“Hi Ma’am/Sir! I’ve arrived at your destination.”
For five years, those words were part of Arc Benedict P. Ronquillo’s daily routine as a delivery rider navigating the streets of Tacloban City.
Rain or shine, under the scorching heat of the sun or through late-night downpours, he delivered food, parcels, and convenience to countless customers.
But while he was helping others reach their destinations, he was also quietly traveling toward one of the most important milestones of his life.
Today, his message has changed.
“Hi Ma’am/Sir! I’ve arrived at my destination.”
A proud graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Leyte Colleges, Tacloban City, Ronquillo earned the distinction of Cum Laude and received the Outstanding Student Internship Award, achievements built not on privilege, but on years of sacrifice, perseverance, and unwavering determination.
Ronquillo’s journey as a working student began when he was only 17 years old, while still in senior high school.
Although his parents were capable of supporting his education, he chose a different path.
He wanted to experience life’s realities firsthand and prove that success could be achieved through his own hard work.
“I chose the hard way to witness how hard life was, to face reality, and to achieve success through my own sweat, effort, and determination,” he told Opinyon 8.
His work history tells a story of resilience at a young age.
In 2021, he worked as a Shopee rider. In 2022, he became a Food Panda and Maxim rider. From 2023 until 2026, he worked as a GrabFood rider while pursuing his college degree.
The flexibility of delivery work allowed him to balance his responsibilities, but that did not make the journey easier.
Many days followed a brutal cycle of working late into the night delivering orders, then waking up before dawn to make it to class by 7:00 in the morning.
Sleep became a luxury. Exhaustion became familiar.
“Spending five years as a working student was an absolute test of human limits,” he recalled. “People often see the graduation cap and medals, but they rarely see the toll it takes on your mind and body.”
Yet every sleepless night, every kilometer traveled, and every sacrifice made became fuel for a dream that refused to die.
Behind his success stood a family that never stopped believing in him.
His mother, a caregiver in Manila, and his father, a land administrator, supported his decision to become independent and forge his own path.
Rather than discouraging him from working, they allowed him to learn life’s lessons through experience.
In an emotional tribute, Ronquillo dedicated his achievements to his parents.
“Daddy, Mommy, Cum Laude ako,” he wrote. “This honor is not only mine, it is for you.”
He also expressed gratitude to his extended family, friends, professors, and the people who became part of his journey.
Special recognition was given to GrabFood, whose platform helped him finance his education, and to his girlfriend, whom he affectionately calls “Haya,” for standing beside him through every hardship, breakdown, and moment of doubt.
Despite graduating with honors, Ronquillo remains humble about the future.
“This is not yet my final destination,” he said. “It is just the start, a new chapter, a new page of my story.”
When asked about his plans after graduation, his answer reflected the same grounded perspective that carried him through years of struggle.
“I don’t know yet. I’ll just let life do its thing.”
For many students, Arc Benedict P. Ronquillo’s story is a powerful reminder that success is not measured by how easy the road is, but by the courage to keep moving forward despite the obstacles.
His journey proves that dreams are not reserved for those with the easiest paths, they belong to those willing to work for them.
From delivering orders across the city to proudly receiving his diploma on stage, Ronquillo’s story is one of grit, humility, and hope.
And if his journey has taught us anything, it is that no amount of hard work is ever wasted when it is driven by purpose.
After years of telling others that he had arrived at their destination, Arc Benedict P. Ronquillo can finally say that he has arrived at his own while knowing that even greater destinations still lie ahead.
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