board exams and seeking employment, left a message for students who, like him, have grown up fighting silent battles.
“Your feelings are valid,” he said. “If I could hug everyone going through what I did, I would. Living in poverty is no joke. But let’s not lose hope—we can get through this.”
