“Ituloy n’yo lang. Kanya-kanya tayo ng timeline. Kumbaga, tayo ‘yung magde-determine, tayo ‘yung mamimili kung ano ‘yung mga mangyayari sa buhay natin.”
This is the message of a 31-year-old man to the public after he started his college journey last year.
Kevin Hufana, or most famously known as “Keboy” from Team Payaman, was a product of a broken family.
“Mahirap siya in a way na syempre hindi mo maiiwasangrowing up na ma-compare ‘yung sarili mo sa mgakaklase mo. ‘Bakit sila, may nanay, tatay na available, bakit ako wala?’” Hufana told The Philippine STAR.
At an early age, he left school and tried working as a call center agent.
“Nung time po na nag-aaral ako, I had to stop kasi I had to support myself kasi ang sumusuporta lang sa ’kin noon is tito, tita, ‘tsaka lola. Nung tumungtong ako ng 19 nagkaproblema kami financially so nag-apply ako as call center agent. Nasa industry ako for eight years,” he added.
Hufana was a third-year civil engineering student when he left college in 2012.
“Nag-try ako bumalik nung 2015 sa mas malapit naschool. Pero hindi rin kinaya kasi demanding din kasi ‘yung course. Bumalik na lang ako, nagfull-time na ‘ko sacall center. Lagi akong top performer. Though alam ko sasarili ko na may kulang talaga. Na, I can achieve more kung meron akong degree. Kaya itong dumating ‘yungchance na makapag-aral ulit, ginrab ko talaga,” he recalled.
Despite having a broken family, Hufana stressed how lucky he is to find friends that treat him as if they are blood related.
“Nabawi naman ni Lord sa mga kaibigan ko. Nakasali kasi ako sa Youth for Christ, and ‘yun din ‘yung backstory ng Team Payaman, dun din kami nagkakila-kilala. Majority ng nakikita niyo sa Team Payaman, lahat po kami magkababata. Lumaki man ako sa broken family, bawing-bawi naman sa circle of friends kasi hanggang ngayonsobrang solid namin,” he noted.
Hufana added that one of the greatest blessings in his life was when he became the secretary of famous vlogger, Cong TV, which also paved the way for him to go back to school.
“Si Genggeng, siya ‘yung inampon ni Cong. from ‘yungdati naming bahay. Ngayon, pinapaaral na siya ni Cong. Nung mag-eenroll na siya, sinabi niya na, ‘Ang lapit lang dito ng San Beda Alabang,’” he said.
Adding, “Sumama na ‘ko sa kanya sa entrance exam. Hindi talaga siya plinano. Though alam ko sa sarili ko nababalik talaga ako sa school, pero hindi ko alam na gano’nka-quick.Tatlo kaming magkakaklase. Hindi kami nag-usap-usap kung anong course, nagtagpo na lang kami saentrance exam.”
Hufana is currently a first-year communication and media studies student at San Beda Alabang.
“Iba po kasi talaga ‘yung confidence, eh, ‘pag meron kang degree. Mas kaya mong humarap sa mundo. Ngayon, nagme-make sense sa ’kin ‘yung mga quotations na, ‘Eto lang ‘yung mapapamana namin sa ’yo,’ ‘yung mgasinasabi ng mga parents before,” he said.
According to him, he is making the most out of his college days with the two other Team Payaman members.
He is now one step closer to his dream of having a diploma. He plans to be a film writer and director after finishing college.
“Sobrang saya po at saka ‘yung feeling na kahit 31 na ‘ko, parang hindi rin siya ramdam na ang layo ng age gap kasi cool din ‘yung mga kaklase namin. They don’t treat you naparang may age gap. Kumbaga before ka pumasok ng school, parang may fear, eh. Na, ‘Ay sobrang tanda ko na.‘Yung mga kaklase ko parang anak ko na,’ pero wala,” he said.
“Hindi masyadong factor ang age gap kung babalik ka ng school. Sa mga kaedad ko ngayon na gusto niyong mag-aral ulit, promise wala. Walang timeline-timeline. Kanya-kanya tayo ng timeline. Kumbaga, tayo ‘yung magde-determine, tayo ‘yung mamimili kung ano ‘yung mgamangyayari sa buhay natin,” he said when asked about his message to the public.
