NOTHING is impossible for those who dream.
However, a dream will only linger as a dream when it is not fused with the needed effort and determination.
Edwin Erlano is a person who never dwelt as a sheer dreamer but someone who is steered by his zeal to enhance his economic well-being by pursuing his education despite his economic challenges.
Coming from a poor family, this dreamer has proved to others that nothing is impossible to those who are hardworking and prayerful.
Councilor Israel Salanga fondly shared that he knew well Erlano as a former student of the Bacolod City College, a state-run educational institution.
Salanga said, "Being the youngest of seven, he (Erlano) grew up in a hacienda somewhere sa Southern Negros Occidental. His parent and siblings were working as “Karga tapas” (farm workers) in a so-called “uma” (farm).
He remembered Erlano saying, “nag skwela ko sa Bacolod City College (BCC) kay gusto ko maski paano mag asenso man ko gamay kag mabuligan ko si Nanay Linda (I studied at BCC because I want to succeed and I want to help my mother Linda)."
They were colleagues at BCC Supreme Student Government. Erlano was elected as president and Salanga was elected as vice president.
As college students, they experienced the gift of friendship. "We stayed at the house of his aunt. His mother works as a laundrywoman and a part-time gardener, and a pensioner who helped sustain his education. But he was also a CHED scholar," Salanga said.
The councilor recalled how they held on to their dreams in their BCC-SSG time. Life in Bacolod City College was bittersweet. It's was fun but miserable because most of us don't have enough money. We only have our fare as our only money. Most of our fellows work either as house helper, waiter in a canteen, or trisikad driver.
"We can only dream and imagine because most of us came from a poor family. The BCC is called as a school for the poor but deserving students, which was established in 1997 during the first term of Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia under the leadership of then School Administrator Dr. Norma Juarez," Salanga shared.
There were several times that he (Erlano) attempted to quit schooling due to his economic condition. But his mother Linda was also encouraged by her friends to buy a Carabao so that it could help them earn a living. Her son also repaid his mother with hard work, Salanga said adding that "by God's grace, we all graduated with flying colors."
The councilor said, "Sang amon graduation day, dumduman ko nag joke si nanay ya and very proud gid to say nga te ari na carabao ko hu, nag graduate gid."
Salanga also stood as best man in Erlano's wedding.
Now, the son of a sugar farmer and laundrywoman has gone far as he now owns a resort at Don Salvador Benedicto. He named it "Villa Marina Linda" after his mother and mother in law.