Jerick and Alice get up early that morning as they continued their way to San Vicente. Again, they have to travel the unpaved road. On their way, they were both silent. Alice is thinking how to convince Mang Fernan, she knew, she had to do this for Jose. After an hour of travel, they reached sitio San Vicente. It is a small sitio where farming is the main source of living for most of the families.

“Where are you going Ma’am Alice?” said one of the girl they met along the way. “We are going to the house of Jose. Can you show us the way?” Alice replied. The girl nodded and lead the two to Jose’s house.

It is a small house made of wood, some of its walls are made of makeshift iron sheets. A boy came out of the door, he is thin as compared to other boys of his age. Jose was surprised when he saw Alice and Jerick. Though a little timid, Jose managed to talked to them, “What are you doing here ma’am?” he asked.

“I was worried about you,” Alice said. “You have been absent to your classes for a long time,” she continued.

Jose looked down and went on to feed his chicken. Alice and Jerick followed him.

“I am sorry ma’am, but I can no longer go back to school,” he said softly.

“Why not? You are doing well with your studies,” Alice asked.

A man with a gray hair is walking towards them. Though old, he managed to pull the carabao. His stretched muscles in the arms are evidence of his long hard work.

“Father, this is Ma’am Alice and Sir Jerick, my teachers,” Jose introduced them to Mang Fernan.

“Are you here to convince Jose to come back to school?” Mang Fernan sarcastically asked the two.

“Yes Mang Fernan,” Alice replied.

The old man tied his carabao in a tree as he confronts Alice and Jerick. “You are just wasting your time. Jose will no longer go back to the school, he has to help me in the farm,” Mang Fernan said. “I can no longer afford to send him in school.”

“But Jose will be graduating this year, he could help you more if he could finish schooling,” Alice explained.

“Please don’t give my son false hope. I have known some who despite finishing high school still went back to this peasant life!” Mang Fernan exclaimed.

Jose was silent in one corner. He was hoping that his teachers could convince his father. He has always been eager to go back to school but he pitied his father for working so hard for them. Mang Fernan is old and getting weaker, as the eldest, he knows that he had to help his Father in the farm.

“Mang Fernan, Jose is an intelligent boy. If you want we could find a scholarship for him,” Jerick said, hoping that he could grasp the right words to convince the old man.

“With Jose’s value of hard work and determination, I believe a bright future awaits him,” Jerick said further.

“But what’s the use of education if we are all starving!” Mang Fernan insisted.

“We can find other means for you to find a living,” Jerick said.

But Mang Fernan got impatient, “I was raised to be a farmer and will die as a farmer. I don’t know other means of living but to till the soil!” he exclaimed.

Alice brought out something from her bag. She showed a paper to Mang Fernan. Drawn in the paper is a farmer like figure and a police man. Written on the paper is the text, “My father is my hero for he did his best to raise us. I would like to be a Police Officer someday so I may become hero to others too, especially to my father. I want him to be proud of me.”

“Jose draw this when I told the class to draw their hero and what they want to be,” Alice said as she handed the paper to Mang Fernan and read the texts for him.

The old man stared on the paper. He tried to winked his wrinkled eyes to hide the tear. He loves Jose, and as a father he would like to give him the best. He is mad of himself because he knows he cannot give his son the kind of life he would like to have for him. Despite of his shortcomings, Jose still look up to him as his hero.

He looked at his son and noticed he had grown. He realized that he had been busy working for the family that he missed his children growing. He had never asked his children how they are doing nor what they want to be. He approached Jose and tapped his shoulder.

“Do you really want to go to school?” he asked. Jose nodded, “Yes father so I can give you a better life,” he answered softly.

“It is not your duty to provide me a better life, but mine. I have been busy earning a living for us that I forgot my other duties as father to you.” Mang Fernan said in an apologetic voice. “I cannot promise you that I can send you until College, but I will do my best to provide you of the education you are dreaming of.”

Jose smiled and gave his father a hug. It’s been a long time since they had this kind of conversation. He is very happy.

“Don’t worry Mang Fernan, we will find ways to finance Jose’s schooling,” Jerick assured as he looked at Alice. She smiled and felt relieved. Their efforts are not wasted at all.

“I will expect you tomorrow in the class Jose,” she said. “Yes ma’am!” Jose replied.

Mang Fernan and Jose thanked them. The two went on to their journey back to Sta. Lucia.

“Thank you!” Alice said to Jerick.

“Thanks for what?” Jerick asked.

“For backing me up in convincing Mang Fernan,” Alice replied.

“You’re welcome. It’s nothing compared to the concerns you gave to Jose. It is also nice to bring hope to others,” said Jerick with a smile.

“Sometimes, because of the tough times we have been through, we thought that what we have is enough. We thought that we should not dream of something better because it might just disappoint us. Often times, we just need someone to remind us that there is always hope,” Jerick uttered.

“That’s good to hear from you,” Alice said. “So tell me, what new hope do you have now?” she asked further.

Jerick looked at her and smiled. He said nothing but continued to walk.