The constant support and encouragement of parents, education from the country’s best schools, all the books and educational resources easily bought when needed and a comfortable environment conducive to learning and personal enrichment – these are some of the things enjoyed by young achievers.
But what if things were different?
Imagine going through life without the guidance of a father and the love and care of a mother. Growing up wasn’t really easy for two brothers who lost their father at a young age and were abandoned by their mother, but somehow Ged and Kelvin Tatoy managed to make the most out of what they have, even succeeding in the things they do at their young age.
"Matiyaga yang magkapatid na yan at hindi nila naging rason yung wala silang mga magulang para hindi nila pagbutihin yung mga ginagawa nila, lalo na sa school," (The two brothers are very hardworking and they didn’t use the fact that they were orphaned as a reason not to succeed in what they do, especially in school) said yaya Lilet, Ged and Kelvin’s aunt and one of their guardians.
Yaya Lilet is not just any other nanny. She has been the long-time nanny of veteran actress and TV host, Janice de Belen, who is among the four celebrities involved in the Microsoft-led campaign dubbed as "Stars for Empowerment." For the campaign, Janice, along with Rico Blanco, Epy Quizon and Liezel Martinez, were asked to identify deserving beneficiaries nationwide whose passions can be empowered by Windows Vista. "Stars for Empowerment," aimed to show how Microsoft enables people to live out their passions through Windows Vista – be it in music, family, gadgets, or work.
On February of this year, Ged and Kelvin were given the best gift that will help them succeed in their studies. Without thinking twice, Janice remembered her yaya Lilet’s nephews in Antique who have gone through so much, and deserved something good for rising above the challenges they’ve faced at an early age. "A Vista laptop will definitely help Ged and Kelvin to do even better in their studies. They’re already very hardworking, so just imagine the things they could achieve with the help of technology," enthused Janice.
Today, months after receiving their laptop, Ged and Kelvin are reaping the benefits of having a helpful tool in their activities, both in school and at home.
Windows Vista is designed to enhance personal and professional activities, in the home, school or workplace. The Instant Search allows faster location of data regardless of file type. With the new Internet Explorer 7, information can be easily used, gathered, and shared. The additional features of Windows Vista were optimised to help individuals organize information and files efficiently, allowing them to be more productive in their activities.
Ged said, "Nung nabigyan kami ng laptop ni Ms. Janice, mahigit pa sa tuwa yung naramdaman namin. Malaki kasi yung natutulong nito sa pag-aaral namin ngayon sa kolehiyo. Dati inaabot pa kami ng gabi sa Internet Café, ngayon sa bahay na namin ginagawa yung pagreresearch at pagtype," (When we were given a laptop by Ms. Janice, we felt more than happy. It’s a great help for us in our college studies. We used to stay out late in the nearby Internet Café, but now, we do our research and typing at home).
"Matagal pa naming gagamitin itong laptop na ito, kahit hanggang nagtatrabaho na kami ni Ged, sobrang laki pa rin ang tulong nito. Bago pa man kami mabigyan ng laptop, marami na kaming pangarap, pero ngayon, meron na kaming tulong sa pag-abot sa mga pangarap namin," (This laptop will still be of great use to us even when we’re already working. Even before we were given a laptop, we already had many dreams, but now, we have a very helpful tool in achieving those dreams) added Kelvin.
The new products and technologies of Microsoft were developed in a way that it enhances human skill. It provides individuals and organizations the tools needed to achieve better results, faster.
Microsoft Philippines’ Consumer Marketing Manager, Ivan Franco, shared, "With the Stars for Empowerment campaign, we would like to consider what we’re giving, not just as a laptop with our software, rather, we are providing deserving people, such as Ged and Kelvin, a key to reaching their full potential. It’s really more than the software – it’s the possibilities and opportunities that come along with the software that matter most."
The Tatoy brothers continue to strive and make the most of what they have right now. Despite the hardships they went through at their young age, they are determined to win against the odds and are optimistic that theirs is a future filled with possibilities.
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